Spray-grazing summary
Meat & Livestock Australia May 24, 2021
- Spray-grazing involves the combination of herbicides and grazing.
- Spray-grazing involves using a sub-lethal rate of a phenoxy herbicide applied to broadleaf plants at rosette stage, followed by intensive grazing.
- The combined action of herbicide and grazing kills or severely retards the weeds, preventing seed setting and allowing more desirable species to flourish.
- Spray-grazing can increase the composition and contribution of desirable grasses and sub-clovers, making the pasture more productive.
- Spray-grazing is most effective on annual broadleaf plants with short seed life, such as capeweed, erodium and dock at seedling stage.
- The most common herbicides to use when spray-grazing contain MCPA® Amine or 2,4-D Amine 625 as the active ingredient.
- The aim is to apply herbicide as early as possible in the growing season, as this reduces the herbicide rate required and the amount of weed biomass that must be removed by grazing.
- Stock are likely to eat increased quantities of treated plants. This may cause nitrate or nitrite poisoning and/or liver damage. The more broadleaf weeds present, the higher the chances of poisoning, especially if the paddock has high soil nitrogen and has experienced frost conditions. To reduce these risks, avoid introducing hungry stock and consider feeding roughage to reduce intake of the weeds.
- The herbicide label provides all the critical comments and precautions for the safe and responsible use of this technique. Always read the label and only use as directed.
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