Successful pasture establishment is vital to ensure the persistence of annual pastures. Grazing a pasture too early after seedling emergence can dramatically affect pasture establishment due to: 1. Uprooting of small seedlings resulting in reduced plant density 2. Removal of leaf area (defoliation) resulting in reduced growth of seedlings 3. Decreasing the grazing pressure, applying fertiliser (particularly nitrogen), or sowing pasture seed can improve plant density and effective pasture establishment.
Grazing pressure during establishment can be reduced by either Supplementary Feeding or by Deferred Grazing.
Tips:
The amount of bare ground will give a good guide to the amount of FOO. Height of the germinated plants will also add to the amount of FOO. Most plants have high moisture content at this early age and therefore will have relatively low FOO.
These photos are at a resolution for on screen viewing. To download a hard copy of these pictures please click on the image.
Mixed composition - FOO (kgDM/ha) |
Pasture photos - FOO (kgDM/ha) |
 200 FOO |
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 300 FOO |
 500 FOO
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 500 FOO |
 800 FOO |

 1000 FOO |
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