Effect of grazing management on an irrigated pasture in south-eastern Queensland

Abstract

Various grazing treatments were applied to an irrigated pasture of phalaris, cocksfoot, Hl ryegrass and Irrigation white clover over a period of three years.
Pasture green-weight yields decreased in all treatments. The decrease was greater in treatments with set uniform resting periods than in treatments in which the resting period varied in length. With set uniform resting periods pasture yields fell with frequency of grazing.
Pasture carrying capacity decreased in all treatments. The decrease was greater in treatments with set uniform resting periods than in treatments in which the resting period varied in length. With set uniform resting periods the decrease did not follow the same pattern as that exhibited by pasture green-weight yields.
Serious invasion by foreign species occurred in treatments with set resting periods of 30 days or less. White clover declined in all treatments.
Unevenness in pasture cover quickly developed in treatments grazed every 30 days or more frequently. Treatments that provided a long resting period in late summer and autumn maintained a satisfactory cover.