Tyneal Callus, South Coastal Agencies
ASHEEP & BEEF’s Pasture Variety Trials, a Meat & Livestock Australia Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) project, has entered its final and possibly most challenging year in 2024. This trial was designed to identify the most suitable pasture varieties for the Esperance region by initially running plot scale trials and then in subsequent years monitoring commercial-scale demonstration sites, each located across various rainfall zones and soil types. These sites were strategically selected to reflect the diverse environmental conditions of the Esperance region, providing valuable insights into how different pasture varieties perform under real-world conditions.
2024 Trial Adjustments
To better represent the areas where livestock farming remains a key component of agricultural enterprises, we have merged the low and medium rainfall zones for the 2024 season. The demonstration sites and pasture varieties currently being monitored are as follows.
Low to Medium Rainfall Zone <500mm
RM4 Vetch (hosted by Mark & Liv Walter)
Diaman2ti Bladder Clover (hosted by Leigh & Karina West)
Barenbrug Annual & Perennial Pasture Mix / Rasina Vetch / Ryecorn (hosted by Thomas Pengilly)
Morava Vetch / Pallinup Oats Mix (hosted by David & Katherine Vandenberghe)
High Rainfall Zone >500mm
RM4 Vetch (Hosted by Simon Fowler)
Ryegrass / RM4 Vetch Mix (hosted by Simon Fowler)
Comments on 2024 Pasture Varieties
RM4 Vetch:
Over the course of this trial, Vetch, and specifically the RM4 variety, has established itself as a valuable component in crop-pasture rotations within the Esperance region. RM4 has been tested annually, both as a monoculture and within pasture mixes, across all three rainfall zones and through diverse seasonal conditions. This year, we are gathering further data on RM4’s adaptability and performance in both low and high-rainfall zones, offering a clear view of how this resilient plant thrives under varying conditions.
Diaman2ti Bladder Clover:
A recent addition to our trial, Diaman2ti Bladder Clover, has shown promising results, particularly in medium rainfall zones with sandy loam soils. Past trials have highlighted its impressive biomass and seed production capabilities. The challenging seasonal conditions of 2024 are expected to provide further insights into this variety’s resilience and its true potential to boost pasture productivity in the region.
Annual & Perennial Pasture Mix / Vetch / Ryecorn:
This mix from Barenbrug includes Santorini Serradella, Arrowleaf Clover, Megamix Panic, Splenda Setaria Grass, Howlong Cocksfoot, and the grower also added Rasina Vetch and Ryecorn. These diverse pasture mixes are crucial for identifying varieties that can endure different soil types and environmental stresses. In a year with suboptimal conditions for pasture establishment and growth, these trials offer valuable information on which varieties exhibit the best drought resistance and persistence. Survival of the fittest if you will.
The 2024 Season: A Unique Challenge
The 2024 season has thrown some serious curveballs our way, making it a tough year for pasture producers and for the Pasture Variety Trials PDS. The conditions have given us a unique opportunity to observe how the selected pasture varieties handle stress and recover once the season improves. These valuable insights could be key in adding resilient varieties to diversify pasture mixes.
With seeding dates at our six demonstration sites ranging from March 10th to June 17th, and with early rain being hit-or-miss, each site is at a different stage of growth. As the season continues, we're interested to see how the later-sown pastures perform and to track how the nutritional quality of the earlier-sown sites develop. This data will be key as we wrap up this long-term trial.
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