1. Pasture Management & Plant Identification Country Noosa Nov 2015 Damien O’Sullivan Grazing Solutions Kingaroy

2. CO 2 + H 2 0 + Sunlight + Chlorophyll = CHO + O 2

3. How many horses/cattle can I run on my property using the existing pasture? A horse can eat 2.5% of its bodyweight in dry matter (DM)/day 450kg horse can eat 11.25 kgs/head/day 365 x 11.25 = 4100kgsDM/hd/year. Area of land Soil type Pasture present

4. Land types Blue gums on alluvial flats  stocking rate is 1 Adult horse to 3ha.  6 ha/14.5 acres of this land could grow 4000kgs/ha x 6 ha = 24,000kgs of grass.  Only ⅓ of this is usable which gives 8000kgs DM/ha of pasture  If we have 2 horses @450kgs need 8200kgs grass/yr, therefore there is almost enough DM for 2 horses for one year.  The other ⅔’s of grass is trampled or is consumed by soil & local fauna.

5. Land types Iron barks & spotted gum ridges –  Stocking rate 1AE to 6ha.  This land type could produce less than 2000kgs of DM/yr,  6ha = 12000kgs DM/yr.  ⅓ of this is available = 4000kgs DM/yr.  2 horses @450kgs  require 8200kgs grass for 2 horses  therefore a shortfall of 4200kgs of feed/yr.

6. Soil type is the major determinant of carrying capacity Carrying capacity AE = adult equivalent 450kgs Blue gum on alluvial flats– Native 1 AE to 3ha - Sown 1AE to 1 ha Rainforest on basalts- Native 1 AE to 3-4 ha - Sown 1AE to 2 ha Tall open forests on basalts- Native 1 AE to 3 ha - Sown 1AE to 2 ha Tall open forests on steep hills & mountains- Uncleared 1 to 10 ha - Native 1 AE to 5 - 6 ha - Sown 1AE to 4 ha Brigalow Softwood scrub Native- Native 1 AE to 3 ha - Sown 1AE to 2 ha Ironbarks & spotted gum ridges- Native 1 AE to 10 ha - Sown 1AE to 6-7 ha Mixed open forests on duplexes and loamsuncleared 1AE to 8 ha cleared native 1AE to 5-6ha

7. Carrying capacity of your property will vary due to: difference in soil types across the property current soil health rainfall and seasonal conditions type of pasture – native grass vs kikuyu health of pasture – horse sick pastures % weeds undesirable grasses – African lovegrass, giant rats tail grazing history of property - set stocking - overstocked - flogged! fertiliser history manure management history Owners need to be realistic about the carrying capacity of a property

8. The Pasture Mix Grasses: low growing vegetative plants that can tolerate grazing. Forbs: non-woody broad leafed plants, common in winter rainfall years e.g. flatweed, pigweed, bindweed etc. Legumes: plants with a varying ability to fix nitrogen with the help of bacteria in root nodules, important component of diet in grazing animals eg: clover, stylos and lucerne. Sedges: Grass like plants, e.g. nutgrass. Woody weeds: plants with the ability to compete with pasture plants for sunlight, nutrients and moisture. Other Weeds: Any undesirable plant in a pasture that affects carrying capacity of the pasture due to its un-palatability, competition with more favourable species or presence of poisonous principles, eg; Blue Heliotrope, Lippia, Catsear etc.

9. The Grass Plant

10. Grasses - 2 specific types C3 grasses - use an enzyme called rubisco to fix carbon from the air during photosynthesis and the first stable product from the process has 3 carbon atoms hence the C3 classification. Weeping rice grass, wheatgrass, prairie – mainly temperate climates C4 grasses use another enzyme to fix carbon from the atmosphere during photosynthesis and the first stable product from this has 4 carbon atoms hence the C4 classification – mainly tropical climates.

11. C3 grassesC4 grasses Moisture requirementsHigherLower Sunlight requirementsLowerHigher Temperature range 0º - 25ºC \ Optimum 25ºC 15º - 45ºC \ Optimum 35ºC Nutrient requirementsHigherLower Grass quantityLowerHigher Grass qualityHigherLower CarbohydrateFructanStarch

12. Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) in grasses NSC in grasses are an important factor in determining what is a suitable grass for horses. Grasses that are suitable for ruminants such as cattle, sheep and goats are often not the most appropriate for horses. Grasses with high levels of NSC can lead to laminitus in horses

13. Grass Carbohydate FructanStarch Black Spear grass - Heteropogon contortus - C4 Kangaroo grass - Themeda triandra - C4 Pitted bluegrass - Bothriochloa decipiens - C4 Poa - C3 Stipa – C4 Wallaby grass – Danthonia - C4 Weeping rice grass - Microlena - C3 Wire grass - Aristida - C3 Native grasses

14. Grass & Legume Carbohydate FructanStarch Couch - Cynodon dactylon - C4 Clover – Medicago - C3 Creeping blue grass – Bothrichloa pertusa - C4 Green/Gatton Panic - C4 Kikuyu – Pennisetum - C4 Lucerne - Medicago - C3Pectin Medic - Medicago sps - C3 Oats (Avena sativa ) Barley (Hordeum vulgare)- C3 Pangola grass - Digitaria - C4 Paspalum - Paspalum dilitatum - C4 Prairie grass - Bromus sps - C3 Rhodes grass - Chloris gayana - C4 Ryegrass - C3 Setaria - Setaria sphacelata - C4

15. Managing Pastures with Non- Structural Carbohydrates Stressed grass will be higher in NSC Faster growing grasses will be lower in NSC Coarse stemmy hay can be high in NSC Cold night time conditions with sunny days can cause an increase in NSC Spring growth of grasses can cause higher levels of NSC Frost, rain or wind can cause rapid changes in NSC concentrations Shady areas of grass will have less NSC Short overgrazed grasses will be high in NSC Graze high NSC pasture for limited time in the early morning High NSC grasses are more of a problem in temperate climates

16. Some broadleaf plants contain high fructan levels Dandelion Storksbill Wildoats Plantain Sowthistle Chicory

17. Tropical grasses & bighead Oxalate in tropical grasses binds with calcium in the gut and is not digested by the horse Buffel grass, setaria generally the most common causes in Queensland Australian Equine Veterinarian Vol. 29, No.1, 2010

19. Getting the most from your paddocks Ground cover Ground cover is any organic matter that stops the impact of a raindrop on bare soil surface. Organic matter is grass, leaves, sticks and manure. Aim to have at least 90%+ ground cover at all times.

21. Soil loss depending on pasture type

22. When the level of ground cover falls below 90% you loose: Soil moisture Soil fertility  nutrients  minerals  carbon soil biology  bacteria  fungi  soil insects  worms  dung beetles pasture productivity

23. Ground Cover is about Soil Carbon increase of 1% of carbon in top 30cm soil = an extra 144,000 litres of water/ha 1 ha of land - 2% soil carbon = 84 tonnes of carbon 1 ha of land - 3% soil carbon = 126 tonnes of carbon Soil - 3 times more carbon stored than the carbon in the atmosphere Soil - 4 times more carbon stored in soil than in vegetation A 0.5% increase in soil carbon on 2% of agricultural land would sequester 685 million tonnes of CO2. Equal to Australia’s total yearly CO2 emissions!!!

24. Recognising a good pasture is important as: Health & productivity of a pasture is indicated by the species present Good pasture bulk is not necessarily productive pasture Pasture budgeting, set appropriate number of horses – how much is edible Know when to use fire, sown pastures, fertiliser Pasture spelling to manage – weeds, unpalatable grasses Identify changes in productivity over time Early warning for invasive weeds Confinement of any grazing animal on small areas will cause problems for the animal, owner and the environment.

25. Plan your grazing Estimate how much pasture your property can grow and then how many animals will be grazed on the area. Designate a sacrifice area if you have to totally hand feed due to numbers or dry conditions Plan to have as many paddocks as possible but use electric fencing. Permanent single wire or high visibility tape. Reels and tread in posts are very good. Rest periods between rotations should be as long as possible. Pastures need rest - a spelling period over the growing season is the easiest way to rejuvenate pastures. Rotational grazing of pastures is the easiest way to rest pasture

27. Multiple paddocks, extra water

28. One paddock, one water, movable electric fences

34. Pasture Spelling

35. Paddock Management Manure management is important and rotationally grazing horses reduces rough areas where manure accumulates. When resting a paddock harrowing the paddock is useful to spread the manure. If drenching horses leave them in a confined area so that the anthelminthic does not interfere with dung beetles in the grazing area. Slashing can be useful to reduce weeds and bulk of old pasture, however tall mature grass can protect from loss of soil moisture, reduce wind and soil erosion and provide extra fodder. Slash only if absolutely necessary for fire, weed control or to remove old unpalatable pasture.

36. Unrested overgrazed grass From: February 2010 Georgia Cattleman, Dennis Hancock, Forage Extension Specialist, The University of Georgia Weeds, forbs un-palatable plants

37. Composting manure Maintains the fertility of your pasture - Two types  Anaerobic – long term 6months +  Aerobic – short term 2 months needs aeration Moisture levels in compost critical – Rain Add water Carbon:Nitrogen ratio Carbon – dry matter Nitrogen - green grass manure Ideal ratio is 25:1 Horse manure is 30:1 Need a cubic metre to be successful

38. C:N ratios of some common compost materials Chicken Manure7:1 Lucerne hay13:1 Cow manure15:1 Food Waste15:1 Weeds19:1 Lawn clippings20:1 Seaweed25:1 Horse manure30:1 Fruit waste35:1 Leaves60:1 Straw100:1 Paper170:1 Eucalypt bark250:1 Sawdust450:1 Pine bark500:1

40. Dung beetles Natures recyclers Bury dung Increase soil fertility Increase water infiltration Increase grass growth Reduce nutrient loss Reduce fly and parasite numbers Drench horses in winter to reduce losses or collect manure after drenching Moxidectin based wormers friendly to beetles

41. Paddock Management Pastures may need work if they have been grazed heavily for a long period of time. This may necessitate ripping the soil and planting new pasture. Fertiliser may be necessary and a soil test will help determine if any nutrients or minerals are necessary. Most light soils will be low in phosphorus and nitrogen. New pasture will need to be rested and allowed to go to seed before first grazing. In selecting a pasture mix for Southern Queensland aim for the tropical species which make best use of the summer growing season. They are mainly C4 and lower in NSC. A legume in the mix will help maintain soil nitrogen levels and provide extra nitrogen for the grasses.

42. Grass species to use in a pasture mix are:  Rhodes grass – varieties are Callide, Katambora & Finecut  Green panic or Gatton panic  Creeping bluegrass - Bissett or Hatch  Pangola grass - plant with runners only*  Paspalum – likes heavier moist soils  Kikuyu – plant with runners or seed, need good fertile soils in a mixture with other pastures.* * these grasses are in the hazardous range for oxalate and should only be part of a mix of grasses

43. Suitable legumes are  Lucerne  Wynn cassia  Lotononis  Fine stem stylo  Medic  Clover Be careful in wet winters as the clovers and medics can dominate and could cause problems with laminitis in horses or bloat in cattle/sheep if they are a high proportion of the diet.

44. When to plant a pasture Before 50mms steady soaking rain Adequate soil moisture Have ground prepared early October to March for tropical pastures Avoid mid-summer heat Cooler times for temperate legumes Early frosts El Nino years have poor establishment Can be luck of the draw

45. Plants that can cause problems in Horses Stringhalt  Catsear, False dandelion, Flatweed - Hypochoeris radicata  Dandelion Taraxacum officinale Facial Dermatitus  Paspalum Paspalum sps dermatitis Bighead  Buffel grass, kikuyu, setaria Staggers  Ryegrass Laminitis  Grasses - C3 eg Ryegrass  Dandelion - Taraxacum officinale  Storksbill - Erodium Sps  Wild oats - Avena sativa  Plantain Sago weed - Plantago lanceolata  Sowthistle – Sonchus oleracea

46. Weeds Many weeds can be a problem in small grazing paddocks Weeds are often a sign of bare areas, drought, overgrazing or lack of ground cover. Some environmental weeds need to be controlled such as parthenium, lantana, giant rats tail and lippia. Other weeds may just be part of the biodiversity in pasture and can be of benefit to horses. Weeds of Southern Queensland is a very useful publication.

47. Poisonous Plants There are many garden plants that can be toxic to horses. A copy of the publication Plants Poisonous to Horses An Australian Field Guide by Melissa Offord is available from this website - https://rirdc.infoservices.com.au/items/06-048

48.  High soil moisture  Higher production  Lower feed costs  Better fertility  Deep root systems  Fewer animal health problems  Low soil moisture  Low production  High feed costs  Poor fertility  Low carbon  Shallow roots systems  More animal health problems Good vs poor pasture

49. References & more information www.equiculture.com.au/ www.goldcoasthorse.com.au www.safergrass.org/ www.kohnkesown.com/ www.rirdc.gov.au/publications www.wsq.org.au/ Weed Society of Qld www.wsq.org.au/ www.horsesa.asn.au Horse SA www.horsesa.asn.au