Koojan Downs Backgrounding & Perennial Pasture Tour - Farmer Summary

By Kate Parker, WMG Project Officer

Tour Leads: Ian Greenwood, Nick Woods, Troy Grundy – Harvest Road

Property: Koojan Downs Backgrounding Operation

Key Takeaways

1. Optimising Backgrounding Operations
   • Efficient animal nutrition management was a significant focus. Troy mentioned, “We try not to bunk feed but it’s useful if needed,” and discussed the importance of maintaining a steady supply of cattle through the Koojan Downs system, moving from backgrounding paddocks to feedlot to achieve optimal growth rates and final weights.
2. Innovative Grazing Techniques
   • Innovative grazing techniques, such as rotational grazing and mob density management, were also discussed. Ian highlighted the setting up of a “wagon wheel” grazing system to optimise pasture use and animal handling.
3. Water Management and Infrastructure
   • Effective water management and infrastructure development were emphasised. The team at Koojan Downs discussed setting up solar bores as a reliable water source and the logistics of establishing water points and fencing to allow for rotational grazing.
4. Soil Health Management
   • Soil health was a recurring theme, with discussions on composting, manure application, and soil amendments. Nick highlighted the benefits of compost and noted its positive impact on soil biology and fertility. This discussion also covered the economic impact of different soil amendments. He also highlighted the cost benefits of using compost over fresh manure, noting that composting reduces bulk and improves nutrient availability, making it a more cost-effective and sustainable option for farmers.
5. Crop Resilience and Biodiversity
   • The importance of crop resilience and biodiversity was highlighted through discussions on integrating different plant species mixes. Nick observed that Winfred Brassica “has characteristics to survive low moisture and high temperatures,” making it a possible valuable addition for enhancing resilience across the summer months.
6. Adapting to Climate Variability
   • Adapting to climate variability was a significant topic, with farmers sharing experiences of dealing with unpredictable weather patterns. Strategies such as selecting resilient crop varieties and adjusting planting schedules were discussed to mitigate the impact of increasingly variable temperatures and rainfall.
7. Balancing Annual and Perennial Systems
   • The balance between annual and perennial systems was discussed, with Ian noting that annuals and perennials can “cohabitate and make the paddock better.” This balance is crucial for maintaining soil health and ensuring sustainable production across Koojan Downs.
8. Importance of Continuous Learning and Experimentation
   • Continuous learning and experimentation were emphasised as essential for improving farming practices. Comments from attendees highlighted the value of ongoing learning and knowledge sharing, one noting “try everything, make mistakes, learn, pass on knowledge.

Read on to see a summarised list of notes from the event.

Stop 1: Property Introduction and Initial Conversation

Cattle Management:

• Cattle have been arriving from the station for the past 3-4 weeks, with 3000 head currently on-site and a capacity for 4000-5000 head.
• Bunk feeding is used as needed to maintain stock for the feedlot, with each animal receiving 11-12kg of feed ration per day.
• Average Daily Gain (ADG) is around 1.5kg per head per day, with some animals achieving 2-3kg per day due to compensatory growth.
• Cattle are weighed every two weeks and grouped by weight to ensure even growth and ease of feedlot management.

Grazing and Soil Health:

• Grazing of paddocks is delayed, and rotational grazing is used to manage feed and ground cover, with tagasaste serving as a buffer.
• The aim is for a 60-day rotation on perennial grasses, depending on paddock conditions and feed budget.
• In bunkers, cattle tend to stay near the feed bunk but move away in the afternoon to graze, with feed delivered in the morning. Grass growth in these paddocks is enhanced by the extra manure deposited.

Stop 2: Multispecies Mix & Compost Discussion

Multi-Species Mix and Soil Amendments:

• A multi-species mix was sown in 2023, including sunflowers, tillage radish, Winfred forage brassica, Persian clover, Bindoon clover, Rhodes grass, oats, barley, and ryegrass.
• ‘Convert’ seed dressing was added, and knockdown herbicide was applied. No fertiliser was used due to previous manure application (50m³/ha).
• Brassica stood out as a resilient species, surviving over a tough summer. Nick noted its potential, stating, “Brassica has characteristics to survive low moisture and high temp.”
• The focus is now on improving soil health with manure to support better species in the future, with another 50m³/ha of manure applied in 2024.
• CSBP K-Till fertiliser is used as a base fertiliser.

Compost vs Fresh Manure:

• Compost is preferred over fresh manure due to fewer compliance and regulation issues, product stability, and reduced bulk for transport.
• Compost retains nutrients and enhances soil biology, speeding up natural processes and breaking down pathogens and chemicals.
• Tillage stimulates ryegrass growth, and shallow tillage is used to flatten the land before silage, incorporating compost/manure to prevent it from blowing away.

Stop 3: Perennial Grazing System Discussion

Perennial Sowing and Soil Management:

• The goal is to sow 1100ha to perennials by the end of 2025, with 700ha sown in 2023 and ready for grazing.
• Spading was done on 9ha, but the job was not well executed, confirming that perennials should not be sown immediately after spading due to soil fluffiness.
• Soil pH ranges from 4.5 to 5.5, and some paddocks were Plozza plowed two years ago, showing 30% better perennial growth.
• Early observations indicate that manure application and soil disturbance benefit both annuals and perennials.

Rotational Grazing System:

• A rotational grazing system is being set up, dividing 700ha into four paddock cells with a central trough, creating 30-40ha paddocks.
• At the third stop, a “wagon wheel” grazing system was demonstrated, being set up with solar bores as a water source.
• The area will be grazed once infrastructure is complete, with troughs, water pipes, and fences already in place.

Stop 4: Perennial Establishment Discussion

Soil Amelioration and Sowing:

• Soil was ameliorated in 2023 using a topdown machine to disc 20cm and rip to 40cm, with 2t/ha lime applied due to low soil pH.
• Cereal rye was sown in 2023, with the aim to establish 2000ha of perennials on the farm, potentially expanding to 7000ha if successful.

Perennial Benefits:

• Perennials provide a buffer for cattle arriving from stations, ensuring year-round feed availability. Management focuses on maintaining feed as cattle arrive as needed from the station.
• At Danmoor, deep ripping and cover cropping are used with establishment of perennials. The importance of timing and soil conditions for successful germination was highlighted.
• Cereal rye is sown in the interrow most years between perennial grasses, with both annuals and perennials growing better together across all soil types.