Autumn Fodder Crop Choices. By Will Black, Highlands Ag Services.
As the cooler months approach, many farmers in the Southern Highlands will be thinking about autumn planting options to ensure sufficient winter feed for livestock.
Typically the region experiences a pronounced winter feed gap, the period when pasture growth significantly slows or stops due to colder temperatures, frosts, and reduced daylight hours.
During this time, natural forage availability declines, increasing the need for supplementary feeding to maintain livestock health and production.
Ideally farmers should plan ahead to ensure they have adequate feed resources, whether by planting forage crops, feeding out fodder conserved from the previous seasons, or by supplementary feeding.
Fodder crop choices
There are four main fodder crop choices suitable for the Southern Highlands. Each option has is its advantages and disadvantages, and there are a number of agronomic factors that need to be taken into account to determine the best option for your specific farming situation.
Forage oats
Forage oats is the traditional dual-purpose choice that can be grazed early, then cut for hay or silage later. It provides reliable growth in cool conditions and can provide excellent grazing. Oats tolerates a range of soil types, including acidic soils typical of the area.
Oats typically exhibits lower re-growth potential than other alternatives such as ryegrass and Italian ryegrass and can be susceptible to rust and other fungal diseases in wet conditions.
Annual Ryegrass
Annual ryegrass is quick to germinate, and its early growth provides fast winter feed. Ryegrasses are high-quality forages with excellent digestibility and palatability, and, like forage oats, are suitable for both grazing and silage.
Annual ryegrasses require good baseline soil fertility and adequate soil moisture, particularly in spring.
Co-op Speed Feed
Co-op Speed Feed is a blend of southern green ryecorn and the late maturing Ascend annual ryegrass. It has been designed to provide rapid winter feed from the ryecorn as as well as quality forage later into the season from the annual ryegrass, allowing for additional spring grazing days or silage production.
Co-op Speed Feed requires careful grazing management to promote regrowth and optimise the longevity of the forage stand.
Italian ryegrass
Italian ryegrass is another fast-establishing option with high forage production through winter and early spring. Italian ryegrasses are more persistent than annual ryegrasses, with potential for a second-year regrowth under favourable conditions. They exhibit both excellent palatability and digestibility for livestock.
Similar to annual ryegrasses, Italian ryegrass requires good baseline soil fertility and soil moisture, particularly in spring to perform well.
Plan ahead for the winter feed
A well-planned autumn planting program goes a long way to ensuring you have adequate winter feed supply for your livestock. For advice on which fodder crop options and varieties are best suited to your specific situation, contact the team at Bowral Co-op to arrange a farm visit.
📞 Call Us on 02 4861 8400
📧 Email sales@bowralcoop.com.au
Plus, be sure to ask about the Bowral Co-op Sow to Win Promotion! Simply purchase $250 or more in pasture seed before April 30th for a chance to win a $2,500 Store Credit at Bowral Co-op.
