FEED365
Project Partners:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Meat & Livestock Australia
ASHEEP & BEEF Demonstration Site
Updated 04/04/2025
At the start of 2022, ASHEEP & BEEF was chosen via an expression of interest to participate in the Feed365 Project, a collaboration between the Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development (DPIRD) and Meat & Livestock Australia. The purpose of this project is to research and redesign livestock forage systems to fill feed gaps, develop new feed base options and integrate them into grazing systems.
The project commenced in 2021 at the Katanning Research Facility, and this component of the trial was designed to evaluate traditional and novel forage species.
The Esperance-based component of the Feed365 trial will be over a three year period 2022 - 2024, and three demonstration sites have been selected in the region, two at Josh & Tegan Sullivan’s leased property the Esperance Downs Research Station in Gibson, and at one at The Oaks in Dalyup.
DPIRD and ASHEEP & BEEF meet at the Esperance Downs Research Station to plan the Feed365 demonstration sites in February 2022.
DEMONSTRATION SITE PARTNERS
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DEMONSTRATION SITE OVERVIEWS
SITE 1: Early feed in a pasture - cropping rotation
Location: Esperance Downs Research Station, Gibson
Host: Josh & Tegan Sullivan
Profile: Soil sample 0-40cm, sand to sandy loam, 5.9-6.4 pH(w)
Paddock History: Regenerating pasture of rye grass, sub clovers, capeweed.
2022 Objective: To increase early and late grazing potential while preserving sub clover.
Demonstration Plan: In 2022 this paddock was divided in half, with intention for a dry-seeded pasture mix sown at two different rates.
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Half A = 47 kg/ha seed plus 20 kg/ha Alosca rhizobia inoculum: Leafmore Brassica 2kg, RM4 Vetch 15kg, Triticale 30kg, Alosca FE 10kg, Alosca C 10kg
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Half B = 84 kg/ha seed plus 20 kg/ha Alosca rhizobia inoculum: Leafmore Brassica 4kg, RM4 Vetch 25kg, Triticale 55kg, Alosca FE 10kg, Alosca C 10kg
Brassica included for early feed, vetch for late feed and nitrogen production, and triticale for early winter feed and stubble cover.
Status at close of 2022: 2022 treatments terminated. There was no pre-sow knockdown planned (in an attempt to retain the existing sub-clovers). This resulted in capeweed dominating. Report available in 2022 project update available below.
Soil Type
03/02/22
3.5 weeks post sow
14/6/22
11.5 weeks post sow
09/08/22
2023 Objective: To increase early and late grazing potential while preserving sub clover.
Demonstration Plan: In 2023 the site was put into Planet Barley as part of the Sullivan’s cropping program. The intention was to run a crop grazing demonstration this year, however seasonal conditions did not deal a good hand, with a very dry start followed by significant rainfall at this site. 214mm fell during June. The crop became waterlogged and unfortunately plans to graze the site were abandoned. As the season progressed Josh debated on whether to harvest what he could or see if the regenerating clovers would bulk up for hay. The clovers made an impressive go of it and in late September Josh made the decision to cut the paddock for hay.
Status at close of 2023: This demonstration site has now ceased and is not being used in 2024.
Crop damaged by waterlogging
19/09/23
Sub clover regenerating under crop 19/09/23
Hay cutting
22/09/23
SITE 2: Pasture mix for long term pastures
Location: Esperance Downs Research Station, Gibson
Host: Josh & Tegan Sullivan
Profile: Soil samples 0-40cm, loamy sand / sand, subject to waterlogging, 5.7-6.2 pH(water)
Paddock History: Long-term regenerating pasture including brome grass, silver grass, geranium, rye grass, sub clovers.
2022 Objective: To use tetraploid ryegrass to suppress unwanted grasses such as brome and silvergrass, and to increase pasture biomass
Demonstration Plan: This paddock was sown with a pasture mix and then divided in half, with one half grazed (Half A) and the other kept for hay (Half B). A deep rip strip was included for comparison purposes.
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Seed mix 37 kg/ha plus 20 kg/ha Alosca rhizobia inoculum: Vortex Tetraploid Ryegrass 10kg, Balansa Clover 2kg, Express Forage Oat 15kg, RM4 Vetch 10kg, Alosca FE 10kg, Alosca C 10kg
Balansa clover was added for legume content and potential water logging issues. Forage oats was added for late production of feed and a longer grazing period. Vetch was included for late feed and nitrogen production.
Status at close of 2022: Report in 2022 project update below.
Soil type
03/02/22
3.5 weeks post sow
14/6/22
Hay cutting
05/10/22
2023 Objective: To use tetraploid ryegrass to suppress unwanted grasses such as brome and silvergrass, and to increase pasture biomass.
Demonstration Plan: In 2023 the site was split into halves running the opposite way from the previous year (7ha each). Two experimental pasture mixes were sown on 22nd February, ideally to provide autumn feed, spell over winter and then graze again through late spring.
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Half A: Express Oats @ 30kg/ha, RM4 Vetch @20kg/ha, Balansa Clover @1kg/ha, Alosca Group C for Balansa Clover & Group F/E for Vetch not needed (residual from 2022 application)
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Half B: Tetila Ryegrass @10kg/ha, Margurita / Cadiz Serradella pod mix @20kg/ha, Express Oats @30kg/ha, Balansa Clover @3kg/ha, Alosca Group G/S (In dry granule form, to treat the Serradellas), Alosca Group C for Balansa Clover not needed as residual from previous year’s application.
Status at close of 2023: With a very dry start to the season, the aim to graze during autumn was not met. A visual assessment of the paddock on 24th May 2023 determined that the plants were not advanced enough to cope with grazing and then be able to rebound for a second grazing, so in the interest of extending feed throughout the year grazing was not conducted. On 21 July 2023 Josh reported that after receiving 214mm rain during June, and with site already being subject to waterlogging, the oats, rye grass and vetch were all dead. Later observation by Josh reported that the only sown species to survive were Balansa Clover and limited Vetch. Wimmera Ryegrass and Brome Grass were also noted as surviving. This demonstration site will be planted to a mix that has shown promise under tough conditions in the Katanning FEED365 trials (Triticale @ 40kg /ha - A mixture of Speedee (early cv) and Wonambi (late cv), Cereal Rye @ 30kg /ha - Fastfeed or Vampire, Balansa Clover @10kg/ha. Report on 2023 season results below.
Site 2 seeding
23/02/23
Limited survival of sown species post water logging 19/9/23
Limited survival of sown species post water logging 19/9/23
2024 Objective: To establish a permanent pasture system that will reclaim a run-down paddock whilst managing weeds and meet the Autumn feed gap.
Demonstration Plan: In October 2023, Dr Daniel Real and Dr Angelo Loi visited Esperance and met with Josh Sullivan and other members of the project team to make plans for this paddock for the 2024 season. Angelo was particularly interested in trialing a mix that had shown promise under tough conditions in the Katanning FEED365 trials and the project team agreed to proceed with a mix of triticale (Speedee and Wonambi), cereal rye, and balansa clover (due to the potential for the paddock to be waterlogged). Desired varieties were difficult to source, and the final mix sown included wonambia, ryecorn and balansa clover. Very late seasonal rains meant that the paddock could not be sown to meet the Autumn feed gap, but the decision was made to go ahead and seed the mix in mid-June when opening rains finally arrived. Stock measurements during grazing and pasture analysis was conducted. The paddock was cut for hay and hay testing conducted.
Status at close of 2024: This demonstration site has now ceased as the project has concluded. Results from 2024 are available below.
![IMG_7426(1)[1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f0422e_ee6222567c3741c191f37343d059c4d9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_231,h_308,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/f0422e_ee6222567c3741c191f37343d059c4d9~mv2.jpg)
Site 2 seeding
12/06/24
Site 2 pre-grazing
05/08/24
Site 2 hay cutting
23/09/24
SITE 3: Tedera
Location: The Oaks, Dalyup
Host: Mitchell Greaves & Demi Vandenberghe
Profile: Soil samples 0-40cm, loamy sand to clay loam, 5.5-8.2 pH(w)
Paddock History: 5 ha creek-side paddock in pasture, unsuitable for a crop rotation with a sloping topography, higher rainfall and little by way of drainage issues.
2022 Objective: Establish tedera as a permanent pasture to graze over the summer-autumn feed gap. Demonstration Plan: Establish tedera in winter 2022 and graze in autumn 2023.
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Lanza Tedera 10 kg/ha, Nodulaid Tedera inoculumn
Status at close of 2022: First establishment attempt was sprayed out with RLEM damage & weeds. Second establishment looks to be successful. Report in 2022 project update below.
Tedera site pre-sowing
14/06/22
Tedera establishment 1 RLEM damage 10/08/22
Tedera establishment 2
24/11/22
Status at close of 2023: Grazing conducted between 12/6/23 - 8/8/23 and measurements taken. Results available in 2023 season report below. In October, DPIRD researchers visited the site noting that the Tedera was coming back nicely after the grazing, considering the dry conditions and the large weed competition. It was determined to leave the site ungrazed until the autumn feed gap when green feed will be most valuable. Therefore, next grazing might be in March/April/May 2024 and then in Nov/Dec 2024. Grasses will need to be controlled prior to grazing in autumn with a pre-emergent application of Propyzamide or Ultro. Part of the challenge is that the paddock is coming out of permanent pasture and as a result, weed and insect pressure has been significant. The paddock is not suitable for cropping and was identified as an area that would benefit from improvement. ASHEEP & BEEF is in discussion with DPIRD about providing a degree of cost / benefit analysis to this site.
Tedera pre-grazing
31/05/23
Tedera after six weeks grazing
24/07/23
Dr Daniel Real and Dr Angelo Loi visit the Tedera 12/10/23
Status at close of 2024: It was intended to graze the site for a window in March/April/May 2024 and then in November/December 2024. Daniel Real recommended that grasses would need to be controlled prior to grazing in autumn with a pre-emergent application of Propyzamide or Ultro, as he expected there to be an enormous amount of ryegrass coming up. Unfortunately, with very dry conditions temptation was too much - cattle and sheep broke in and grazed the paddock to ground. Images below show the progression of the site during 2024. The last images taken prior to the unplanned grazing were in February 2024 showing the plants surviving despite very challenging dry conditions. The site host reported at that time that the tedera was coping with the lack of rain better than the lucerne they also grow. After the unplanned grazing stock were removed on 6 April 2024. The plants survived, however as rains came through they also had to complete with the existing regenerating pasture / weeds (see photo from August below). It was determined not to conduct a measured grazing and the site host was given two options to control the weeds - either spray or graze it within their own system. The site was grazed and then locked up later in the year, with the hope to conduct a measured autumn grazing in 2025.
Tedera
12/02/24
Tedera post unplanned grazing 02/04/24
Tedera
01/08/24
PROJECT REPORTS:
Contact ASHEEP if you would like more information on the Esperance-based demonstration sites in this project. ASHEEP members will be provided with regular updates - visit our membership page if you would like to consider joining. The sites will also be showcased at field days. If you would like information about the broader Feed365 Project visit the DPIRD website.