Skip to content

Pasture Analysis

Pasture samples were taken to gain insight into the variation in feed quality attributes and mineral content, which it must be remembered are a snapshot at a point time, since these values will change through the year. Recall also, the samples were taken to be representative of how the intended livestock would graze, not a full pasture cut from ground up.
Feed Metrics... what we tested and why

image.png
Front
image.png
Bullock

image.png

Callide East

Feed Quality Results
Sample Site
Front
Callide East
Jacks West
Scrub 3
Desired
Notes
Energy - ME (MJ/kg)
8.1
9.1
8.6
7.2
>8
Plant energy reflects the combination of soil nutrition, grazing and species desirability.
Crude Protein%
4.9
7.7
10.0
8.0
> 15
Low protein (<18%) suggests legume component can be improved and quality is below optimal
Digestibility (DMD) (%)
57
62
59
51
> 60
Below 55% will likely reduce animal performance (ADG), above 60% is good quality feed
Neutral Detergent Fibre% (NDF)
61
60
53
63
<50
Higher plant fibre reduces total animal intake and associated performance, below 60 preferred
There are no rows in this table

Feed Mineral Levels
Sample Site
Front
Callide East
Jacks West
Scrub 3
Desired
Comments
Nitrogen %
0.74
1.26
1.56
1.20
> 3%
Nitrogen & Sulphur drive plant protein
Calcium %
0.36
0.18
0.37
0.26
> 0.6
Calcium drives weight gain & feed quality
Phosphorus %
0.26
0.12
0.25
0.19
> 0.3
P drives plant energy (ME) above
Sulphur %
0.15
0.14
0.23
0.11
> 0.35
N&S are critical to Protein production
Potassium %
1.25
1.51
1.52
1.37
2-3%
Magnesium %
0.12
0.11
0.21
0.18
> 0.25%
Low Magnesium often leads to grass tetany and staggers
Sodium%
0.23
0.42
0.12
0.35
Trace elements
Zinc ppm
34
19
14
26
> 40
Copper ppm
3
4
4
4
> 10
Molybdenum (mg/kg)
<0.50
<0.50
0.7
<0.50
> 0.5
Ratios:
Ca:P Ratio
1.4
1.5
1.5
1.3
1.5:1
Nitrogen : Sulphur
5.0
9.3
6.8
10.6
10-20
Ca:Mg Ratio
3.0
1.6
1.8
1.4
3:1
There are no rows in this table
image.png
All samples show LOW P in both Soil and Feed test results. Soil P needs to be higher to achieve higher P% in feed which generally transfers into feed quality as metabolisable energy (ME)

image.png
All samples show lower than desired metabolisable energy (ME) in the forage and P is marginal

Summary

PRIORITIES for Feed Results
Sample Notes

Want to print your doc?
This is not the way.
Try clicking the ··· in the right corner or using a keyboard shortcut (
CtrlP
) instead.