Boost pastures using effluent

1 May 2025

Rachael Campbell, Dairy Industry Development Officer

Benefit your pastures by emptying your dairy effluent ponds. The extra water and nutrients can kick start growth, ready for follow up rain.

Effluent ponds are designed to contain effluent over winter, so must be emptied before the start of the wet period.

Although it is getting closer to winter, if soils are still dry, now is the time to ensure your storage ponds are relatively empty.

Effluent is a great resource, however, if the pasture plants are dead, an application of effluent will not revive them.

If the plants are a honey colour with some sign of green leaves, then an application of effluent will provide a great boost.

Consider the following when applying effluent:

• avoid grazing paddocks until at least 21 days after an effluent application to reduce the risk of nitrate poisoning
• transition cows shouldn’t be grazed on high potassium paddocks to avoid metabolic problems – this includes paddocks where effluent has been applied
• young stock shouldn’t have access to adult stock areas or areas where effluent is stored or has been applied
• when applying effluent to new pasture or crops, wait until the crop is established, as effluent is often high in salts that can burn the seedlings
• rotate effluent application paddocks regularly to make the best use of nutrients contained in effluent and avoid overloading a small area
• soil test effluent application paddocks and modify fertiliser applications as appropriate.

An effluent test is recommended before application, as nutrient levels vary depending on several factors and this way the effluent can be applied at appropriate rates to benefit your pastures.

Find more information about drought and dry seasonal conditions support

Media contact: Anna Ferguson

Phone: 0499 540 475