On-farm demonstrations program

This project demonstrates the benefits of Arrowleaf clover in pure and mixed swards, particularly for north of the divide. Arrowleaf clover is a late season legume option that can potentially increase weight gain in lambs prior to sale.

Group: Perennial Pasture Systems (PPS)

Group coordinator: Rob Shea yadin061@tpg.com.au

Agriculture Victoria demonstration coordinator: Jane Court jane.court@agriculture.vic.gov.au

This demonstration is co-funded by Agriculture Victoria and Meat & Livestock Australia.

The demonstration will undertake pasture assessments at 6 host sites and develop plans (with a local agronomist) to address pasture limitations, demonstrating improvements to production over time.

Group: Surf Coast and Bellarine BestWool/BestLamb Group

Group coordinator: Murray Johns johnslandlivestock@gmail.com

Agriculture Victoria demonstration coordinator: Hannah Manning hannah.manning@agriculture.vic.gov.au

This demonstration is co-funded by Agriculture Victoria and Meat & Livestock Australia.

Sheep worm issues are exacerbated in East Gippsland by the even distribution of rainfall throughout the year. This project will address common worm species including Barber’s Pole and demonstrate application of best practice (including drench resistance testing) to manage the issue.

Group: Bairnsdale BestWool/BestLamb and Swifts Creek and Buchan focus groups

Group coordinator: Dr. Ben Blomfield ben.blomfield@unimelb.edu.au

Agriculture Victoria demonstration coordinator: Keren Walker keren.walker@agriculture.vic.gov.au

This demonstration is co-funded by Agriculture Victoria and Meat & Livestock Australia.

The project will demonstrate the benefits of vaccinating maiden ewes against Campylobacter. It will also help the group understand the prevalence and risk factors for Campylobacter within the Campaspe region.

Group: Rochy Vet Sheep Producer Group

Group coordinator: Dr Frankie Collett frances.e.collett@gmail.com

Agriculture Victoria demonstration coordinator: Erica Schelfhorst erica.schelfhorst@agriculture.vic.gov.au

This demonstration is co-funded by Agriculture Victoria and Meat & Livestock Australia.

This group has a great interest in using bioferts matched to soil tests and plant tissue tests. The project demonstrates pasture production, and the cost effectiveness of bioferts compared to traditional fertiliser applications, also applied according to soil test results.

Group: Western Port Landcare Sustainable Farming Discussion Group

Group coordinator: Peter Ronalds

Group: Western Port Landcare Sustainable Farming Discussion Group

Group coordinator: Peter Ronalds inspiredagsolutions@gmail.com

Agriculture Victoria demonstration coordinator: Fiona Baker fiona.baker@agriculture.vic.gov.au

This demonstration is co-funded by Agriculture Victoria and Meat & Livestock Australia.

Benchmarking the genetic potential of six commercial Merino flocks and ensuring that genetic and phenotypic potential of weaners is aligned to a stated breeding objective, driving genetic progress. This demonstration is funded by MLA.

Resources and updates

• Breeding Objectives – July 2021 update (PDF - 108.3 KB)
• Breeding Objectives – July 2021 update (WORD - 131.9 KB)

Group name and coordinator

Agriculture Victoria demonstration co-ordinator

Nick Linden
nick.linden@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Lambs Alive

Jason Trompf

This demonstration is funded by Meat and Livestock Australia.

The aim of this producer demonstration site project is to evaluate precision soil testing and variable rate fertiliser applications (VRA) in Central Victoria. The project measures production and economic benefits to assess the value of precision agriculture for grazing properties.

Resources and updates

• Pyrenees and Smeaton BestWool/BestLamb: Precision soil mapping in central Victorian pastures (PDF - 607.8 KB)
• Pyrenees and Smeaton BestWool/BestLamb: Precision soil mapping in central Victorian pastures
  (WORD - 702.2 KB)

Group name and coordinator

Smeaton and Pyrenees BWBL

Neil James
neil.james@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Precision Ag

Kirsten Barlow
This demonstration is funded by Meat and Livestock Australia.

This producer demonstration site aims to evaluate weed control and pasture management to improve fire affected areas. It is conducted in the Upper Murray and East Gippsland on properties that were burnt in the 2020 bush fires.

Group name and coordinators

Weed Warriors

Upper Murray
Nick Linden
nick.linden@agriculture.vic.gov.au

East Gippsland
Keren Walker

This demonstration is funded by Meat & Livestock Australia

This producer demonstration site aims to increase the number of lambs weaned by 5–10% using a combination of improved scanning practices, joining length, mob size and other management practices to improve reproductive efficiency.

Group name and coordinator

Northern Mallee Livestock Group

Erica Schelfhorst
erica.schelfhorst@agriculture.vic.gov.au

This demonstration is funded by Meat & Livestock Australia.

This producer demonstration site aims to promote soil probe data and its use for making early decisions on Gippsland grazing enterprises under a variable climate.

Group name and coordinator

James Paulet
james.paulet@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Demonstrating productivity benefits from meeting pasture production levels for twin bearing ewes by deferring grazing it in autumn until minimum feed on offer levels have been reached (1400kg DM/ha).

Demonstration summary:

• Autumn savings of pastures (PDF - 755.9 KB)
• Autumn savings of pastures (WORD - 918.8 KB)

Final report:

• Autumn savings of pastures (PDF - 2.4 MB)
• Autumn savings of pastures (WORD - 23.7 MB)

Group name and coordinator

Glenthompson – Dunkeld BWBL

Andrew Whale
M: 0428 374 046

Agriculture Victoria demonstration coordinator

Bindi Hunter, Warrnambool
P: 5561 9909
M: 0428 589 016

Demonstrating the impact of barley grass control strategies on dry matter production and pasture composition in perennial pastures.

Resources and updates

• Project findings
• Case study: Oversowing and weed control at 'Marenda'

Group and coordinators

Perennial pasture systems

Tess McDougall, Agriculture Victoria
M: 0409 841 492

Rob Shea, Perennial Pasture Systems
M: 0438 521 357

This demonstration was co-funded with Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

Investigating the use of soil moisture probes to predict late winter/spring pasture growth and options for using this information to improve feed management.

Resources and updates

• Project findings
• Predicting pasture growth – what's out there? (WORD - 64.3 KB)

Group and coordinator

Glenelg BestWool/BestLamb, Macarthur BetterBeef, Central Ranges Grassland Society of Southern Autstralia

Jane Court, Bendigo
M: 0436 606 742

This demonstration was co-funded with Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

Establishing best practice guidelines for gibberellic acid (GA) use in the Upper Wimmera and Central Victoria regions, and demonstrating the impact of GA as a non-chemical weed control measure.

Demonstration summary:

• Innovative use of Gibberellic Acid (PDF - 448.6 KB)
• Innovative use of Gibberellic Acid (WORD - 373.2 KB)

Final report:

• Innovative use of Gibberellic Acid (PDF - 3.2 MB)
• Innovative use of Gibberellic Acid (WORD - 4.5 MB)

Group name and coordinator

Perennial Pasture Systems

Rob Shea
M: 0438 521 357

Agriculture Victoria demonstration coordinator

Rachael Campbell, Ballarat
P: 5336 6868
M: 0447 347 162

Demonstrating the benefits to the grazing system from sowing an oat crop into an existing phalaris pasture and grazing in winter.

Demonstration summary:

• Pasture cropping to fill the winter feed gap (PDF - 829.3 KB)
• Pasture cropping to fill the winter feed gap (WORD - 705.3 KB)

Final report:

• Pasture cropping to fill the winter feed gap (PDF - 2.2 MB)
• Pasture cropping to fill the winter feed gap (WORD - 14.1 MB)

Group name and coordinator

Glenelg BWBL

Tim Leeming
M: 0427 797 242

Agriculture Victoria demonstration coordinator

Bindi Hunter, Warrnambool
P: 5561 9909
M: 0428 589 016

Resources and updates

• Project findings
• Fodder beet – the lure of potential (PDF - 225.1 KB)
• Fodder beet – the lure of potential (WORD - 489.7 KB)

Group name and coordinator

Upper Murray and Murmungee BetterBeef groups

Nick Linden, Rutherglen (Agriculture Victoria)
M: 0438 369 486

Chris Mirams
M: 0409 205 235

This demonstration was co-funded with Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

Demonstrating the benefits of weaning lambs compared to selling unweaned suckers for Wimmera mixed cropping/livestock properties.

Resources and updates:

• Project findings

July 2021 update

• To wean or not to wean – July 2021 Update (PDF - 312.0 KB)
• To wean or not to wean – July 2021 Update (WORD - 273.7 KB)

Group and coordinators

St Arnaud BestWool/BestLamb

Steve Cotton
M: 0447 352 321

Rachel Coombes, Agriculture Victoria
M: 0436 001 258

This demonstration was co-funded with Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

Demonstrating increased lamb survival by following the Lifting Lamb Survival Paddock Planning and National Lambing Density Protocols.

Measuring the benefits from paddock size, mob size, stocking rate, ewe condition score and improved shelter.

Resources and updates:

• Project findings
• BWBL Western Plains – Lamb survival management strategies – Feb 2021 Update (PDF - 536.8 KB)
• BWBL Western Plains – Lamb survival management strategies – Feb 2021 Update (WORD - 1.0 MB)

Group name and coordinator

Western Plains BestWool/BestLamb

Andrew Kennedy
M: 0408 512 240

Cathy Mulligan

This demonstration was co-funded with Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

Demonstrating and measuring on farm use of a drone to check sheep welfare at lambing and comparing the level of disturbance from a drone to normal practise.

Identifying uses for drones at other times of the year, such as checking water troughs in summer.

Resources and updates

• Project findings
• Drones for monitoring sheep welfare at lambing
• View the drone in action
• Boort BestWool/BestLamb: Using drones on-farm to monitor sheep welfare 2022 (PDF - 366.7 KB)
• Boort BestWool/BestLamb: Using drones on-farm to monitor sheep welfare 2022 (WORD - 423.0 KB)
• Drones for monitoring sheep- July 2020 Update (PDF - 554.6 KB)
• Drones for monitoring sheep- July 2020 Update (WORD - 1.2 MB)
• Farmers add drone pilot to skill set
• Sheep welfare monitored by drones – video

Group name and coordinator

Boort BestWool/BestLamb

Erica Schelfhorst
M: 0429 807 689

This demonstration was co-funded with Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

Use of creep feeding for lambs pre-weaning to improve growth rate and turnoff times.

Case study:

• Finishing systems for growing lambs (PDF - 466.1 KB)
• Finishing systems for growing lambs (WORD - 507.6 KB)

Final report:

• Finishing systems for growing lambs (PDF - 2.0 MB)
• Finishing systems for growing lambs (WORD - 1.9 MB)

Group name and coordinator

Bullioh BWBL

Kristy Howard
M: 0400 282 222

Agriculture Victoria demonstration coordinator

Gervaise Gaunt, Rutherglen
P: 02 6030 4571
M: 0409 027 115

Validating and demonstrating the impact of grazing lucerne (and other green feeds) at joining on conception and comparing this with the impacts of feeding lupins or joining on dry standing feed.

The project also investigated the impact of grazing Lucerne on early embryo mortality.

Final report:

• Impact of green feed (particularly lucerne) on sheep conception

Group name and coordinator

Individual co-operators (statewide)

Agriculture Victoria demonstration coordinator

Gervaise Gaunt, Rutherglen
P: 02 6030 4571
M: 0409 027 115

Demonstrating the economic, social and environmental benefits of increased shelter for lamb survival through the establishment of hedgerows of Tall Wheat Grass, leguminous shrubs, straw bales and shade cloth.

Demonstration summary:

• Shelter options for increased lamb survival (PDF - 1.1 MB)
• Shelter options for increased lamb survival (WORD - 650.8 KB)

Final report:

• Shelter options for increased lamb survival (PDF - 4.7 MB)
• Shelter options for increased lamb survival (WORD - 7.9 MB)

Group name and coordinator

Casterton, Cavendish and Avoca BWBL

Andrew Speirs
M: 0428 685 172

Agriculture Victoria demonstration coordinator

Grace Calder, Ballarat
P: 5336 6628
M: 0429 523 317

Improving production by combining rotational grazing technologies, current and emerging varieties of fodder crops and the best available sheep genetics.

Final report:

• Grazing management for improved reproduction and reduced turnoff times (PDF - 2.3 MB)
• Grazing management for improved reproduction and reduced turnoff times (WORD - 3.3 MB)

Group name and coordinator

Rich River BWBL

Kristy Howard
M: 0400 282 222

Agriculture Victoria demonstration coordinator

Garry Armstrong, Echuca
P: 5430 4716
M: 0472 871 674

Demonstrating the impact of enhanced training techniques at weaning and induction on cattle performance.

Demonstration fact sheet:

• Weaning strategies for improved productivity (PDF - 323.9 KB)
• Weaning strategies for improved productivity (WORD - 235.7 KB)

Final report:

• Weaning strategies for improved productivity (PDF - 1.5 MB)
• Weaning strategies for improved productivity (WORD - 1.4 MB)

Group name and coordinator

South Gippsland farmers

Clare Harris

Demonstrating the use of PMM technology within a commercial beef enterprise to establish maternal pedigree and enable identification and selection of superior breeders.

Demonstration fact sheet:

• Matching cows and their calves using Pedigree MatchMaker (PDF - 319.6 KB)
• Matching cows and their calves using Pedigree MatchMaker (WORD - 225.5 KB)

Final report:

• Matching cows and their calves using Pedigree MatchMaker (PDF - 6.2 MB)
• Matching cows and their calves using Pedigree MatchMaker (WORD - 11.7 MB)

Group name and coordinator

Colac BWBL

Nathan Scott
M: 0409 493 346

Agriculture Victoria demonstration coordinator

Chris Blore, Hamilton
P: 5573 0720
M: 0428 155 781

Investigating the presence of dung beetles in southwest Victoria and demonstrating their benefits to prime lamb operations.

Resources and updates:

• Project findings
• Case study: Cashmore Park
• These dung beetles were trapped on South West Prime Lamb Group (SWPLG) farms with assistance from the Dung Beetle Ecosystem Engineers (DBEE) project:
  • – Aphodius fimetarius – introduced
  • – Bubas bison – introduced
  • – Euoniticellus fulvus – introduced
  • – Euoniticellus pallipes – introduced
  • – Geotrupes spiniger – introduced
  • – Onitis aygulus – introduced
  • – Onthophagus australis – native
  • – Onthophagus binodis – introduced
  • – Onthophagus mnisznechi – native
  • – Onthophagus posticus – native
  • – Onthophagus taurus – introduced
• This short (3 min) video explains how to find dung beetles on your property.
• Meet the dung beetles on South West Prime Lamb Group (SWPLG) farms (WORD - 128.8 KB)

Group name and coordinator

SW Prime Lamb Group (BestWool/BestLamb)

Kate Joseph
M: 0428 541 158

Bindi Hunter, Warrnambool
M: 0428 589 016

This demonstration was co-funded with Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

Demonstrating and evaluating the use of new, commercially available sensor-based technologies for monitoring:

• electric fencing
• soil moisture
• livestock
• weather
• tanks.

Resources: AgTech Bytes

• AgTech Bytes 1: Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN)
• AgTech Bytes 2: Electric fence monitor
• AgTech Bytes 3: Dashboard
• AgTech Bytes 4: Mobile networks
• AgTech Bytes glossary (WORD - 1.3 MB)
• AgTech Bytes glossary (PDF - 664.8 KB)

Case study: AgTech

• AgTech provides on-farm labour savings
• AgTech for earlier decisions

Group name and coordinator

GSSA Pasture Tech Group

Jonathan Jenkin
M: 0456 853 535

Agriculture Victoria demonstration coordinator

Chris Blore, Hamilton
M: 0428 155 781