Abstract
Grazing management decisions by beef cattle
and sheep producers in south-eastern Australia have tended to be influenced
more by the needs of livestock, often with little consideration given to the
possible short- or long-term production impacts that the duration or intensity
of grazing may have on pastures. This is partially due to inadequate knowledge
of these impacts on some pasture types. Grazing decisions relating principally
to livestock tend to be based on a subjective appraisal of liveweight change
and pasture assessments often with inadequate understanding of critical
pasture characteristics influencing livestock production or the ability to
assess these characteristics.
PROGRAZE is an extension package developed to assist beef cattle and sheep
producers improve the quality of grazing management decision making so they
more efficiently and effectively achieve their production and market targets
for livestock and livestock products while maintaining or improving the
productivity and sustainability of their pastures.
To measure knowledge change, PROGRAZE participants were surveyed before they
commenced the course and again at its conclusion. To measure on-farm adoption
of the skills and knowledge contained within PROGRAZE, participants were again
surveyed about 12 months after completing the course. Five focus groups were
conducted as a means of obtaining direct feedback from a range of participants
on issues not adequately addressed through the surveys.
The surveys showed the most significant area in knowledge change by
participants was associated with pasture quality and the influence of pasture
characteristics on pasture intake and livestock prodution. There was strong
evidence of practice change by participants particularly, grazing decisions
associated with pasture management. When asked whether participation in
PROGRAZE had resulted in increased financial returns from their grazing
enterprise, 89% replied it had and 91% indicated participation
would lead to more sustainable pastures. The overall response to PROGRAZE was
positive with 59% of those producers who replied to the survey
indicating it exceeded or completely met their expectations and another
36% stating that it had mostly met expectations. Ninety-nine percent of
respondents indicated that they would recommend PROGRAZE to fellow producers.
Subject
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Cited by
36 articles.
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