Table 7-1. Tall fescue grazing management guide for sheep and beef farms. |
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Period and conditions |
Recommended management |
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First grazing |
When plants are 10 to 12 cm, graze for 1 to 2 d with concentrated mobs, leaving 5 cm behind. |
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First spring |
Maintain grass at 4 to 12 cm by frequent rotational grazing or short periods of careful set stocking. |
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First summer |
When growth slows due to dryness, remove stock until 12 cm of regrowth occurs. |
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Autumn |
Keep tall fescue at 4 to 10 cm after the autumn break. |
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Vegetative phase autumn to early spring) |
Rotationally graze from 10 down to 2 cm, or set stock with at least a 5-cm cover. |
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Heading phase (Sept.-Nov.; Aug.-Oct. for early cultivars) |
Use set stocking at 2 to 4 cm of cover, or between 5 and 7 cm with stock rotation. High stocking rates may be needed. |
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Drought |
When tall fescue growth has almost stopped, remove stock until 12 cm of regrowth occurs following substantial rain (not essential with Mediterranean cultivars). |
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Wet weather |
Remove stock from paddock when soils are wet, especially with heavy stock, to prevent compaction. |