Extending the Grazing Season: Optimising Winter Forage for Livestock & Soil Health

Seminar Tent

Outwintering livestock for part or all of the winter can be a great alternative to housing, but it requires careful management to ensure animals and soil are not stressed and maintain good condition. In this session three Innovative Farmers trialists will talk about their experiences investigating different approaches to extending the grazing season. These include trialing diverse forage mixes to replace monocrop brassicas, growing herbal leys to maintain soil structure, and bale grazing for paddock recovery. All these practices consider the overall health of the farm system, including soil health, biodiversity, animal welfare, farmer welfare and economic sustainability.