Paddock Establishment and Maintenance
Proper paddock maintenance is essential for ensuring a reliable food source for livestock. It provides nutritious grazing and supports livestock health and performance. Successful paddock management begins with careful ground preparation, whether establishing a new paddock or overseeding an existing one.
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When starting a new paddock, soil assessment and necessary amendments, such as adjusting pH and adding nutrients, are key. Choosing the right seed mix for the soil and climate ensures optimal growth. For overseeding, focus on improving existing pasture by filling in bare patches and enhancing yield. Proper preparation ensures a resilient, productive paddock for long-term success.
Starting a paddock from scratch
Paddocks can deteriorate over time, leading to bare patches and weed invasion if not properly maintained. In such cases, a complete reseed may be required. This involves stripping the paddock down to bare soil and starting anew, ensuring the establishment of a healthy, thriving pasture for long-term productivity and grazing.
Sowing is best done between March and September, with spring or autumn being ideal. Summer sowings are at risk of drought and high temperatures. Ensure the soil temperature is above 7°C and moist, with no frost risk. It’s ideal to sow before light rain.
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Check the recommended sowing rate and use a seed spreader to broadcast the seed. After sowing, roll the area to ensure good seed-to-soil contact.
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The new pasture typically requires 6-8 weeks to establish. Before grazing, conduct the Pluck Test to confirm the seedlings are strong enough to handle livestock.
Sowing
Begin by clearing any existing vegetation, including grasses and weeds, through digging, spraying, or ploughing. Pay special attention to weeds like ragwort, thistles, dock, and nettles, as they can persist and overtake the area. Once cleared, break up any large soil lumps and remove stones if possible.
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Next, harrow the soil to create a fine seedbed, which will help the seedlings establish strong roots. However, ploughing and harrowing may bring dormant weed and grass seeds to the surface, so it’s advisable to leave the soil for 2-4 weeks to allow these seeds to germinate. They can then be removed by digging or spraying before sowing your new paddock. This ensures the new pasture has the best start, with fewer weeds competing with the seedlings.
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It’s also a good idea to conduct a soil test to identify any nutrient deficiencies, which can be corrected with fertiliser before sowing the seeds.
Ground Preparation
Overseeding
Grassland deteriorates over time, and overseeding helps maintain its quality, preventing the need for a complete reseed. With proper care, paddocks can provide productive grazing for many years.
Timing is crucial when overseeding a paddock. It’s best done in early to mid-spring or autumn. Overseeding later than mid-spring is not advisable, as the existing grass ley will enter a rapid growth phase, which can smother the new seedlings. The new grass won’t thrive under this competition.
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Check the sowing rate, as it will be lower than reseeding from scratch. Broadcast the seed using a seed spreader, then harrow the area again. Finally, roll the paddock to ensure the seed makes good contact with the soil.
Sowing
Mow the paddock or graze heavily to keep the grass as short as possible. Harrow the area to remove any dead grass and to open up the existing sward, creating space for new seedlings.
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It’s also crucial NOT to fertilise before overseeding, as this will encourage the existing grass to grow more vigorously, which can outcompete the new seedlings.
Ground Preparation
The new pasture typically takes 6-8 weeks to establish before it is ready for grazing. To ensure the seedlings have developed strong enough roots to withstand grazing, perform the Pluck Test:
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Gently hold a new seedling between your thumb and forefinger.
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Pull the seedling sharply to mimic the action of grazing.
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If the seedling pulls up by the root, it indicates the pasture is not yet ready for grazing.
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If the seedling breaks off at the stem and the roots remain firmly in the soil, the pasture is ready to be grazed.
Once ready, graze lightly for up to a week, then remove livestock for 2-3 weeks. This encourages growth by removing the tips. After this rest period, normal grazing can resume.
The Pluck Test
Grassland Weeds
Common Ragwort
Senecio jacobaea
Ragwort is a common biennial weed that starts off growing as rosette and produces clusters of bright yellow daisy like flowers from May to October. It can grow up to approximately 90cm. It is poisonous, especially to grazing livestock, so it must be removed from pasture before it produces seeds, to prevent its spread. This should be done wearing long sleeves and gloves and using a specially designed ragwort fork which removes it by the root. Ragwort must be disposed of according to government guidelines.
Ragwort is a biennial weed with yellow, daisy-like flowers that poses a toxic risk to livestock, especially horses and cattle, making control essential for safe grazing.
Broad-leaved Dock
Rumex obtusifolius
Broad-leaved Dock is a perennial weed found in poor pasture. The leaves are slightly red tinged and their breadth can be as much as half their length. It can grow up to 120cm tall. It forms a long tap root that can grow even if damaged and can be very persistent. Due to its ability to produce a large quantity of seeds, it is important that this plant it is controlled, usually by spraying.
Broad-leaved Dock is a perennial weed commonly found in poor pasture, characterized by red-tinged leaves that can be up to half their length in width.
Spear Thistle
Cirsium vulgare
The Spear Thistle is a widespread robust perennial found on grassland and roadside verges. Although it is unpalatable to livestock, it can compete with grass and its seeds spread very easily. It can grow up to approximately 1m tall and produces spiny grey green leaves and classic thistle like flowers during the summer months.
The Spear Thistle is a hardy perennial commonly found on grassland, roadsides, and disturbed areas. It is easily recognized by its spiny leaves and purple flower heads.