Product Used: Bouncer Hybrid Forage Brassica, Subzero Hybrid Forage Brassica
A first time look at hybrid forage brassicas on the property of John Bishop, at Clifton on the central Darling Downs in Queensland had proved very successful.Mr Bishop said he’d seen forage brassicas further south and had a friend recommend them so last season he talked to his agronomist and put some in.
He planted Subzero and Bouncer forage brassicas in a mix with oats in one area, and in a mix with canary in another.The crops were planted relatively early in March and the warm weather and a lack of wintery conditions helped the Subzero and Bouncer really jump out of the ground.“They just grew and grew and grew,” Mr Bishop said. “It outgrew the canary early.
The Bouncer was probably a foot to 14 inches high when we put the cattle in.”One area of 14 acres was grazed by 30 cows and 30 calves from late June for a four week period. The cattle really took to the feed and were allowed to graze the crop down, although some length was left to encourage regrowth.“I think we could have got five to six weeks all up from it,” Mr Bishop said. “Those cattle have done really well on it.”
The area was spelled with the intention of utilising the feed further into the spring.Wiltshire Horn Sheep also grazed the brassica-based pasture and took to it very well.“Once they started on it they just hoed into it,” Mr Bishop said.He said it was interesting to see the performance of the two hybrid brassica types in the same paddock.The Bouncer is slightly lighter in colour than the Subzero and so could be picked across the area.“I think Subzero might have done a bit better in the red soil and Bouncer did a bit better in the black,” Mr Bishop said. “I’m happy with what they’ve both done this year.”He said the introduction of Subzero and Bouncer provided a bulk of feed and the stock really performed well.
John Bishop, at Clifton on the central Darling Downs in Queensland
