ProGibb® SG SMARTGRASS

• ProGibb SG increases Dry Matter per ha
• ProGibb SG increases carrying capacity
• ProGibb SG reduces supplementary feeding
• ProGibb SG increases profitability from pasture

ProGibb® SG
is an exciting development in grass based pasture farming systems. Sumitomo Chemical Australia Pty Ltd has trialed ProGibb SG in commercial situations since 2004 demonstrating increases in grass pasture production can be achieved during winter months. ProGibb SG applied to pasture
during winters coolest months will stimulate pasture and increase dry matter per hectare with no loss of feed quality (megajoules ME per kilogram of dry matter). ProGibb SG effectively increases grass growth and feed quantity during periods of reduced winter pasture production. Winter and spring are vital months for balancing pasture growth and providing quality feed available for meat and milk
production. Generally, whole farm carrying capacity is determined by feed availability at this time of year. Pasture depletion during cooler weather and cold soil temperatures will reduce farm incomes and increase costs due to supplementary feeding. It is well documented that between 1500 kg and 2500 kg of dry matter per hectare is ideal pasture quantity to ensure optimum animal production and to allow for best pasture recovery following grazing.

Benefits of ProGibb SG

ProGibb SG effectively increases grass growth and feed quantity during periods of reduced winter
pasture production. Benefits of ProGibb SG include:

• Increased pasture production during winter months
• Increased megajuoles of metabolisable energy per hectare
• Increased energy increases live weight gains and increases milk production
• Increased pasture production means higher carrying capacity and increased profits
• Increased pasture production reduces the need for supplementary feeding
• Organic certification means no withholding period and no residues in either meat or milk
• Organic certification means ProGibb SG can be incorporated into in organic farming systems
• ProGibb SG can be utilised in all pasture based systems including fat lamb, beef, dairy, equine, deer and goat operations

About ProGibb SG

ProGibb SG is a powerful plant growth regulator that has been in use in many horticulture and cropping situations for the past 40 years to improve crop yields and marketability. ProGibb SG is water soluble and readily moves into the plant by leaf absorption. ProGibb SG is supplied as an easy to handle granule formulation requiring only low dose rates. ProGibb SG is packaged in convenient 250 g plastic bottles and 25 g boxes.

Application
ProGibb SG can be applied to pasture at least one year old by conventional ground boom sprayer using a water rate of 100 L per hectare. Boom sprayers can be mounted on tractors, 4WD’s, unimogs or quad bikes for small paddock applications. Water used for application should be of good quality and spray mixtures should not be left to stand over night.

Product Specification

How ProGibb SG works.

ProGibb SG is a naturally occurring plant hormone that stimulates growth through cell expansion resulting in stem and leaf elongation. Following an application of ProGibb SG to pasture, rapid plant growth occurs which is sometimes visible as lighter in colour in the first couple of weeks. This visual response is short term and does not affect pasture quality. Visual responses following an application of ProGibb SG can be seen in 7 days and will provide accelerated growth for up to 3 to 4 weeks provided adequate soil moisture and nutrition is available.

Commercial demonstrations carried out in 2004 to 2006 confirmed that ProGibb SG applied at the rates of 10 g and 20 g per hectare provided a reliable increase in pasture mass and increased dry weight. Pasture feed tests demonstrated no loss in feed value following an application of ProGibb SG.

Photograph of commercial demonstration Hamilton Victoria
ProGibb SG on Ryegrass and clover sheep pasture increased growth by 1043 kg / ha

Commercial demonstrations of ProGibb SG applications indicate an increase of pasture dry matter can range from 324 kg DM / ha to 1250 kg DM / ha when pastures have sufficient nutrition and soil moisture to sustain rapid growth over a short period. Best results are achieved when average ambient temperatures range between 6 to 15 degrees, however ProGibb SG can be applied in average winter temperatures. Applications of ProGibb SG during frost events should be avoided until pasture has recovered.

Compatibility

ProGibb SG can be used alone however where required ProGibb SG is compatible with the range of insecticides and adjuvants listed below. Herbicide tank mixes are not recommended as best results from an application of ProGibb SG on pasture are achieved by controlling weed infestations prior to treating with ProGibb SG.

Urea ProGibb SG can be applied alongside applications of urea based fertilisers. Results of trials have demonstrated increased pasture production over untreated pasture.

This graph demonstrate ProGibb SG and urea combined give an increase in pasture growth and provide increased dry matter

Get the best from ProGibb SG

ProGibb SG works best on high producing pasture of at least one year old with sufficient soil nutrition and moisture to sustain accelerated growth. The pasture should be free from weed contamination to minimise loss of nutrients and moisture and not under stress from adverse weather conditions, pest and disease. Following paddock selection based on good soil nutrition and moisture, graze the selected paddock to remove any rank growth. A pasture base of at least 1000 kg / ha is recommended. Treat selected paddock/s with ProGibb SG at a rate determined by the pasture species. For Phalaris based pastures, a rate of 10 g / ha is recommended. For mixed pastures of perennial ryegrasses and other pasture grasses 20 g / ha is recommended.

Following application it is advised to rest the paddock for up to 21 days before grazing. An additional three treatments of ProGibb SG can be made in succession using the above program to ensure continued pasture growth during winter.

Testimonials

Ian Locke, Holbrook, NSW
‘The increase was effectively double, well over a third even at the most conservative estimate allowing for some level of
natural growth. ‘What ProGibb SG does is get the growth cycle started earlier, bringing it forward so that those colder months aren’t wasted. ‘By supplying them with the right amounts of good feed at this time, we can start lambing and calving earlier and get to market faster and more profitably.’

Wayne Smart, Toodyay, WA
‘After applying the ProGibb SG the increase was easy to see. The growth rate in the treated area was over double that of the untreated ones. ‘ProGibb SG was effective on everything. It worked on the barley and ryegrass and made the clover leaf size nearly double. ‘It kept growing after we grazed it. Even now, through the summer months, the sheep are still feeding on the test area and will probably eat it bare.’

Sam and Fleur Tonge, Casino, NSW
‘This would pretty well reduce our reliance on silage – a saving in itself. ‘Also the feed quality is better, helping maximise production. I figure we’d be making well over $200 more a hectare.’