And the success of the 'gap filler' is highlighted by the intention to use Winfred again this coming year.
"The bean stubble usually supports two to three lambs an acre for six to eight weeks, but this year we ran six to seven lambs an acre for 11 weeks on the Winfred. "We held 530 lambs on 90 acres, and sold 500 of them straight off the crop, in late February, with prices ranging from $91 to $97. "That is pretty good for us." Although the bean stubble isn't considered a cost for summer grazing, the stocking rate is lower, and it doesn't last as long. There is also no re-growth for a second grazing. Mr Hobbs estimates that the cost of seed and fertiliser was around $80 per hectare. SPS Forage Blend Plus - a mix of Winfred, a multiple grazing forage brassica, with the forage herbs, Tonic plantain - was sown at the end of August, at a sowing rate of four kilograms per hectare. The seed was Gaucho treated to provide three-four weeks protection from Red legged earth mite. "I liked the idea of having something extra in the brassica crop, providing a more varied diet for the lambs." A day after sowing it rained, giving the crop a good start. However, the silver grass also thrived, so Mr Hobbs intends to use a regime of spray topping and winter fallow in future. Lambs were introduced to the crop 13 weeks later. "The crop didn't look pretty, it was not knee high, unlike these large, leafy crops you see down south, but it worked." The lambs were locked on the paddock, with access to rough hay and a scrubby area. Two weeks after the lambs were sold the crop had started re-growing, being about four inches high, and was looking ready for a drink. Mr Hobbs hoped to get a second grazing before direct drilling oats or Crusader Italian ryegrass into the SPS Forage Blend Plus, for extra bulk through the following winter and spring. Results with similar Winfred-Tonic mixes throughout southern regions of Victoria suggest the Tonic will contribute valuable dry matter in the second and any subsequent grazing's. Mr Hobbs used Winfred on the advice of Stephen Pasture Seeds Sales and Marketing Manager, Michael Grant. Mr Grant is a keen advocate of Winfred in 'testing environments'. "It is such a tough product. It will survive the heat, and begin re-growing when opening rains, or unusual summer rains, occur," says Mr Grant. "The most important thing in marginal areas is to have it sown by mid August - early September, to capture the spring rain. Then it will be ready by December, approximately 12 weeks after sowing, when other pastures have dried off and are of low quality."

Key Features:

• Summer, autumn and winter feed option
• Ready to feed in 10-12 weeks High quality feed
• Excellent re growth potential
• Outstanding tolerance to dry conditions
• Deep tap root
• Can be autumn sown for winter feed
• Ideal cereal break crop

Cereal break-crop option
For cropping farmers requiring a break crop as a disease management tool, forage brassicas may be a more attractive alternative to using Canola. As with Canola - also a member of the brassica species - forage brassicas have similar planting requirements.

Why keep forage brassicas in your rotation

• An ideal disease break for following cereal crops.

Brassicas release 'glucosinolates' into the soil, this fumigation action can assist in controlling root diseases such as crown rot, common root rot, take- all, root nematodes. The impact of cereal foliar diseases is reduced on subsequent cereal crops after a brassica crop rotation often up to a 30%* improvement in grain yield.

• A method of paddock clean-up prior to re-establishment of pasture or Lucerne.

A forage brassica allows opportunities for chemical control of grass weeds, a break in root diseases, mechanical soil working, and fertilizer application and incorporation.

• Flexibility in where to slot them in a rotation.

Either winter or spring/summer crops. Between cereal rotations or as part of pasture renewal programme.
Adapt to the seasonal conditions - use as spring sown if no autumn break sowing was possible. A short-term, late summer-autumn crop in early break situation.
Reduce paddock down-time if autumn canola sowing was impossible by using a spring sowing of forage brassica.

• Forage brassicas require similar preparation, establishment, and agronomic considerations as canola.
• A grazing crop offers alternatives in the years where high stock prices are more attractive than canola grain returns.

Grazing stock - things to consider

• Access to subdivision and water

Unlike a grain crop, e.g. canola, the forage crop will require a boundary fence, and ideally a way to subdivide into smaller breaks to have more control over utilization and stocking rate. A clean water supply must be accessible at all times.

• Area to sow

It is best to work out the numbers of stock you are willing to graze over a particular time period, rather than sowing the area first and then trying to find stock. For example, if a farmer has 1000 lambs, an area of 41ha would feed these for a period of 90 days, assuming a yield of 5.8T DM/ha.

• Normal animal health requirements

Be prepared with a preventative parasite and flystrike programme. Occasionally health issues with grazing brassicas can arise.

WINFRED planning and grazing checklist

• Paddock selection
  - use for pasture renovation, cereal break crop
  - water supply
  - run-off paddock nearby
  - weed and fertility 'sues addressed
• Preparation
  - fine, firm, moist seedbed
  - 1-2cm planting depth achievable
• Sowing
  - 3-4kgs/ha
  - conventional or direct-drilling
  - with or without herbs & clovers
  - seed treatment, fertiliser application
• Sowing time
  - 12 weeks before feed required - can be sown from early August onwards
• Grazing
  - crop has reached maturity (10-12 weeks)
  - slow stock introduction
  - diet supplemented with another feed source
  (Animal intake for brassicas should not be greater than 33% for daily, 70% for beef cattle and lambs can consume up to 100%)
  - monitor animal health

* information taken from www.pioneer.com