Pasture management
CSIRO is developing more efficient pasture management strategies to improve the profitability and sustainability of Australia's pastures.
- 27 April 2007 | Updated 14 October 2011
- Decision-support tools
- Pasture management in Western Australia
- Related information sheets
- Related scientific papers
Decision-support tools
The GRAZPLAN™ project at CSIRO Plant Industry has developed a series of computer models that are the basis of three commercially available decision support (DS) tools.
These tools are intended to help farmers to make decisions about their farm management based on findings from scientific research. They are aimed not only at farmers and farm advisors, but also at industry organisations, agribusiness, banks and insurance companies.
Two of the tools, GrazFeed™ and GrassGro™, model grazing systems and allow farmers to investigate possible management changes without real-time risks.
GrazFeed™ allows farmers to use supplementary feeds more efficiently by only feeding the amount needed to meet production targets.
GrassGro™ is a more comprehensive model than GrazFeed™. It links the animal production model in GrazFeed™ to a dynamic model of pasture production and quality. GrassGro™ takes into account weather data and soil and pasture information at a given location.
GrassGro™ and GrazFeed™ remove the guesswork from grazing management decisions. They allow farmers to explore options before they spend money.
The simulation models in these successful tools are also being used to explore how best to achieve profitable farm businesses through sustainable management of our grassland resources.
This work is coupled with research investigating the productivity, persistence and sustainability of native and cultivated grass-based pastures in low- and high-input grazing systems.
Read more about the GRAZPLAN™ project through the links shown under Related Topics.
Pasture management in Western Australia
In Western Australia, CSIRO is developing pasture management strategies including rotations and alternative perennial pastures to:
- improve water balance
- reduce the effects of salinity
- understand the economic and water use benefits of different lucerne/crop ratios
- improve the yield and quality of subsequent wheat crops.
CSIRO is also studying the dynamics of nitrogen and water under intensively managed dairy pastures in the high rainfall zone of Western Australia.
Related information sheets
Find related information sheets at:
Related scientific papers
Find related scientific papers at:
Read more about CSIRO's pasture research.
- GRAZPLAN™, GrazFeed™, GrassGro™ and MetAccess™ are trademarks of CSIRO Australia.
Share this CSIRO content using:
Fast facts
- The GRAZPLAN™ project at CSIRO Plant Industry has developed a series of computer models that are the basis of three commercially available decision support tools
- CSIRO's GrassGro™ and GrazFeed™ will help improve pasture management
- We are developing pasture management strategies in Western Australia including rotations and alternative perennial pastures
