When one enters Tim Trescowthick’s paddock of phalaris and sub-clover pasture treated with Gibberellic acid through the proprietary product ProGibb, the difference between the treated pasture and the strip intentionally left unsprayed is obvious.
On first glance, the majority of the paddock appears to be of paler green than the untreated strip but that is only because the phalaris plants have incredible growth, especially for the middle of winter on the Trescowthick family property, “Roachdale”, Holbrook.
The 28 hectare paddock lambing 252 multiple pregnancy Composite ewes was sprayed with ProGibb in early June at the rate of 12.5gms/ha.
Placing his pasture gauge into the phalaris and sub-clover pasture sprayed with ProGibb, Mr Trescowthick measured approximately 1900kgs of available DM per hectare: but when he moved to the pasture strip deliberately unsprayed, he only measured about1400kgs DM.
“That is a fair indication of the increased production I am getting from using ProGibb on my phalaris and sub-clover pastures,” Mr Trescowthick said.
“We have been able to raise our stocking rates from seven to nine multiple pregnancy ewes per hectare with the extra growth across our pastures.”
Mr Trescowthick first started using ProGibb in 2010.
He had been to a pasture field day, and when some friends suggested they had been using it with success, Mr Trescowthick made an initial application to a selected paddock.
“I am wary of untried products, but I saw the difference in growth and amount of pasture produced,” Mr Trescowthick said.
“I had also seen some data from trials … the beauty of GibbPro is that it is very evidence based.
“We can actually see the response once GibbPro is applied with extra stem and leaf production.”
Pasture production during winter tightens Mr Trescowthick’s sheep operation, and in common with all eastern Riverina livestock producers, he is always seeking methods to raise his productivity.
“Being in a fairly frost-prone area, winter growth is very limited, and because we have a proportion of our paddocks with established Australian phalaris which is not very winter active, pasture production can be aproblem,” he said.
“By using ProGibb we have really been able to turn our winter pasture production around which has been a great benefit to our mid-July lambing for our Composite self-replacing flock.”
“We have also been able to build a good feed wedge prior to lambing, which removes the need to supplementary feed our ewes during lambing.”
Mr Trescowthick feeds his ewes prior to joining and for a period following commencement of joining to help lift the conception in his flock. Depending on the season he aims to stop feeding mid- way through joining.
“But I estimate we have gained at least 50 percent in DM production during the winter months in those paddocks where Progibb has been applied in mid-June .”
Mr Trescowthick has applied ProGibb on his pasture paddocks at the rates of 20gms per hectare and 12gms per hectare, but will be reducing the application rate since attending the recent field day held at Table Top.
“I discovered at the recent field day that 10 gms/ha is a sufficient application rate for phalaris. Most other grasses require 20 gms/ha ,” he said. “At the 10 gm/ha rate the cost of the product is under $6/ha which to me represents very cheap extra feed.”
“For us, in this country with our cultivars, the application of ProGibb has been a revolution for our pasture production system.”
