Region: Greater Darwin, Katherine Region, Barkly Region, Central Australia | Topic: Livestock
Nov 2022 | Dr. Farida Abubakari, Pastoral Extension Officer, Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
The Grasses on display at the Alice Springs Show
Knowing which grasses are preferred by cattle is an important skill. Do you find yourself unable to recognise the most preferred grasses based just on observation? I might struggle, but livestock don't have any trouble.
Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade staff showcased eight grass species at the Alice Springs Show. Seven people (including some cattle managers) were chosen at random to rate the palatability of grasses on a scale of 1 to 8, where 1 meant the cattle found it the most palatable, and 8 meant they found it least palatable. After reading the names of the grasses printed on pieces of paper and viewing the displayed grasses on a table, the participants were asked to rank the grasses based on their observations. The results revealed that only three people correctly ranked cotton panic grass, purple plume grass, and native oat grass in their correct order, while four correctly ranked bunched kerosene grass, umbrella grass, woolly oat grass, native millet grass, and woollybutt grass. This indicates that just a small percentage of people are aware of some of the preferred grasses that our livestock enjoy.
Below are the grasses that were displayed in order of palatability preference and their relative pastoral value.
The most preferred is the native oat grass (Enneapogon avenaceus), sometimes referred to as bottlewashers. It is a short-lived perennial grass that can reach a height of 30 cm. When pastures are in good condition, oat grass supplies a sizeable amount of feed and has good nutritional value and palatability during all growth phases. Native oat grass is a great pasture for livestock to gain weight.
Source: Allan et al., (2006)
Woolly oat grass (Enneapogon polyphyllus) is an annual or short-lived perennial tussock grass that reaches a height of 45 cm. At all growth phases, it is easily grazed and recognised as valuable fodder. When it dominates pastures it supplies enough nutrients to fatten cattle.
Source: Allan et al., (2006)
Umbrella grass (Digitaria coenicola) is a short-lived perennial grass that grows from to 60 cm tall. It is a highly palatable plant that is preferred for grazing above many other perennial grasses. Umbrella grass has good nutritional value, and their presence in a paddock can be a sign of a healthy pasture.
Source: Allan et al., (2006)
Native millet grass (Panicum decompositum), also called Australian millet is a perennial grass that grows to 1m high. The herbaceous stems and abundant foliage provide palatable fodder. Plants rarely survive in places with a high stock density due to preferential grazing, and palatability varies with soil type and location. It is a valuable forage and provides a large bulk of feed after heavy rain.
Source: Allan et al., (2006)
Cotton panic grass (Digitaria brownii) is a perennial grass that grows to 50cm in height. Livestock enjoy eating the comparatively soft foliage and slender stems. It has a moderate nutritional value when green but declines when mature. It is not a preferred species and eaten only when other feed are not available.
Source: Allan et al., (2006)
Bunched kerosene grass (Aristida contorta), also known as mulga grass, is an annual or short-lived perennial grass that grows to a height of 30 cm tall. Stock typically graze it when it is young. Once it has dried out, it no longer has much nutritional value.
Source: Allan et al., (2006)
Woollybutt grass (Eragrostis eriopoda) is a long lived perennial grass that grows to a height of 50 cm. The new growth is moderately palatable whiles mature plants have poor palatability, digestibility and nutritional value. They are tolerant to moderate grazing, and are useful drought feed.
Source: Allan et al., (2006)
Purple plume grass (Triraphis mollis) is described as a short-lived perennial which emerges after rain. It is normally grazed, but generally not well regarded as a forage as it contains hydrogen cyanide. Stock poisoning is rarely a problem as the species typically occurs as isolated plants scattered in pastures dominated by other grasses.
Source: Alice Springs Desert Park (2022)
More information
Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade offers services to producers to help them identify pasture species through the Rangeland Management Courses. Contact Dr Farida Abubakari, Pastoral Extension Officer by email farida.abubakari@nt.gov.au or call (08) 8951 8131.
Images 1-7 were from Coral Allan, Dionne Walsh and Carly Sugars, ed., Allan, C. & Wilson, D. (2006) Central Australian Grass Guide: the essential glove box guide for pastoral lands. Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines, Alice Springs, NT.
Image 8 was downloaded from Purple plume grass - Alice Springs Desert Park in September 2022.
