Pasture feed quality in central Queensland

Abstract

The overall quality of a number of pasture species on offer to beef cattle in central Queensland was variable. Nitrogen
contents ranged from deficient to adequate depending on the seasonal conditions, while metabolisable energy was more
likely to be marginally deficient at most times. Protein supplements and/or grain based rations offer the potential to overcome these deficiencies. The best quality on offer was recorded from green leaf components of the major pasture
grass species and leucaena. Grab samples from speargrass and bluegrass, both native grasses; sown grasses; buffel grass
and rhodes grass and the legumes, leucaena, siratro, Wyn cassia and Seca stylo were collected on different occasions and from different locations. The pasture samples were often specific to a location. Collections occurred in either the winter of 1990 or 1993, winter-spring of 1991 or the spring-summer period of 1992. On some occasions only limited sample
material was available.

The study was undertaken over seasons that were considered drier than normal which may have influenced the pasture quality. The rainfall pattern generally influenced the proportion of green leaf of the grass species.