In mixed farming systems, one of the biggest challenges is the winter feed gap. One tool that offers this flexibility is dual-purpose cropping. Crops can be grazed in winter to provide high-quality feed, then harvested for grain at the end of the season. In tough years, grazing can be extended — with reduced inputs — and the crop may not be harvested at all, giving farmers more options.
The Benefits
Compared with pasture, crops grow more vertically and have higher energy content. This means stock can meet their energy requirements more easily — with a lower feed-on-offer threshold. Trial data showed that liveweight gains on crops were significantly higher than on pasture.
As a result, crop grazing can deliver several practical benefits:
- Help twin-bearing ewes can gain weight before lambing, leading to heavier lambs with better survival.
- Increase carrying capacity.
- Reduce supplementary feeding costs.
- Enable the production of out-of-season finished lambs.
The Costs
The major downside of grazing crops is the potential grain yield penalty. Across four years of trials in Kojonup, the average penalty was around 400 kg/ha, though it ranged from almost nothing to more than 800 kg/ha depending on the season and management. The worst outcomes came when grazing extended late into August. Overall, the yield penalty was closely related to grazing intensity and was modelled as 45% of the biomass consumed.
Another potential risk is increased weed seed set. Grazing reduces crop competition, which can allow weeds to establish and set seed, impacting subsequent years. This was not included in the economic analysis because no trial data was available. The results therefore represent a well-managed, clean paddock scenario where weed burden is not increased.
The Economics
So, does it pay? The answer is yes.
- Whole-farm profits lifted by around $50/ha grazed when crop grazing was integrated.
- Even under a higher-than-expected yield penalty, crop grazing remained profitable.
- The “sweet spot” for profit was at a grazing intensity of about 400 kg/ha, equivalent to roughly 12 DSE/ha for three weeks.
To unlock the full benefits, however, farmers need to adjust their management:
- Increase stocking rate by 0.5-1.5 DSE/WgHa to make full use of the extra feed.
- Reduce supplementary feeding (by about 15 kg/DSE).
Robust Across Price Scenarios
One of the strengths of dual-purpose cropping is its resilience to changing markets. The strategy held up under both high grain prices and low livestock prices, though the benefits were strongest when sheep prices were firm. Grazing still paid even when grain prices rose because there is a reduction in the need to feed high cost supplement.
Managing the Risks
- Yield penalty: Graze early (June–July) and lightly to minimise grain yield loss while still capturing livestock benefits.
- Weed risk: Limit crop grazing to paddocks that can be pulled out of the cropping rotation (ie used for hay or as a pasture paddock), and sow early to maximise crop establishment and competition.
- Seasonal variation: Penalties can be higher in poor springs, but this tends to balance out over time. Timely management helps reduce the risk.
- Adoption: Start small to see how crop grazing fits into your own system before scaling up.
🌱 This project was funded by MLA’s Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) program in collaboration with Southern Dirt.