Intensive paddock pasture compared to short grass pasture
Each grazing system has its specific advantages and challenges. There is therefore great interest in site-adapted pasture systems in practice, advice and teaching. Currently, farms in Austria are increasingly relying on short grass pastures, but a paddock system might provide more stable yields, especially in dry years.
Comprehensive research project
A comparison of intensive paddock grazing and short grazing grazing under biological conditions in mountain areas has not yet been carried out. In the three-year project, the usual short grass pasture (growth height around 6 cm) will be compared with an intensive paddock pasture system in terms of individual animal and area performance on the Moarhof organic teaching and research farm of the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein. In addition to milk performance and milk quality parameters, the effects on plant population, feed quality, root formation, animal behavior and yield as well as economic efficiency are also comprehensively examined over three grazing periods.
Illustration: The roots are also important! In the research project, two important pasture systems
HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein organic institute
team
Dr. Walter Starz
Organic grassland and agriculture
DI Christian Carnival
Animal husbandry, animal welfare and herd management
Greg Huber
Animal husbandry, animal welfare and herd management