The farm is over 1,700 acres in size, and the Forbes family milk around 750 to 800 cows on the Barrington River – producing around seven million litres of milk per year.
They use a rotational grazing system, with rotations longer in the winter months. Green pasture feed is available year-round and sustains steady milk production.
Grazing in multi-species pasture is managed to maintain the quality of the feed. In the early years, pasture is grazed low (down to four inches), with the time between grazing longer in the later years.
Adam and his family have been steadily converting their traditional kikuyu pasture-based system to a multi-species system. This has been driven by a desire to maintain a consistent supply of high-quality feed year-round to support milk production. There is also a preference to maintain a pasture-based system for ease of operation.
Throughout this transition, milk production and profit has remained consistent.
Adam and his family plan to continue trialling multi-species pasture combinations to determine the best fit for each paddock and the herd.
This will be informed by soil testing, soil moisture probes, pasture performance, milk production volumes and advice from agronomists.
Key learnings
Through trial and error and working with agronomists, Adam and his family have found multi-species pasture to be more resilient. Deeper rooted species tend to have more flexible watering requirements and respond well to grazing.
They are also highly palatable and provide consistent year-round green feed – eliminating the need for supplementary feeding and ensuring steady milk production.
Additionally, deeper rooted species reduce reliance on herbicides and fertiliser and allow for a more adaptable approach to pasture management. They can respond better to environmental conditions, so take advantage of rainfall events at any time of the year.
You can hear more about Adam’s transition to multi-species pastures at Dairy Australia’s Grounds for Growth event, which is being held from 4-6 March in Warrnambool, Victoria.
Find out more and register at Grounds for Growth - Soil & Pasture Biodiversity Event | Dairy Australia.