Yet, a grazing trial conducted by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is looking at improving profit by up to 50 per cent while still maintaining environmental goals.

Trial participant Wes Brown of ‘Grenabri’ Cargo said he was drawn in by the idea of combining natural resource management

outcomes with profitability.

“The traditional approach has always been that it’s a trade-off,” Mr Brown said.

Warwick Badgery, DPI researcher and site leader in the central slopes, said they were hopeful they could make some

breakthroughs.

“There might still be some element of trade-off, but we will see some improvements,” Mr Badgery said.

The trials are taking place in a number of sites across southern Australia.

The site at ‘Grenabri’ is one of the

supporting sites.

“It’s a farmer-based demonstration of

technology coming out of the research,” Mr Badgery said.

Mr Brown is looking at grazing tagasaste - or tree lucerne as it is more commonly known. He has been experimenting with the crop since 1995, looking at timing of harvesting, height, grazing, ensiling and pelletising.

Since then he has learned much about the management of the plant and hopes to use the trial as a chance to share the benefits of tagasaste.

“A lot of the stuff is anecdotal but the good thing about the trial is quantifying,” Mr Brown said.

The trial is also looking at overall grazing systems.

“We want to assess systems at a system basis so we can improve our recommendations,” Mr Badgery said.

“By grazing one way we might have increased profitability but may have greater degradation whereas another may not.

“We’re expecting high intensity grazing will improve ground cover and perenniality, and reduce degradation from over utilised stubble while improving biodiversity.”