Tim and Leal Squire-Wilson adopt cell grazing system

Tim and Leal Squire-Wilson have adopted a cell grazing system that originated in New Zealand and is an enhanced form of rotational grazing.

An innovative system that enhances efficient pasture management is helping a couple in their beef cattle operation on the city fringe of Melbourne.

Tim and Leal Squire-Wilson run Angus cattle and have adopted a cell grazing system that originated in New Zealand and is an enhanced form of rotational grazing.

What initially started as a fact-finding mission to conquer invasive Chilean needle grass resulted in the couple adopting a cell grazing system for the cattle.

Tim and Leal farm at Clarkefield, and the rural land is located just a stone’s throw from the city of Melbourne.

“The city is only 30 kilometres away, and we can see the glow of Melbourne to the south east at night” Leal said.

Over the years, they have adapted to farming on the “city fringe” and say their property is excellent at growing pasture.

Beef cattle graze at Clarkefield. Picture: Zoe Phillips

CHALLENGE BECOMES SOLUTION

However, they were perplexed by the problem of Chilean needle grass and how they could utilise it. Yet what was initially a problem gave way to a system that helped enhance their farming practices.

Currently they run exclusively a pasture operation without the need for supplementary feeding except for when yard weaning takes place.

The pastures include a mix of phalaris, cocksfoot perennial ryegrass and subclovers.

The property spans 500 hectares and is a 50:50 mix of owned and leased country with an average annual rainfall of 550mm to 600mm.

“About 30 per cent is arable, and it is good healthy country with volcanic basalt soils,” Tim said.

Initially, Tim and Leal ran sheep and cattle; however, they now run a specialist Angus operation.

Until recently, they ran 250 Angus breeding females and have since downsized to 170 cows.

However, the focus and intensity of the cell grazing operation is still evident.

Leal and Tim Squire-Wilson pictured with their Angus cattle. Picture: Zoe Phillips

PASTURE SYSTEM

The aim is to turn off 300-plus kilogram grass-finished steers and heifer weaners at 10-months of age.

The tops of the heifers are retained as replacement females.

Over recent years, the sale prices have averaged $1200 for steers and $1100 for heifers, with repeat buyers often showing interest.

Leal said the weaners were sold through AuctionsPlus last year, but in the past, they have sold both directly from the paddock or at saleyards in Yea and Ballarat.

To drive production levels, the couple have embraced cell grazing, and the cattle are moved every two days.

Before adopting the system, Tim and Leal did a lot of research, including travelling to New Zealand to learn about what is known as TechnoGrazing.

TechnoGrazing is a system that features electric fencing on flexible fibreglass posts allowing cattle to be moved regularly and efficiently onto fresh pastures.

A typical cell system comprises of permanent fencing measuring 1200-metres long and there are eight lanes each measuring 50 metres wide.

Water is reticulated through poly pipe and micro troughs under every second-lane fence.

“We use portable poly wires to divide up the lanes depending on the amount of dry matter and the size of the mob,” Leal said.

Rotations vary from 120 days in the winter when pasture growth is slower to 21 days in spring during the faster feed growth phase.

Each cell is grazed for two days before the cattle are moved onto new fresh pasture.

Typical spring weight gains range from 1kg to 3kg per head, per day.

The cell grazing system was first adopted in the 1990s, and the couple aim to make continual improvements starting from soil health up.

NATURAL INPUTS

Cell grazing allows for a more even spread of manure across the pastures and less preferential grazing.

The Squire-Wilsons also try not to use chemical fertilisers, and they have noticed that there are now more beneficial bugs in the soil.

Their aim is for clean and green with a low input biological system.

They concede that cell grazing can be labour-intensive in the initial stages because they are moving the cattle regularly. However, as the system beds down and the cattle are trained for regular moves, the efficiency increases, resulting in reduced labour. Also, trained cattle are quieter, and this a trait sought after by many buyers.

“We use quad bikes with a Rhino (attached is a piece of 50mm poly pipe) so we can drive over the electric fences … there’s no stopping to open gates,” Leal said.

She said the overall moving of the cattle and use of temporary fences was quite time efficient.

A system of micro troughs has been installed to provide efficient access to clean water.

“We have several eight-lane systems with four lines of poly pipe under the fences; the fence protects the troughs, which are set at 50-metre intervals, from any damage,” Leal said.

Water is sourced from dams and bores, and there is also a creek on the western boundary. As part of the regeneration program the creek is fenced off to keep livestock out and stimulate biodiversity.

ENVIRONMENTAL MARKERS

The indicator for a healthy environment is the presence of the growling grass frog.

Tim and Leal say the grass frogs are increasing in numbers and can be heard in the wetland areas.

The couple have received an Enviro Champions Award in recognition of their contributions to improving the environment through numerous tree plantings, grazing management and riparian river health.

Their property Brynong is in what is known as Melbourne’s green wedge, one which has a minimum sub division size of 80ha. Nearby is the urban growth development area.

In addition to effective pasture use, they also seek out the genetics of cattle with good growth rates and calving ease to maximise efficiency in the beef herd.

They look at Estimated Breeding Values for weight gain, particularly the 400-day figures.

The Squire-Wilsons have been using Te Mania and Willoughby bloodlines and purchase one or two Angus bulls annually.

They run an autumn calving program and the progeny are yard weaned at seven or eight months.

Joining is in May-June for eight weeks. Pregnancy testing is in October and any females that are pregnancy tested not in calf are sold. This strict approach has helped the herd to maintain fertility rates above 90 per cent.

The couple is acutely aware that they are located close to the Melbourne urban edge, and it is essential to farm sustainably, efficiently and profitably.