Baling native pasture grass?

So consequently to keep the spear grass down and keeping the paddocks looking reasonable, I have just been bush hogging the stuff.

Then I start thinking, maybe if I cut this stuff before it forms the seed (or 'spear') I could just bale the native pasture (weeds and all) and sell it as cattle feed.

Is this doable? I have been advised that the only way to get rid of the stuff is to burn it. I don't won't to burn it and run the fire risk.

My other thought is, if the baling is not feasible, then just continue slashing while the spear grass is young and before going to seed. At some point in time it should come under control. Any suggestions?? Thanks!

If the grass you refer to is wire grass it is an indicator of poor pasture health, it is unpalatable and therefore will take over pastures. The onle way to remove it to allow other pasture grasses to establish is a strategic burn. The burn must take place at the correct time and correct moisture conditions to favour the acceptable native species to establish.

Regards,
Damon

I'm new here to Australia and I'm making the assumption that this is spear grass. Various people have told me that it is spear grass, but I don't know. Like I said in my original posting, the horses sure won't eat it. The plant is in my neighbors paddock and I don't see their cattle eating it.

I'm currently slashing the paddocks in an effort to control the spear grass. Because of a lot of rain around Christmas I have a lot of spear grass and a lot of grass showing under the slashing.

One of the other posters says that he bails it for mulching purposes. I'm considering that option. However, I sure would like to bale it for some type of animal feed. Maybe goats??

Thanks for your input.

tjw

Aristida
Wire grasses Three-awned spear grass, kerosene grass, brush wire grass, No 9 wire grass Hard, wiry and generally unpalatable, especially when in flower. Seed causes problems in wool.
Crude protein: 2.0 - 13.8%

Stipa
Spear grasses Corkscrew grass, plains grass, rough grass, variable grass Grazing value is generally low despite producing large amounts of green leaf; the sharp awns on the seeds cause a major problem to sheep.

The description of Black Spear grass:
Heteropogon contorus Blackspear grass or bunch speargrass Grazing value is moderate. It is palatable to stock except when mature and the seed causes a problem in wool.
Crude protein: 3.3 - 5.2%

Goats are more a browsing animal, that is they prefer to graze trees so they might not eat the grass hay, but if it is their only source of food they might but their condition is very likely to decline.

Regards,
Damon

Thanks for that information. I am going to contact UQ (Gatton) and attempt to better identify the species.

I am still hopeful that I can bale the grass before it forms seed at maturity.

tjw

I'm in SE Queensland. Do you have a commercial market for baled spear grass as mulch or bale for own use only?

If I continue to cut and not bale, will it finally get choked out by low growing grass species?

What height is the spear grass when you bale? Has the tops formed seeds yet?

Any general comments for spear grass control??

Thanks,

tjw
(near Gatton, QLD)