MAKING the most out of smaller landholdings can be a challenge, but Fleurieu Peninsula farmer Austin Johnson says kikuyu has helped maintain viability at his Back Valley property.
With its persistent growth and hardiness, he says Kikuyu is often seen as parasitic and weed-like but it offers a top feed source.
After retiring from his job as a civil engineer with the Federal Government, Austin and his wife Joy moved to Back Valley and set up their cattle enterprise.
They run cattle over two properties, one 75 hectares and the other 61ha.
"We focus on rearing friesian/beef cross heifers and selling them at the point of calving, when they're 2.5 years old to three years," Austin said.
"Our heifers come from dairies but they are becoming a lot harder to get now that many dairies are getting out of the business.
"We sell through the markets and have regular, repeat buyers buying throughout the year."
The Johnsons inherited the kikuyu pastures when they bought their property 14 years ago.
With Back Valley traditionally a dairying area, kikuyu was introduced to the district in the 1920s.
After moving to the district, Austin did a Prograze course with consultant Tim Prance. He later became a member of the Fleurieu Beef Group to gain a greater understanding of production in the area. The group meets on-farm each month and provides a source of technical and practical information with guest speakers and farm walks.
"Even though Kikuyu is common in the district, many farmers look at it as a weed and spray it out," Austin said.
"But through the Australian Evergraze project, with consultant Tim Prance, we analysed the kikuyu pasture and did a series of feed tests, and it showed it was an extremely good pasture."
While feed quality varies throughout the year and at varying growth stages, up to 30 per cent crude protein has been achieved in the kikuyu.
Feed test results have consistently indicated protein levels of about 25pc and energy levels above 10 megajoules a kilogram.
And as it is a hardy species it can be grazed heavily and provide out-of-season feed.
"We're not all kikuyu - it ranges from between 40 per cent to 90pc of pasture content, with the rest made up of annual ryegrass and subclover," Austin said.
A supplementary feed is undertaken during late autumn and winter.
"Having the kikuyu means we don't have to do much in the way of renovation," Austin said.
"If we did anything else in the way of pastures it would cost more money, so kikuyu is cost-effective and an excellent pasture. And it's very low maintenance."
He believes animals benefit from eating a diverse range of species - including the weeds and kikuyu provides feed only during the warmer months, so winter-active species are important to complement the perennial grass.
*Full report in Stock Journal, May 26 issue, 2011.
