Victorian prime lamb producer awarded a prestigious medal

Charlie de Fegely, Dobie, south of Ararat, was awarded the biennial AW Howard medal for excellence in pasture research

The medal is awarded to someone who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of pastures in Australia

It is usually awarded to scientists working in the field.

"As we face climate change, we have to be aware of our carbon footprint, and I think pastures are going to play a big part in our managing the future," Mr de Fegely said.

"Pasture-based systems are as profitable as any other investment."

Mr de Fegely said renovation of the property, "Quamby" began in the early 1950s.

"When I took over from my father, in 1985, we recognised our property was more livestock oriented, than cropping," Mr de Fegely said.

"We tried to make a good business out of wool, but we are now totally focused on prime lamb."

The property always had perennials and sub clover, but he said he had changed to more productive species, over time.

In 1985, 20 per cent of the property was sown to Trikkala sub clover and either perennial ryegrass or phalaris.

"We then kept sowing about 10-15pc annually until we had resown the entire property," he said.

"As the perennial grass component diminishes, or is invaded with barley grass, we go through an improvement program which involves sowing new more productive varieties."

Now 10-15pc of the property is sown to new pastures, each year.

"We can manage numbers, according to the season and so we don't end up with a whole heap of sheep that are poor, and can't reproduce."

"With a prime lamb flock, we can reduce numbers quickly; we can sell for stores, or to slaughter, or sell the ewes.

"At least we have options in our system so that we can match livestock with feed availability."

Pastures are maintained with fertiliser applications of phosphorous, at a rate and frequency determined by soil tests.

"We aim to stock them with at least six twin bearing ewes per hectare and singles as 9-10 per ha, with lambing in July."

Mr de Fegely said 65pc of the flock were twin bearing ewes.

"We rotationally graze the paddocks for the majority of the year except for the period of lambing to weaning (July - October) where they remain set stocked."

He said the property would mate 8000 Composite ewes this year, scanning around 145pc and lambing down 1500 hoggets.

"Survival rates have gone from 60-85pc."

The Ararat based Perennial Pasture System group nominated Mr de Fegely for the award.

PPS project manager Rob Shea said a board member found out about the medal and recommended Mr de Fegely be nominated.

"Charlie was the obvious choice for all the stuff he has done," Mr Shea said.

"He's been very innovative in pastures and pasture management and very sharing with his knowledge."

Pasture scientist Dr Alison Southwell said the medal was named after South Australian Amos W Howard, who domesticated the first commercial cultivars of subterranean clover.

"Subterranean clover is highly suited a range of environments; it shows great persistence," Dr Southwell said.

The development of the species boosted Australian pastures.

When combined with superphosphate, it helped lead to the wool boom.

"It increased stocking rates across Australia two or three-fold," she said.

But it was felt the work on improving pastures was not recognised enough, so the AW Howard Trust was established in the 1960's..

It provides grants, and funds scholarships, fellowships and extension studies, as well as awarding the biennial medal.

"It is really, really hard to maintain a career in pasture research, and that's really sad, given much of our land systems are dedicated to this production system," Dr Southwell said.

"There's just not near enough money spend on pasture research, especially when you think about the millions of dollars spend on genetics."

The medal was a vital part of that recognition.

"Every second year, we recognise someone who has made a significant contribution to the development and use of pastures in Australia," Dr Southwell said.

Mr de Fegely had contributed to knowledge about pastures both nationally and internationally, by building links with New Zealand farmers.

"It's not always the scientists leading the way, what you find is the farmers are doing it, and the scientists come along behind," she said.

"One of the clear messages is that Charlie has been able to retain a productive and well-balanced pasture system for more than 30 years now.

"It's all been on the back of good science and good extension."