10.1.2.Filling the feed gap

Theoretically, it takes 3–5 hectares of the unimproved native pasture to feed one horse for example, for most of the year, without extensive supplementary feeding.
That will work to a degree in spring/early summer, but barely in winter. Lack of spring, summer or autumn rainfall often results in reduced pasture growth, and exacerbated grazing competition from kangaroos.
One solution to the feed shortage of native grasses in winter is to undersow native pasture with subterranean clover. But if you use a lot of synthetic fertiliser such as superphosphate and keep stocking rates high, you are in danger of losing the native pasture altogether, leaving you with subclover that does not grow in summer and autumn.
There are other reasons to be careful with superphosphate fertiliser use, like nutrients flowing into dams around you or contributing to dieback of nearby native trees. Clover pastures can also contribute to soil acidification.
Resowing your native pasture paddocks to improved pasture can be expensive and risky. Erosion, lack of rainfall, weed infestation and germination problems happen all too easily, and grazing is very restricted in the first year.
Therefore it is far better to maintain and nurture native pasture, with the aim of maintaining carrying capacity rather than increasing it. The best strategies for doing this are discussed later in this section.