Agistment: Ultimate Guide for Graziers [2024]

Graziers face numerous challenges in their quest to maintain healthy livestock and profitable farming practices. One solution that has proved to work when done correctly is agistment, a practice that is adopted by graziers looking to diversify their earnings. 

This guide delves into how agistment, a practice initially rooted in agriculture, emerges as a well-adopted practice for graziers who are looking at additional ways to improve the productivity of their land. Understanding what agistment entails is crucial for seasoned and novice graziers, offering insights into how this symbiotic relationship can bolster agricultural productivity and sustainability.

In this guide, we discuss agistment and guide graziers through its benefits, legal aspects, costs, and best practices for various types of livestock.

Interested in yet another opportunity to diversify your earnings? Check out Atlas Carbon.

What is Agistment? 

Let’s start with the meaning of agistment. As mentioned, agistment is an old practice with new relevance. In its simplest form, agistment refers to taking in livestock from other farmers for grazing on your land, usually for a fee. This way, the landowner is able to profit from having the grass on their land consumed, while the livestock owner is able to efficiently put more weight on their animals to meet the standard expectations of the market.

Breaking Down Agistment: A Comprehensive Overview

Agistment is increasingly relevant in farming today due to its flexibility and mutual benefits for land and livestock owners. 

Agistment in Australia is not just a contingency plan, but a strategic approach to maximising land use and supporting livestock during feed scarcity. Simply put, agistment provides a creative solution to balance the need for pasture recovery and the need for feeding livestock. 

The Importance of Agistment for Graziers

Agistment offers financial benefits, improved pasture management, and a contingency plan during environmental challenges. For farmers, a strategic use of agistment can significantly mitigate the risks with environmental adversities by providing alternative grazing options. So how can agistment help graziers? 

Agistment Advantages 

For graziers with sufficient land and pasture grass on offer, agistment offers numerous benefits that extend beyond a financial gain. For both graziers and livestock farmers across Australia, agistment services provide a flexible solution to feed shortages, enabling livestock to continue to thrive even in adverse conditions.

In addition to this, agistment can provide an opportunity to optimise pasture management. How? With agistment, you can prevent overgrazing or undergrazing by rotating livestock across different pastures and distributing the grazing load more evenly with the right amount of density to encourage better pasture production. 

Agistment vs. Traditional Grazing: Pros and Cons

Agistment can be a fruitful option for graziers, but it does have its pros and cons. The choice between the two will ultimately land on your specific needs and circumstances as a landowner or livestock owner. 

‍Agistment advantages 

Agistment disadvantages

Agistment

• Alternative income source 
• Improve fertility and value of livestock

• Disputes can arise
• Costs for agistment can vary and unexpected fees could arise. 

Traditional 

• Reduced potential for disputes or issues related to moving animals. 
• Full control and responsibility of welfare of the livestock

• Requirements for significant resources such as land, water, and feed during periods of low availability

Navigating Agistment Agreements

The foundation of every successful agistment relationship lies in clear communication and agreement. So, creating a clear and comprehensive agistment agreement is essential to define terms and prevent disputes.

Crafting an Effective Agistment Agreement

An agistment agreement should clearly define the rights and responsibilities of both the landowner and the livestock owner. From payment terms to animal care and land maintenance responsibilities, both parties should carefully explore each aspect of the agreement. 

Key Elements to Include in an Agistment Agreement

These contracts, governed by legislation such as the agistment agreement NSW guidelines, should comprehensively cover aspects including payment schedules, duration of agistment, care and handling of the livestock, and protocols for dispute resolution. Here are a few key elements to include: 

• Parties involved
• Duration of the agistment
• Fees and payment schedule
• Description of livestock 
• Care and management 
• Areas of land use and any restrictions
• Termination conditions
• Dispute resolution
• Liability and insurance 

Agistment Agreement Templates: A Practical Guide

Understanding the intricacies of an agistment contract is essential, ensuring that both parties are adequately protected and the agreement aligns with local laws and regulations. 

Reviewing a template can serve as a good starting point with numerous templates available online. Always remember that templates should be customised and reviewed by a legal representative to correctly reflect the details of your agistment situation. 

Understanding Agistment Agreement Laws in NSW

Agistment in Australia and in NSW 

Agistment agreements in New South Wales and other states are governed by specific legal frameworks, offering protection and clarity for all parties involved. Common disputes in NSW often revolve around non-payment and the disposal of agisted livestock. In reflection of this, NSW has clear recommendations regarding agistment agreements. 

Legal Considerations for Agistment in New South Wales

In New South Wales, you should be aware of the specific legalities of agistment agreements. These include the need for a written and binding agistment agreement that clearly outlines the terms and conditions. 

Additionally, legal mechanisms, such as liens, protect the rights of all parties involved in the agistment agreement. 

Agistment Laws in Queensland (QLD), Australia

According to Business Queensland, it is necessary that parties involved in agistment understand the following when it comes to agistment laws in QLD:

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Crunching the Numbers: Agistment Costs and Rates

If you’re contemplating agistment, you must understand the financial implications of this option. To start, consider the multiple factors that could influence the cost of agistment specifically for you: location, land quality, livestock type, and general framework for sustainable rates.

Determining Agistment Costs

A good place to start determining your agistment cost would be considering the quality of your pasture, water availability, and the specific needs the particular livestock will need. Start by exploring what a reasonable rate could be depending on those costs. 

Factors Influencing Agistment Costs

In Australia, agistment rates can vary significantly based on location, the type of livestock (e.g., cattle, sheep, or horse agistment), and the services provided. Below are some common factors that could influence agistment costs. 

• Pasture quality and availability - high quality pastures and water availability
• Type of livestock - Different animals with dietary and care requirements 
• Additional services - Services could include feeding, vet care, shearing, etc. 
• Market demand and supply - Depending on the demand for agistment services, you may see varying costs throughout Australia

Deciphering Agistment Rates

Agistment rates can vary based on location, livestock, and services. In Australia, agistment rates can range from $4 to $8 per head per week for cattle and sheep. With different livestock, these rates can vary. 

Comparative Analysis of Agistment Rates in Australia

By conducting a comparative analysis of agistment rates in Australia, you can better understand the market. Using tools such as public Australian statistics can help you find local insights to set or negotiate fair and sustainable rates.

Tailored Agistment Services for Different Livestock

As you know, different livestock require unique needs. Depending on the cattle, sheep, and horse agistment, you’ll want to be familiar with the best practices for grazing, including healthcare and facility requirements. 

Livestock Agistment Explained

Catering to the nuanced demands of each livestock can highlight custom solutions that would enhance each animal's overall productivity and well-being. Let's start with cattle. 

Cattle Agistment: A Focus on Grazing Practices

Cattle agistment requires robust pasture management strategies to support the larger size and grazing habits of cattle. Some key aspects of cattle agistment include: 

• Providing quality pasture to minimise supplementary feeding 
• Paying close attention to grazing management 

Exploring Sheep Agistment: Best Practices

On the other hand, sheep agistment will focus more on aspects of secure fencing and predator control. According to the Australian Wine Research Institute, many vineyards are interested in sheep grazing for weed management strategy in Australia. 

Horse Agistment: Catering to Equine Needs

Horses have unique needs, such as facilities for exercise and specialised care. Due to these special requirements, it's key to provide the following: 

• Tranquil and rural location 
• Clean paddocks, shade, and shelter
• Professional fencing
• Readily available professional care or vet. 

Specialized Agistment Services for Graziers

Enhancing Productivity with Agistment Services

Specialised agistment services can significantly enhance the productivity of livestock. Some key elements to keep in mind during agistment services include the following: 

• Grazing systems: Implementing rotational grazing systems or other grazing systems to improve pasture regeneration and livestock health.

• Nutritional management: Offering tailored feeding programs to supplement natural forage, particularly in times of low pasture availability.

• Health and welfare monitoring: Providing regular health checks and vaccinations to prevent disease and maintain optimal livestock condition.

Key Considerations Before Opting for Agistment

Choosing to opt for agistment involves a series of considerations to ensure the well-being of livestock, sustainability of the land, and a successful relationship. Before you pursue agistment, let us show you a few more recommendations for land suitability and how to evaluate the right partner. 

Assessing Land Suitability

Environmental Factors Impacting Agistment

The quality and availability of both water and feed are crucial factors for agistment, as they directly affect the welfare and productivity of the agisted livestock. 

Additionally, livestock farming can have both positive and negative environmental effects, impacting soil structure, nutrient cycling, and water management. As they can be beneficial for the land, with poor management, land can soon become brittle and overgrazed. This results in reduced ground cover that may lead to erosion and compacted soil, rendering it unusable for grazing.. 

Evaluating Providers

Evaluating potential providers can be tricky and critical. For farmers, evaluating an agistment partner involves assessing their experience, facilities, distance to travel, and the overall quality of care they can offer to the livestock. 

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If you’re providing the land, you want to make sure the terms of the agreement regarding livestock feed, care, and facility features are understood and officially accepted by the partner. 

Choosing the Right Agistment Service for Your Livestock

Regardless of the type of livestock, it’s always important to check the following and ensure needs are well-communicated with the party providing the land: 

• Location and facilities
• Agistment agreement 
• Quality of the pasture and feed
• Care and vet availability
• Agistment rates 
• Dispute resolution histories

Improve Your Grazing Management

Want to improve efficiency in your grazing operation? By having the ability to make the right call at the right time in grazing management, you can improve pasture production and increase your ability to grow and maintain more pasture grass. This gives you the option to consider agistment as a supplementary source of income for your farm.

Try MaiaGrazing. This grazing management software provides advanced analytics to help you make the most informed decisions for your individual operation. It also will help you to:

• Maximise your livestock’s potential
• Boost carrying capacity of your land
• Optimise paddock yield
• Minimise feeding costs
• Capture data for seasonal planning and adjustment
• Manage practices that build and retain soil carbon