ISSN:
1365-2494
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Potential lamb production from grass-clover (75–80 kg N ha−1) swards was compared with that from grass-only (160–200 kg N ha−1) swards from 1985 to 1987 at the Bronydd Mawr Research Centre in mid-Wales. Separate pastures of three perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) varieties; Aurora (very early-flowering diploid), Meltra (late-flowering tetraploid) and Aberystwyth S23 (late-flowering diploid), with and without Aberystwyth S184 small-leaved white clover (Trifolium repens L.), were continuously stocked with Beulah Speckled Face ewes and their Suffolk cross lambs from spring (late April) until weaning in mid-July. From late July the pastures were grazed with weaned lambs until early November.Individual lamb liveweight gain was 8% more (P 〈 0·001) pre-weaning on grass-clover than on grass-only swards and 30% more (p 〈 0·001) post-weaning. Averaged over three years, mean stocking rate was 17% higher (p 〈 0·001) pre-weaning and 29% higher (p 〈 0·001) post-weaning on the grass-only pastures. Even so, total lamb output (kg ha−1) was similar from the two sward types, although during the pre-weaning period lamb production was 9% higher (P 〈 0·05) from grass-only swards.The results show the potential of grass-clover (low N) swards to improve the efficiency of lamb production from grassland since better individual lamb growth rate compensated for the lower stock-carrying capacity. That is, similar output was achieved with lower cost of fertilizer N input and with the lower costs associated with carrying fewer animals.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2494.1989.tb01944.x
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