ISSN:
1365-2494
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Comparative sheep production from Aurora (very early-flowering), Meltra (late-flowering tetraploid) and Aberystwyth S23 (late-flowering) perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) varieties was assessed as both grass-only (200 kg N ha−1) and grass-white clover (Trifolium repens L.) (75 kg N ha−1) swards under continuous stocking management. Beulah Speckled Face ewes and their Suffolk cross lambs were used from late April to mid-July. From late July to early November only lambs grazed the pastures.Mean (1985–87) total annual lamb production per hectare from Aurora and Meltra was 16% and 13% more than that from S23. The magnitude of the differences between these varieties and S23 declined from the first to the third year. Aurora gave 29% more lamb output per hectare than S23 in 1985 but only 10% more in 1987, while the advantage of Meltra over S23 fell from 19% in 1985 to 6% in 1987. Seasonal lamb production per hectare varied between the grasses, especially during spring when lamb output from Aurora was 43% and 22% more than that from S23 and Meltra respectively, with that from the tetraploid being 17% higher than that from S23.It is concluded that the superior spring output from Aurora offers the farmer the opportunity to reduce his dependence on bought-in feedstuffs, hence improving the efficiency and profitability of lamb production from grassland.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2494.1989.tb01943.x
