Using dual-purpose crops in sheep-grazing systems

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (7) ◽  
pp. 1276-1283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugh Dove ◽  
John Kirkegaard
Keyword(s):  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Grazing Systems

Comparison of the alkane-based herbage intakes and the liveweight gains of young sheep grazing forage oats, dual-purpose wheat or phalaris-based pasture

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (10) ◽  
pp. 1230 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Dove ◽  
W. M. Kelman
Keyword(s):  
Diet Composition ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Feeding Trial ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Long Chain Alcohol ◽  
Long Chain

Two experiments were conducted between 2004 and 2006 near Canberra, Australia, to provide information about herbage intake and liveweight gains of young sheep grazing dual-purpose crop cf. pasture. In an indoor feeding trial (2004–2005), dual-purpose wheat (cv. Mackellar) and oats (cv. Blackbutt) had estimated organic matter (OM) digestibilities of 0.849 ± 0.0070 and 0.847 ± 0.0001, respectively. The indoor trial also provided data for the concentrations and faecal recoveries of the cuticular wax alkane and long-chain alcohol (LCOH) markers used to estimate diet composition and intake in the grazing trial. The faecal recoveries of both alkanes and LCOH were well described by asymptotic regressions. Alkane recovery differed between crops, though not between years. Faecal LCOH recovery did not differ between crops or years. Under grazing conditions in 2004–2005, the OM digestibility (OMD) of crop herbage was 0.825–0.871, significantly higher than the OMD of phalaris-based pasture (0.752–0.758). The estimated OMD of wheat in 2006 (0.792) was lower than in the earlier years. Sheep consumed ~1 kg/day digestible OM intake (DOMI) from crop in 2004–2005. In 2004 this was significantly higher than the DOMI of sheep grazing pasture (0.75 kg/day) whereas in 2005 the DOMI from pasture was slightly (1.15 kg/day) but significantly higher than that from crop (mean 0.97 kg/day). Regardless of the source of herbage consumed, sheep daily liveweight gains were in the range 200–250 g/kg DOMI. Liveweight gains of sheep grazing crop were also predicted from their calculated metabolisable energy intakes and requirements for maintenance and were within 1% of the observed liveweight gains. Our results demonstrate that in high-rainfall areas, the quantity and quality of the herbage provided by sowing dual-purpose crops, and the resultant increased animal liveweight gains, justify the inclusion of dual-purpose crops in grazing systems.

Integrating dual-purpose wheat and canola into high-rainfall livestock systems in south-eastern Australia. 2. Pasture and livestock production

2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 377 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Dove ◽  
J. A. Kirkegaard ◽  
W. M. Kelman ◽  
S. J. Sprague ◽  
S. E. McDonald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Winter Canola ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Winter Temperatures ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Livestock Systems ◽  
South Eastern Australia

In south-eastern Australia, low winter temperatures often reduce pasture growth and thus winter herbage supply relative to livestock requirements. Grazing of vegetative grain crops in winter is one strategy that might overcome this feed gap. In a study with young sheep over two seasons near Canberra, ACT, we compared pasture-only grazing with three separate crop–livestock systems in which the sheep grazed long-season wheat, winter canola or a combination of these, for intervals over the period May–August. We measured forage biomass, sheep grazing days (SGD) and liveweight accumulated per ha. Crop-grazing treatments resulted in much more winter forage for grazing sheep (t DM ha–1): in 2010, one crop 2.5–3.0, two crops 3.5 v. pasture only 1; in 2011, one crop 2, two crops 3 v. pasture only 1.4. In the first season, grazing one crop resulted in ~2000 extra SGD ha–1 and the accumulation of more liveweight per ha than in the pasture-only treatment; grazing of two crops resulted in >3500 extra SGD ha–1. Equivalent values in the second, drier season were: one crop, ~1000 extra SGD ha–1; two crops, 2600 extra SGD ha–1. Spelling of pastures during crop grazing led to extra pasture growth, such that in each of the two seasons, 40% of the total benefit in extra SGD per ha came from the extra pasture. The results indicate that, like grazed wheat, grazed canola can provide valuable winter forage, especially when used together with wheat. The data also provide the first quantification of the effect of crop grazing on pasture spelling and subsequent pasture supply, and suggest value in the incorporation of grazing wheat and canola into grazing systems in the high-rainfall zone.

Dietary preferences of domestic ruminants

1997 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 96-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Rutter ◽  
P. D. Penning ◽  
A. J. Parsons ◽  
A. Harvey ◽  
R. J. Orr
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Dietary Preference ◽  
Dietary Preferences ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Domestic Ruminants ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Sustainable Grazing

To develop sustainable grazing systems, an understanding of the complex interactions between competing plant species and grazing herbivores is needed. An understanding of dietary preference is a prerequisite to predicting how much and from which plant species animals select. This work initially concentrated on dietary preferences of sheep grazing perennial ryegrass and white clover swards and was then extended to other animal species to test the generality of our findings.

Annual methane budgets of sheep grazing systems were regulated by grazing intensities in the temperate continental steppe: A two-year case study

2018 ◽  
Vol 174 ◽  
pp. 66-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Ma ◽  
Mengying Zhong ◽  
Yuhao Zhu ◽  
Helong Yang ◽  
Douglas A. Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Grazing Intensities ◽  
Grazing Systems

Mass to height relationships in annual pastures and prediction of sheep growth rates

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (9) ◽  
pp. 1305
Author(s):  
S. M. Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dry Matter Accumulation ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Software Model ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Sheep Production ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

The relationship between pasture height and mass influences the availability of pasture for grazing, and is important for predicting intake of pasture and liveweight change by sheep. The relationship between pasture mass and structure and sheep production is poorly defined for low-mass, clumpy pastures in low-rainfall regions. Between 2001 and 2004, 480 quadrats of pastures were measured in 23 paddocks throughout the Victorian Mallee. Pasture height was related to live mass for medic (linear; r2 = 0.70; P < 0.001) and grassy medic (asymptotic; r2 = 0.64; P < 0.001) pastures, and prediction of grassy medic pasture height was improved by inclusion of proportion live groundcover. During 2004, pasture dry matter accumulation and liveweight changes in sheep grazing annual pastures were measured and compared with predicted outputs from GrazFeed, a software model used to estimate feed intake and liveweight change in sheep. Improved predictions of liveweight gain in grazing sheep were obtained using measured height rather than the GrazFeed default height. The results show that the height to mass relationship of annual pastures in the Victorian Mallee differs between pasture types, between years, and may differ from other published relationships. This study provides information that may assist in the development of models of grazing systems.

Assessment of management options for Chilean needle grass in sheep-grazing systems

2012 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Grech ◽  
D. A. McLaren ◽  
J. Lowien ◽  
L. McWhirter ◽  
K. L. Butler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Grazing Systems
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