Effect of herb-clover mixes of plantain and chicory on yearling lamb production in the early spring period

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (10) ◽  
pp. 1662 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Somasiri ◽  
P. R. Kenyon ◽  
P. D. Kemp ◽  
P. C. H. Morel ◽  
S. T. Morris

Lamb production was evaluated in three herbage treatments (Pasture mix, Plantain mix and Chicory mix) in two consecutive early spring periods. The hypothesis was that the Plantain and Chicory mixes would produce greater weaned lamb liveweight gains than the Pasture mix. The lambs were rotationally grazed weekly in the herbage treatments and weighed fortnightly and carcass data collected at slaughter. Both Plantain and Chicory mixes produced heavier (P < 0.05) carcasses at slaughter (21.1 ± 0.11, 21.8 ± 0.11 and 22.3 ± 0.38 in Experiment 1 followed by 18.1 ± 0.17, 20.3 ± 0.17 and 19.7 ± 0.17 in Experiment 2 for the Pasture, Plantain and Chicory mixes, respectively). Lambs had greater (P < 0.05) liveweight gains and dressing-out percentages in Experiment 2 (39.5 ± 0.29, 41.4 ± 0.29 and 41.3 ± 0.29 for the Pasture, Plantain and Chicory mixes, respectively), than the Pasture mix in the early spring period. Therefore, these herb-clover mixes could be an alternative feed source in the early spring period compared with ryegrass/white clover pastures for finishing lambs.

2001 ◽  
Vol 136 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. CORBEL ◽  
Ch. ROBIN ◽  
A. GUCKERT

In order to compare the growth potential of buds of two contrasting cultivars of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) (cv. AberHerald and Grasslands Huia) during the winter–early spring period, we adapted a method to assess the potential for activity of shoot buds and root primordia. The growth potential was evaluated following the excision of individual stolon nodes sampled in the field, from experimental plots located in the eastern part of France. Two populations of nodes were sampled: (i) the youngest node emerged from the apical bud (node 1), (ii) the third node behind the apex (node 3). The excised nodes were placed in controlled conditions and the outgrowth of axillary buds and roots was recorded every day for a week. The study demonstrated a seasonal influence on the potential for activity of axillary buds and root primordia, particularly for buds at node 3. The proportion of potentially active shoot and root buds was less than 50% at the end of March, and then increased from end of March to reach 80% in April. The data indicated a genetic variation in potential for outgrowth during winter. AberHerald had a higher percentage of potentially active buds than Huia during winter, irrespective of the node position. Moreover AberHerald buds had faster rates of outgrowth than Huia buds. Differences between cultivars in winter survival and potential for growth in spring were linked to identified cultivars' differences in developmental characteristics of buds.


Author(s):  
W.M. Williams ◽  
L.B. Anderson ◽  
B.M. Cooper

In evaluations of clover performances on summer-dry Himatangi sandy soil, it was found that none could match lucerne over summer. Emphasis was therefore placed on production in autumn-winter- early spring when lucerne growth was slow. Evaluations of some winter annual clover species suggested that Trifolium spumosum, T. pallidum, T. resupinatum, and T. vesiculosum would justify further investigation, along with T. subterraneum which is already used in pastures on this soil type. Among the perennial clover species, Kenya white clover (7'. semipilosum) showed outstanding recovery from drought and was the only species to produce significantly in autumn. However, it failed to grow in winter-early spring. Within red clover, materials of New Zealand x Moroccan origin substantially outproduced the commercial cultivars. Within white clover, material from Israel, Italy and Lebanon, as well as progeny of a selected New Zealand plant, showed more rapid recovery from drought stress and subsequently better winter growth than New Zealand commercial material ('Grasslands Huia'). The wider use of plant material of Mediterranean origin and of plants collected in New Zealand dryland pastures is advocated in development of clover cultivars for New Zealand dryland situations.


2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 4455-4472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katheryn Burd ◽  
Suzanne E. Tank ◽  
Nicole Dion ◽  
William L. Quinton ◽  
Christopher Spence ◽  
...  

Abstract. Boreal peatlands are major catchment sources of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nutrients and thus strongly regulate the landscape carbon balance, aquatic food webs, and downstream water quality. Climate change is likely to influence catchment solute yield directly through climatic controls on run-off generation, but also indirectly through altered disturbance regimes. In this study we monitored water chemistry from early spring until fall at the outlets of a 321 km2 catchment that burned 3 years prior to the study and a 134 km2 undisturbed catchment. Both catchments were located in the discontinuous permafrost zone of boreal western Canada and had  ∼  60 % peatland cover. The two catchments had strong similarities in the timing of DOC and nutrient yields, but a few differences were consistent with anticipated effects of wildfire based on peatland porewater analysis. The 4-week spring period, particularly the rising limb of the spring freshet, was crucial for accurate characterization of the seasonal solute yield from both catchments. The spring period was responsible for  ∼  65 % of the seasonal DOC and nitrogen and for  ∼  85 % of the phosphorous yield. The rising limb of the spring freshet was associated with high phosphorous concentrations and DOC of distinctly high aromaticity and molecular weight. Shifts in stream DOC concentrations and aromaticity outside the early spring period were consistent with shifts in relative streamflow contribution from precipitation-like water in the spring to mineral soil groundwater in the summer, with consistent relative contributions from organic soil porewater. Radiocarbon content (14C) of DOC at the outlets was modern throughout May to September (fraction modern carbon, fM: 0.99–1.05) but likely reflected a mix of aged DOC, e.g. porewater DOC from permafrost (fM: 0.65–0.85) and non-permafrost peatlands (fM: 0.95–1.00), with modern bomb-influenced DOC, e.g. DOC leached from forest litter (fM: 1.05–1.10). The burned catchment had significantly increased total phosphorous (TP) yield and also had greater DOC yield during summer which was characterized by a greater contribution from aged DOC. Overall, however, our results suggest that DOC composition and yield from peatland-rich catchments in the discontinuous permafrost region likely is more sensitive to climate change through impacts on run-off generation rather than through altered fire regimes.


Author(s):  
M.D. Sellars

Manawatu dairy farmers have been quick to appreciate the possible benefits of a pasture species that can out-perform conventional ryegrass white clover based pastures. A survey conducted by Grasslands Division, DSIR in 1985 showed knowledge and use of Matua praire grass by dairy farmers in the Wellington province were 70% and 42% respectively, compared with the national figures of 55% and 29% for dairy farmers, and 32% and 9% for non-dairy farmers. When Matua was first released little data was available as to how best to sow the seed, what seed mixes are the most appropriate, how to manage the establishing pasture, and how to get the best from an established pasture. Researchers and pioneering farmers right around the country have by trial and error found the answers to most of these questions. The stimulus to find the answers was always the promise that Matua offered, that of 15 to 30% extra drymatter production compared to standard ryegrass pastures. Not only is there more annual drymatter, but the extra comes at very useful times for the dairyfarmer: winter, early spring and late summer.


1988 ◽  
Vol 111 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Brock ◽  
M. J. M. Hay ◽  
V. J. Thomas ◽  
J. R. Sedcole

SummaryThere has been little study on the growth and morphology of individual plants constituting the population of white clover in mixed swards under grazing. Such information is required if the mechanisms governing plant productivity and persistence are to be understood.Intact white clover plants were sampled from intensively sheep-grazed pastures under set stocking, rotational grazing, and a combination of both systems, by taking turves (250 × 250 mm), and washing out the plants, every month for a year. Characters measured for every stolon of each plant were: presence of a growing point; numbers of leaves, roots and axillary buds; stolon length. Total plant leaf and stolon dry weight were also recorded. Plants were classified according to degree of branching, and the contribution of each branching order to the population determined.There were strong seasonal variations in plant size (leaf and stolon dry weight, stolon length, and numbers of stolons and leaves per plant) which showed a significant decrease in spring with recovery over the following summer. This was paralleled by a rapid increase in the proportion of less branched plants (1st and 2nd branching order) in the population from 60 to 80% in spring, as higher-order plants broke up into smaller- and lower-ordered plants at this time. Numbers of roots per plant increased over winter to peak in early spring then declined in the following summer-autumn. While system of grazing management had no significant effect on branching structure of plants, it had a large effect on plant dry weight; rotationally grazed plants were 2·5 times larger than set stocked plants (0·182 cf. 0·073 g respectively).Other general features of plant morphology were that each successive order of branch stolons was shorter and length before branching was less than that of their preceding parent stolon. The highest branching order observed was 6th order. There was no relationship between branching and numbers of roots; in branched plants only 55% of stolons were rooted regardless of plant order, but rooted stolons accounted for 85% of total stolon length and carried 62, 48 and 90% of the leaves, growing points and axillary buds per plant, respectively.Comparison with other studies suggests that the processes outlined in this report may be common to white clover growth under grazing over a wide range of favourable environments.


1962 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Henderson ◽  
R. S. Edwards ◽  
J. L. Hammerton

1. Data on the crude-protein content and crudeprotein production of five grass species (each sown with white clover) over the period 1954–56, at six levels of compound fertilizer application, are reported. Perennial rye-grass (S. 101), meadow fescue (S. 215), timothy (S. 48), cocksfoot (S. 26) and bent (N.Z. Browntop) were sown in 1953 at appropriate seed rates, each with 2 lb./acre S. 100 white clover. The fertilizer treatments were 0, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 cwt./ acre of a compound of composition 10% N, 4%P2O5, 9·5% K2O applied in the early spring of each of the years 1954–56. The swards were cut three times a year in 1954 and 1956, but only two cuts were possible in 1955.2. Bent mixtures had a higher crude-protein content than any other mixture in all years and (with one exception) at every cut within years. Differences between other mixtures were smaller and often erratic, though timothy invariably had the lowest crude-protein content at the second cut and cocksfoot at the third. Application of the fertilizer raised the crude-protein level of the herbage at the first cut, but depressed it in subsequent cuts.3. The bent mixture gave the highest yield of crude-protein per acre followed by the timothy mixture, while the lowest yield was produced by the perennial rye-grass mixture. The bent mixture differed from all others in its distribution of crudeprotein production over the season, producing less at the first cuts and more at the second and third cuts. This reflects its pattern of production of dry-matter. Response to spring application of fertilizer in terms of crude-protein yield declined rapidly from cut to cut. Over the whole period of the experiment 1 cwt./acre/ annum of fertilizer containing 10% N gave a response of about 0·5 cwt. crude-protein/annum.


1975 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Davies

SUMMARYAn appraisal of the value of S. 59 red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) for grazing was made using ewes and lambs (Clun Forest in 1969, Welsh Mountain in 1970) at a site 305 m O.D. in mid-Wales. S. 23 perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was used as a control, and the value of S. 184 white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in conjunction with both grasses was examined.In the first year, under a rotational grazing regime at a fixed stocking rate of 22 ewes and single lambs/ha, lamb live-weight gains were significantly poorer on S. 59/S. 184 and significantly better on S. 23/S. 184 than on either of the pure grass swards. For the 130 days grazing season, mean daily lamb live-weight gains were 157, 126, 78 and 120 g on S. 23/S. 184, S. 23, S. 59/S. 184 and S. 59 treatments respectively.During the second year lamb growth rates on S. 59/S. 184 improved by 59%, whereas those on the other treatments were marginally lower than in 1969. Stocking rates were increased on the grass swards and decreased on the grass/clover swards for most of the grazing period in the second year in accordance with herbage availability. No significant difference was detected between the four treatments in total lamb liveweight production as a result of better individual growth rates on the grass/clover swards.In both years wide variations were recorded between treatments at different periods within the grazing season. Red fescue swards maintained superior lamb production in early spring and late autumn, but were inferior to ryegrass in mid-summer.


1975 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Davies

SUMMARYHerbage availability, intake and nutritive value were recorded on swards of S. 59 red fescue (Festuca rvbra L.) and S. 23 perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), with and without S. 184 white clover (Trifolium repens L.), and correlated with animal performance. Intake of dry matter was similar on all treatments. Animal live-weight gains during 1969 were positively correlated with digestible organic matter intake (DOMI).Poor animal performance from red fescue swards in mid-summer was attributed to the rapid fall in digestibility at this time which affected DOMI.Differences between treatments in efficiency of conversion of DOMI into live-weight gains were observed. Superior conversion ratios in swards containing clover could not be related to any of the herbage quality measurements recorded.Better animal productivity from red fescue swards in early spring and in late autumn were related to the longer growing season of this grass.The merits and demerits of red fescue as a grass for hill conditions and the possibility of reducing its limitations by breeding are discussed.


1992 ◽  
Vol 119 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. D. Newton ◽  
M. J. M. Hay ◽  
V. J. Thomas ◽  
H. B. Dick

SUMMARYStolon nodes of white clover were sampled monthly for 18 months from continuously grazed (set stocked) and rotationally grazed pastures in New Zealand. Both pastures were stocked at 22·5 ewes plus lambs/ha. Axillary buds were classified into viability categories using an incubation technique. On average, 54% of nodes had non-viable or dormant buds, 25% had axillary buds that were viable but non-active and 0·1% bore reproductive buds. Although 21% of buds emerged, only 8·5% of nodes bore live branches. Bud activity was strongly inhibited during the spring period of both years and this inhibition could not be removed by incubation.The greatest bud viability occurred at node 4 (from the apex) although 30–40% of the buds at this position were non-viable. This pattern of variation changed somewhat with season. Some viable buds were present at nodes more than 20 from the apex but these were of low vigour. Secondary stolons had different patterns of bud activity from those of primary stolons until they comprised more than 16 nodes.


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