Offering subterranean clover can reduce methane emissions compared with perennial ryegrass pastures during late spring and summer in sheep

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (11) ◽  
pp. 1449
Author(s):  
S. K. Muir ◽  
A. J. Kennedy ◽  
G. Kearney ◽  
P. Hutton ◽  
A. N. Thompson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Late Spring ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Ch4 Emissions ◽  
South West

Sheep production systems in south-west Victoria are based predominantly on perennial ryegrass pastures, resulting in highly seasonal growth and declining feed quantity and nutritive value in late spring and summer. These changes result in reduced animal performance and increased CH4 emissions per kg DM intake. A potential alternative to the feedbase used in south-west Victoria that provides high quality and quantity of feed in late spring and early summer are legume-based pastures, such as clovers and lucerne. This experiment examined the impact of legume-based pastures on the growth rates and CH4 emissions of Maternal Composite ewes during late spring and early summer. In 2014, 240 Maternal Composite ewes grazed either perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) or arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi.) pastures for 6 weeks during late spring and early summer (November and December). Sheep grazing subterranean clover were heavier at the end of the experiment than sheep grazing perennial ryegrass. Methane measurements using portable accumulation chambers indicated lower daily CH4 emissions (g/day) from sheep grazing subterranean clover (23.5 g/day) than from sheep grazing lucerne (27.3 g/day) and perennial ryegrass (32.3 g/day) pastures. Methane emissions and liveweight changes appeared to be associated with the nutritive characteristics of the forage offered. Legume-based pastures provide sheep producers in south-west Victoria an option to increase growth rates and decrease CH4 emissions during a period when perennial ryegrass pastures are declining in nutritive value.

Arrowleaf clover improves lamb growth rates in late spring and early summer compared with subterranean clover pastures in south-west Victoria

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (8) ◽  
pp. 807 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. N. Thompson ◽  
A. J. Kennedy ◽  
J. Holmes ◽  
G. Kearney
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Late Spring ◽  
South West ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Lamb Growth

The profitable production of lamb from pasture-based systems is dependent on high levels of pasture production being efficiently utilised by sheep of superior genetic merit. Pastures that can extend the pasture-growing season and provide high quality feed in late spring and summer have the potential to increase production efficiency and the proportion of lambs that meet market specifications. In this paper we tested the hypothesis that arrowleaf clover (cv. Arrotas), a cultivar selected for late maturity, would supply feed of higher nutritive value than conventional annual legumes and perennial ryegrass mixtures during December and January and this would improve lamb growth rates over this period. Two experiments were conducted to compare the nutritive value of pasture and growth rates of lambs grazing arrowleaf clover, subterranean clover (cv. Leura) or subterranean clover/perennial ryegrass mixtures at different stocking rates during late spring and early summer in south-west Victoria. In the second experiment an arrowleaf clover/perennial ryegrass treatment was also included. Lambs were removed from the plots when they could no longer maintain liveweight. Arrowleaf clover extended the growing season by 4–6 weeks and provided feed of significantly higher digestibility than subterranean clover during December and January. The digestibility of arrowleaf and perennial ryegrass was comparable, but arrowleaf had significantly higher crude protein content during this period. Lambs grazing arrowleaf clover at stocking rates up to 24 lambs/ha grew at or above 100 g/day until the end of January, whereas lambs grazing subterranean clover and perennial ryegrass mixed pastures could not maintain weight by mid-to-late December in both years and were removed from the pastures. At the highest stocking rates total lamb production from arrowleaf clover monoculture pastures in late spring and early summer was ~400 kg liveweight/ha, and was more than double that achieved from the subterranean clover and perennial ryegrass/subterranean clover mixed pastures. The perennial ryegrass/arrowleaf clover mixed pastures in the second experiment produced a similar quantity of lamb per hectare as the arrowleaf clover monoculture pastures at the same stocking rate. In this paper we demonstrated that late-maturing arrowleaf clover can be a profitable, special purpose lamb-finishing pasture. Arrowleaf clover was most suited to more elevated parts of the landscape where estimated carrying capacity was 20 to 40% greater than that from lower lying parts of the landscape that were more subject to water logging and weed infestation. The risks of including arrowleaf clover pastures into the farming system could be reduced by direct drilling arrowleaf clover, which has relatively poor winter production, into existing perennial ryegrass pastures.

Seasonal variations in the chemical composition and nutritive value of five pasture species in south-western Victoria

1987 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 807 ◽  
Author(s):  
GL Walsh ◽  
HA Birrell
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Late Spring ◽  
The Other ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrate ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fibre ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
Carbohydrate Contents

The dry matter digestibility (DMD), grinding energy, and the concentration of neutral detergent fibre, crude protein, soluble carbohydrate, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus in 5 pasture species were monitored over 2 years from pasture which was grazed at 14.8 sheep/ha in south-western Victoria. The species were: perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. cv. Victorian), phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L. cv. Australian), Yorkshire fog grass (Holcus lanatus), subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum cv. Mount Barker), and capeweed (Arctotheca calendula). Perennial ryegrass and subterranean clover were the dominant species and contributed 50 and 20% DM, respectively, to the sward in winter and the opposite in spring. The DMD of the 5 pasture species did not vary greatly throughout the vegetative phase of growth (autumn-mid spring). In winter, fog grass was slightly less digestible (70-74% DMD), while the other grasses were similar (76-79% DMD). Subterranean clover was not digested (72-75% DMD) as thoroughly as the other species until after late spring; then it retained its digestibility while the digestibility of the others fell. None of the species provided digestible herbage above 65% DMD in the summer. The energy required for grinding herbage was lowest in the autumn-winter, and increased with a corresponding increase in neutral detergent fibre content as pastures matured in late spring. The crude protein content of all species declined from 27-30% in autumn to 18-20% in spring, while the soluble carbohydrate contents increased from about 54% in autumn to 10-13% by spring. The implications on animal production of these seasonal changes in nutritive value are discussed. Higher soluble carbohydrate contents in spring herbage than in autumn herbage possibly explain the better performance of animals when grazing spring pasture. The levels of magnesium, sodium and potassium were adequate for the dietary requirements of ruminants; however, on grass dominant pasture, shortages of calcium (0.14-0.25% DM) and phosphorus (0.11-0.24% DM) were likely in the summer when energy and protein were also deficient. The problem of a calcium deficiency is greatly reduced by the presence of legumes. Capeweed is an accumulator of minerals, but it is only occasionally eaten and is rarely present in summer; hence its presence is of marginal benefit to stock.

The impact of endophyte on the health and productivity of sheep grazing ryegrass-based pastures

1999 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 11-17
Author(s):  
L.R. Fletcher ◽  
B.L. Sutherland ◽  
C.G. Fletcher
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Plasma Prolactin ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Lower Plasma ◽  
Lower Growth ◽  
Respiration Rates ◽  
Neotyphodium Lolii ◽  
The Impact

The health and production of sheep grazing perennial ryegrass with and without wild-type endophyte (Neotyphodium lolii) has been studied in several trials over a number of years. Lambs/ hoggets grazing predominantly perennial ryegrass swards with endophyte developed moderate to severe ryegrass staggers in summer and autumn, while those grazing endophyte-free ryegrass did not. Lambs/hoggets grazing ryegrass with endophyte also had more dags, lower growth rates, lower plasma prolactin levels, higher body temperatures and respiration rates under warm humid conditions. Most of these adverse responses were more severe in summer and autumn when endophyte toxin concentrations were highest. Many of these symptoms are similar to those described for the "autumn ill thrift" syndrome in New Zealand. Keywords: dags, endophyte, flystrike, growth rates, hyperthermia, Neotyphodium, perennial ryegrass, prolactin, ryegrass staggers, sheep

Tactical versus continuous stocking for persistence of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) in pastures grazed by sheep in south-western Victoria

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 265 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Waller ◽  
P. E. Quigley ◽  
G. R. Saul ◽  
G. A. Kearney ◽  
P. W. G. Sale
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Seedling Recruitment ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Lolium Perenne L ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
Tiller Density

The survival of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) plants was studied in sheep pastures in south-western Victoria during the dry summer of 1996–97. Recruitment of perennial ryegrass seedlings into the pasture sward was also monitored in the autumn–winter periods in 1997 and 1998. The objective was to investigate whether a tactical stocking strategy, consisting of variable length summer, autumn and winter rotations and continuous stocking in spring, might increase perennial ryegrass tiller survival and seedling recruitment in the autumn, compared with continuous stocking all year. The grazing strategies were compared on 2 contrasting pastures: an upgraded pasture [sown with newer cultivars of perennial ryegrass and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) with 26 kg phosphorus/ha.year as applied fertiliser] and a naturalised perennial ryegrass pasture receiving 6 kg P/ha.year. Paddocks were grazed by Border Leicester × Merino ewes, mated to a terminal sire so as to lamb in September. Perennial ryegrass tiller density was higher on the upgraded pasture with a mean density of 7750 tillers/m2 in early summer which declined to zero live tillers by mid summer. Live tillers began to reappear before the opening rains and then increased after the rain. Mean tiller density in the upgraded pasture declined over the 2 summers, with only 2050 tillers/m2 being present 2 months after the opening rains in 1998. There were no effects (P>0.05) of pasture type or grazing strategy on the number of tagged tillers that survived the summer period. Only 12% of the vegetative tillers, randomly tagged in December 1996, survived to May 1997. More than half of the tillers (56%) that produced a seedhead produced daughter tillers which survived the dry summer–autumn period. A significant (P<0.05) interaction between grazing strategy and pasture type occurred with the number of perennial ryegrass seedlings that had established 4 weeks after the opening rains in 1997. There was a 5–11-fold increase in seedling numbers which regenerated in the tactically stocked, upgraded pasture compared with the other treatments. Seedling recruitment was considerably lower in the autumn of 1998, due presumably to an overall decline in perennial ryegrass density relative to annual grasses in 1997. A second experiment investigated the effect of excluding sheep from grazing at anthesis until seedhead maturation or until the opening rains, together with a mechanical seed dislodgment treatment at seed maturity. All exclusion treatments increased seedling recruitment 4–7-fold, compared with continuous stocking. The results suggest a possible mechanism by which perennial ryegrass density can be increased without expensive reseeding.

scholarly journals Lamb growth rates improve as goat to sheep ratio increases

1990 ◽  
pp. 115-118
Author(s):  
R.J. Townsend ◽  
J.E. Radcliffe
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Lamb Growth

Lambs were rotationally grazed with ewes in a 'sheep only' system and with low, medium, and high proportions,of wether goats from October to March on dryland perennial ryegrass-white clover pastures in Canterbury. Lambs grazed with ewes and goats until they were weaned; then they grazed ahead of other stock. Treatment ratios of adult stock on a per head basis were 3 ewes:1 goat ('low goats'), 3 ewes:2 goats ('medium goats') and 3 ewes:3 goats ('high goats'). The ewe:lamb ratio was 1:1.35 on all treatments. Lamb growth rates (g/day) were 152 for 'sheep only', and 169, 185 and 203 for low, medium and high goat treatments respectively. As each treatment lamb reached a target draft weight, it was replaced by a lighter lamb for finishing. In comparison with the 'sheep only' treatment, an extra 1.6 lambs/ha were drafted off the 'medium goat' and an additional 2.6-lambs/ha off the 'high goat' treatment by the end of January. Increasing the proportion of goats:ewes increased the supply of white clover in pastures especially after lambs were weaned. Examination of faecal plant material showed 30% clover in the diet of lambs in a 'sheep only' system, increasing as the goat:sheep ratio increased to 60% clover in the 'high goat' treatment. Keywords white clover, perennial ryegrass, goats, sheep,grazing management, diet, lamb

TALL FESCUE FOR FINISHING LAMBS AND FLUSHING EWES IN HAWKES BAY

1985 ◽  
pp. 173-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.F. Wright ◽  
M.W.A. Slay ◽  
G.J. Hamilton ◽  
D.J. Paterson
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Research Programme ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Short Term ◽  
The Many ◽  
Better Than

Because of the many problems experienced in Hawkes Bay with traditional ryegrass pastures - drought, grass grub, stem weevil, ryegrass staggers - a research programme to evaluate tall fescue was initiated. Four short term trials have compared the nutritive value for sheep of two tall fescue cultivars (Roa and Demeter) with Nui ryegrass, all sown with white clover. All pasture types had similar quality for finishing lambs, although regrowth after a silage cut was better than previously grazed pastures, especia!!y for Nui. In the droughts of 1982 and 1983, tall fescue pastures were superior to those of Nui in both quantity and quality of feed for ewes prior to mating. This advantage resulted in an average of 18 more lambs being born per 100 ewes mated. Provided it persists, continues to produce well, and does not cause serious animal health problems under intensive sheep grazing, these results show that tall fescue should have an important role to play in Hawkes Bay and similar environments. Keywords: tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, lamb production, ewe production.

Long-term effects of multiple applications of nitrogen fertiliser on grazed dryland perennial ryegrass/white clover dairy pastures in south-west Victoria. 2. Growth rates, dry matter consumed, and nitrogen response efficiencies

2003 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 471 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. McKenzie ◽  
J. L. Jacobs ◽  
G. Kearney
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Nitrogen Response ◽  
South West ◽  
Autumn And Winter

A 3-year grazing experiment undertaken on a commercial dairy farm in south-west Victoria ascertained the effects of multiple applications of different rates of nitrogen (N) fertiliser over autumn and winter on pasture growth rates, dry matter (DM) consumed, and N fertiliser response efficiencies. Four treatments, replicated 3 times in a randomised block design, comprised: zero N (A); 3 applications of 25 kg N/ha (B); 3 applications of 50 kg N/ha (C); and 3 applications of 75 kg N/ha (D), with N applied as urea (46% N).Treatments B, C, and D increased pasture growth rates relative to Treatment A, with Treatments C and D having the greatest affect. Treatments B, C, and D also increased pasture DM yield, with Treatment D having the greatest effect. Total pasture DM consumed in 1997 was 7.1, 7.9, 8.2, and 8.9 t DM/ha for A, B, C, and D, respectively. For 1998, the values were 5.4, 6.5, 7.2, and 8.7; and in 1999 5.7, 6.6, 6.9, and 7.7 t DM/ha. During 1997, N response efficiencies were 11, 7, and 8 kg DM/kg N for treatments B, C, and D, respectively. Based on a cost of AU$400/t urea (including freight, handling, and spreading), Treatment B was the most economical, costing 8 cents/kg additional pasture DM produced. Nitrogen application resulted in response efficiencies of 14, 12, and 15 kg DM/kgN in 1998 and 13, 8, and 9 kg DM/kg N in 1999 for Treatments B, C, and D, respectively. In 1998 the most economical application was Treatment D, costing 6 cents/kg additional pasture DM produced, whilst in 1999 Treatment B was most economical costing 7 cents/kg DM for additional pasture. The apparent recovery of applied N fertiliser by the pasture was calculated and found to fall within the range reported in the literature. Apparent recoveries estimated during 1997, 1998, and 1999, respectively, were Treatment B: 62, 78, and 70%; Treatment C: 50, 69, and 45%; and for Treatment D: 45, 82, and 51%.It is concluded that, for the range of N fertiliser rates tested, N fertiliser is a cost-effective option for the production of extra pasture DM during autumn and winter on grazed perennial ryegrass dairy pastures in south-west Victoria.

Foraging behaviour of beef cattle in the hilly terrain of a Mediterranean grassland

2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Henkin ◽  
E. D. Ungar ◽  
A. Dolev
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Early Morning ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Late Spring ◽  
Full Potential

The objective of this study was to determine the role of terrain in the foraging behaviour of beef cows grazing hilly Mediterranean grasslands. The study was conducted in eastern Galilee, Israel, during 2002 and 2003 on two similar 28-ha paddocks encompassing distinct terrain types in terms of slope and rock cover. The paddocks were continuously grazed by cows from mid winter (January–February) to autumn (September) at two different stocking rates (1.1 and 0.56 cows per ha). From early June to the end of September the cows were offered poultry litter ad libitum as a supplementary feed. The location and activity of cows were monitored with GPS collars during four periods in each year: early spring (February–March), late spring (April), early summer (June) and late summer (August). Herbage mass was measured at the beginning of each of these periods. During early and late spring, when the herbage mass and nutritive value of herbage were high, the cows spent 40–50% of the day grazing, with peaks in the morning and afternoon. In the dry, late summer period (August), grazing of the herbage was 20–22% of the day, occurring only in the early morning and late afternoon with sporadic bouts of grazing until midnight. In all periods the cows tended to prefer the flattest terrain sites. As the herbage mass declined to 1000–1500 kg ha–1, the exploitation of the pasture during grazing became increasingly similar among the different terrains. Even on relatively small paddocks, where grazing pressure was close to the full potential of the site, free-ranging cows tended to prefer less sloping and rocky sites. It is concluded that the grazing strategy of beef cows is determined by the interaction between terrain, the distribution of the herbage mass and the nutritive value of the herbage. As herbage mass declines during the growing season, the distribution of grazing becomes uniform and all terrain types are exploited.

Effects of superphosphate fertiliser and stocking rate on the nutritive value of perennial ryegrass and subterranean clover herbage

1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 537 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. R. Saul ◽  
G. A. Kearney ◽  
P. C. Flinn ◽  
C. L. Lescun
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Infertile Soils

The effect of superphosphate fertiliser on digestible dry matter (DDM) and crude protein (CP) percentages of perennial ryegrass and subterranean clover was assessed on a long-term, grazed experiment in western Victoria. CP of both species increased significantly (3–6 units) where long-term average phosphorus (P) applications were 33 kg/ha.year compared with 1 kg/ha.year. CP of herbage was also greater on paddocks grazed at higher (9–23 ewes/ha) than lower (5–13 ewes/ha) stocking rates (1–3 units). DDM of subterranean clover significantly increased (8–10 units) with higher superphosphate applications but there was little effect on the DDM of perennial ryegrass. Long-term applications of superphosphate were associated with larger increases in both DDM and CP than if the same rate was applied in autumn of the year of measurement. For subterranean clover, 30 kg/ha of P applied to infertile soils (Olsen P 5 mg/kg) in autumn increased the DDM of herbage collected in September by only 4–6 units. The nutritive value of most volunteer pasture species also increased with higher superphosphate applications but the DDM of these species was usually inferior to perennial ryegrass. The results highlight the importance of monitoring nutritive value, pasture composition, and herbage production to quantify fully the likely effect of fertiliser applications on animal production.

Animal production under a series of Pinus radiata-pasture agroforestry systems in South-West Victoria, Australia

1995 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 1299 ◽  
Author(s):  
PR Bird ◽  
PR Bird ◽  
JD Kellas ◽  
JD Kellas ◽  
GA Kearney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Radiata ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Production Data ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Animal Damage ◽  
South West

Liveweight and greasy wool production data from young wethers were collected for the period autumn to early summer for the years 1986 to 1994 from an on-going Pinus radiata-pasture project at Carngham, Victoria. A plantation established in 1981 on a grazing property was thinned in 1983 to give trees spaced at: (i) no trees (a grazing control), (ii) 8 mx 12 m, (iii) 4 mx9 m, (iv) 4 mx3 m in a 5-row belt then a 10-row pasture gap, and (v) 2 mx3 m (original spacing). By 1989 the density of trees in these systems was slightly reduced by windthrow, animal damage and thinning to (ii) 60 trees/ha, (iii) 200 trees/ha wide-spaced, (iv) 200 trees/ha 5-row belt and (v) 1360 trees/ha. All trees in systems (ii), (iii) and (iv) had been pruned to 6 m by late 1992. The sheep stocking policy was initially based on a set 10 sheep ha-1. Since 1991 the stocking rate has been varied yearly in an attempt to maintain similar production per sheep. The pastures were re-sown in 1989 with perennial rye-grass and subterranean clover cultivars. Since 1991, wool production per ha from the 200 trees/ha wide-spaced system has been consistently less than in systems (i), (ii) and (iv). Wool production among systems differed significantly since 1992. Expressed as a percentage of wool production achieved on open pasture, the relative values for the agroforestry systems from 1990 to 1994 as follows.

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