The summer nutrition of immature sheep: The nitrogen excretion of grazing sheep in relation to supplements of available energy and protein in a Mediterranean environment.

1969 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 125 ◽  
Author(s):  
WG Allden ◽  
CC Jennings
Keyword(s):  
Balance Sheet ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Nitrogen Excretion ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Available Energy ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Grazing Sheep ◽  
Sparing Effect

The nitrogen excretion of 24 yearling Merino sheep grazing the summer herbage of annual grass-subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) sown pastures was measured over four consecutive periods of 28 days in relation to supplementation with available energy (E) and nitrogen (N). The experiment was of change-over design and included nine combinations of supplement E1, E2, E3 x N1, N2, N3 and an unsupplemented (control) treatment; the respective daily allowance of E was 11 3, 227, and 340 g total digestible nutrients daily, and of N supplied as protein 4,8, and 12 g/day. Unsupplemented sheep grazing mature pasture herbage excreted 23.4 g N/day in urine and faeces. Supplementary energy produced an N-sparing effect whereas added protein was associated with an increased excretion of N. Urinary N accounted for all the changes in N excretion, the faecal N component remaining constant throughout the four periods. Relative changes in herbage intake were estimated: as the level of E (dry matter) increased the estimated herbage intake of sheep was observed to fall linearly, but no significant change in estimated herbage intake was associated with changing N. Significant increases in wool production (P<0.05) were associated with supplementary N. Direct and indirect estimates of the N turnover of the grazing sheep are compared, and a crude N balance sheet is presented. Supporting data are presented which suggest that the N intakes of sheep grazing the mature herbage of sown clover-grass pastures in southern Australia are commonly of the order of 12-18 g N/day.

Long-term persistence of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) cultivars in south-western Victoria

1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 625 ◽  
Author(s):  
SG Clark ◽  
RM McDonald ◽  
HC Street
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Level Of Invasion ◽  
Small Seed ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Western Victoria

The long-term persistence of 6 subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) cultivars was determined by sampling seed from 2 experiments at Hamilton and Beeac in south-western Victoria, 8 or 12 years after sowing. For most of this period the plots were managed as part of the surrounding pasture and were closely grazed by sheep. Herbage yield measurements were made and seed was collected from each plot and grown in a glasshouse, in order to identify the cultivar(s) present. Cultivars used were Yarloop, Trikkala, Larisa and Meteora (spp. yanninicum), and Mount Barker and Woogenellup (spp. subterranean). At both sites, plots sown to Trikkala and Larisa had the greatest seed banks and experienced the lowest level of invasion by other cultivars or ecotypes. Mount Barker and Yarloop appeared to have persisted at low levels; their plots were moderately invaded. Plots sown to the unsuccessful Woogenellup were heavily invaded and contained only a small seed bank of Woogenellup seed. Eight to 12 years after sowing, plots at Hamilton and Beeac that were sown to Larisa produced 3-15 times as much clover dry matter in spring as plots sown to Mount Barker. At Hamilton, the plots sown to Trikkala produced 3 times as much clover in winter as those sown to Mount Barker. This study indicates that Trikkala and Larisa offer clear advantages over the older cultivars, Mount Barker and Woogenellup, for the high rainfall areas of western Victoria, by demonstrating their persistence and long-term productivity when subjected to normal sheep-grazing practice.

Spray-topping annual grass pasture with glyphosate to delay loss of feeding value during summer. IV. Diet composition, herbage intake, and performance in grazing sheep

1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 487 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Leury ◽  
C. Siever-Kelly ◽  
R. J. Simpson ◽  
K. L. Gatford ◽  
H. Dove
Keyword(s):  
Diet Composition ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrate ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Annual Grass ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Seed Head ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Grazing Sheep ◽  
Days After Anthesis

We report the effects of spray-topping annual grass pasture with glyphosate (180 g a.i./ha as Roundup CT, at the seed head emergence stage) on the nutritive value of herbage and on subsequent performance of grazing sheep. Eight 1-ha plots, consisting of 4 sprayed and 4 unsprayed (control) plots, were set-stocked with Merino wethers (18 months old, 12 sheep/ha) from 8 days after anthesis in the control plots (late spring) until 165 days after anthesis (mid-autumn). In 4 periods (15–20, 36–41, 71–76, and 99–104 days after anthesis; Periods 1–4, respectively) sheep were dosed with synthetic alkanes and herbage and faecal samples were taken, in order to estimate diet composition (in terms of plant parts), faecal output, herbage intake, and the digestibility of the whole diet. As described in our earlier papers, spray-topping reduced the yield of pasture dry matter, but also slowed the loss of water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and digestibility during pasture senescence. The present paper shows that as a result, sheep grazing sprayed herbage in Periods 1 and 2 consumed significantly more organic matter (OM) and digestible OM (DOM) than sheep grazing the control pasture. Their diet contained a higher proportion of stem with a higher WSC concentration than that of the sheep grazing the control plots. The proportions of different plant parts (leaf blade+sheath, stem, seed head) in the diet of both the plot sheep and oesophageally fistulated (OF) sheep, which grazed treatments for short periods, differed significantly between treatments in all periods. However, the compositions of the diets selected by plot and OF sheep were similar. These results confirmed diet preferences measured using housed sheep and demonstrate the usefulness of alkane-based procedures for quantifying diet composition and intake in grazing animals. As a result of their higher intake of DOM, sheep grazing sprayed herbage had a significantly higher liveweight gain over the first 2 periods (40 g/day). In Period 3, sheep grazing sprayed herbage consumed more OM than sheep grazing control herbage. However, DOM intakes from sprayed or control plots were not significantly different in either Period 3 or Period 4, and were lower than in Periods 1 and 2. Sheep grazing both treatments lost liveweight at a similar rate over this time. Wool growth in sheep grazing sprayed herbage was improved by 10% during the experimental period; wool strength was also improved significantly. The implications for the management of sheep grazing spray-topped pastures over summer are discussed.

Herbage intake of grazing sheep in South-western Australia

1959 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 237 ◽  
Author(s):  
HE Fels ◽  
RJ Moir ◽  
RC Rossiter
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Nitrogen Content ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
Common Belief ◽  
Local Regression ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Faecal Nitrogen ◽  
Grazing Sheep ◽  
Clover Pasture

Estimates of the intake of pasture organic matter by grazing sheep were made for two types of pasture, clover-dominant and grass-dominant, at three growth stages. These estimates were made from faecal nitrogen index equations which were derived from data on penned sheep. One of the equations was found to be remarkably close to Lanoaster's (1954) regression of feed/faeces ratio on percentage faecal nitrogen content. The dry mature clover pasture was anomalous, and a separate "local" regression was derived for it. Organic matter intakes for grazing sheep of about 110 lb body weight ranged from 900 to 1300 g/day, except on dry clover pasture, where the intake was only about 700 g/day. Contrary to common belief, subterranean clover was eaten at least as readily as grass during the growing season. Evidence is presented that sheep grazing on pastures with a total nitrogen content of 2 . 5 per cent. or less select material of higher than average nitrogen content, whereas if the nitrogen content of the pasture exceeds 3.5 per cent. there is no such selection. The anomalous characteristics of the dry mature clover are discussed in some detail, and further evidence is given suggesting that the material was of poorer digestibility than usual.

Sheep grazing bladder clover (Trifolium spumosum L.) had similar productivity and meat quality to sheep grazing subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.)

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayley C. Norman ◽  
Angelo Loi ◽  
Matt G. Wilmot ◽  
Allan J. Rintoul ◽  
Bradley J. Nutt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Eating Quality ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Daily Growth ◽  
Care Assessment

An accession of bladder clover, a new species to agriculture, was selected for commercial release in Australia with the cultivar name of AGWEST Bartolo. As part of a duty-of-care assessment, we tested the hypothesis that sheep grazing the bladder clover cultivar will have similar liveweight, condition scores and wool production to sheep grazing a widely adopted subterranean clover cultivar (cv. Dalkeith). Further, we hypothesised that sheep grazing bladder clover and subterranean clover will have similar meat quality (after 48 days of grazing) and health as indicated by muscle, liver and kidney panel analysis. The data supported the hypotheses. While there were significant initial differences in liveweight between the two groups of sheep, there were no significant differences in liveweight at later time points during the grazing period and no significant differences in mean daily growth rate between weighing times. There were no differences in wool growth between sheep grazing the bladder or subterranean clover cultivars. Sheep in the subterranean clover plots had significantly higher condition scores after the first 24 days of grazing; however, these differences were not apparent after another 24 days of grazing. There were some differences in indications of animal health; however, there were no significant detrimental effects associated with bladder clover and sheep grazing both species had mean plasma indicators that were deemed ‘healthy’. There were no differences in meat eating quality as estimated by a consumer panel for tenderness, juiciness or flavour. Dry seasonal conditions limited biomass growth and the sheep were removed from the subterranean clover plots on Day 48 of grazing. The sheep grazing the bladder clover plots remained on the plots for a further 26 days. The data indicate that, for the conditions of this experiment, the clovers had the same relative feeding value. Laboratory analysis of herbage from across the clover plots (bulked before analysis) suggest that the bladder clover had higher in vitro digestibility, crude protein and lower fibre than the herbage sample from the subterranean clover plots. The biomass data indicate that the bladder clover cultivar can support more grazing days per ha in a relatively dry season than the subterranean clover cultivar.

scholarly journals Pasture production and liveweight gain from cocksfoot-subterranean clover pastures grazed at two stocking rates and closed at different times during spring

2008 ◽  
pp. 225-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Ates ◽  
R.J. Lucas ◽  
G.R. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Seedling Density ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Closing Date ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Clover Pasture

The effect of stocking rate (8.3 (low) and 13.9 (high) ewes + twin lambs/ha) and time of closing in spring on lamb liveweight gain, pasture production and subterranean clover seedling densities was monitored over 2 years for a dryland cocksfoot-subterranean clover pasture in Canterbury. Keywords: cocksfoot, Dactylis glomerata, closing date, liveweight gain, seedling density, sheep grazing, stocking rate, subterranean clover, Trifolium subterraneum

The estimation of the intake of grazing sheep II. Application of faecal nitrogen regressions to a group of grazing sheep

1962 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. R. Pearce ◽  
J. E. Vercoe ◽  
D. E. Tribe
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Lolium Rigidum ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
Faecal Nitrogen ◽  
Grazing Sheep

1. Recordings of faecal organic matter (O.M.), faecal N% (O.M. basis) and live weight, were made over 52 consecutive weekly periods on ten Corriedale wethers grazing a pasture consisting mainly of Wimmera rye-grass (Lolium rigidum Gaud.) with some subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) in a Mediterranean-type environment. The amount of available O.M. and its N% were also recorded.2. By applying regressions of (i) the ratio of O.M. feed intake to O.M. faecal output on faecal N% and (ii) the N% in the O.M. intake on faecal N%, to the above observations it was possible to estimate the following quantities: O.M. and digestible organic matter (D.O.M.) intake, N and digestible N intake and O.M. digestibility percentage.3. The patterns of O.M. and D.O.M. intake, and N and digestible N intake are described. Similar patterns exist for each of these quantities. Two maxima, a large one in the spring and a smaller one in the autumn, and two minima, one in the summer and one in the winter, are exhibited. The values for these various maxima and minima are presented in the text.4. Attention is drawn to variations from the general pattern for these quantities and factors which could influence these patterns are mentioned.

Effect of pasture availability and shearing stress on herbage intake of grazing sheep

1963 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 364 ◽  
Author(s):  
JL Wheeler ◽  
TF Reardon ◽  
LJ Lambourne
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Cold Stress ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Shearing Stress ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
Grazing Sheep ◽  
Index Methods

Digestible organic matter (D.O.M.) intakes of sheep grazing various pastures were measured by faecal index methods in three 4- to 6-week experiments. No correlation could be found between the weight of pasture available (over the range 150–2900 Ib dry weight per acre of green herbage) and the D.O.M. intake of sheep. During two experiments the sheep were shorn. Shortly after, voluntary D.O.M. intakes rose significantly by 42–62%. Concurrently the hay intake of other sheep yarded nearby rose by 20–51% following shearing. Cold stress is probably responsible for these increases.

The estimation of the intake of grazing sheep I. Establishment of faecal nitrogen regressions

1962 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Vercoe ◽  
G. R. Pearce ◽  
D. E. Tribe
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Lolium Rigidum ◽  
Faecal Output ◽  
Rye Grass ◽  
Faecal Nitrogen ◽  
Grazing Sheep

1. Regression equations for the ratio of organic matter (O.M.) feed intake to O.M. faecal output on faecal N%, and the N% in the O.M. intake on faecal N% were established over a 52-week period by feeding caged Corriedale wethers on pasture cut from a Wimmera rye-grass (Lolium rigidum Gaud.), subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) sward in a Mediterranean-type environment.2. The regression equations and their application to grazing sheep together with the relation between O.M. intake and faecal N, are discussed.

Competition among seedlings of perennial grasses, subterranean clover, white clover, and annual ryegrass in replacement series mixtures

2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 377 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Lodge
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Plant Competition ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Maximum Likelihood Estimates ◽  
Annual Ryegrass ◽  
Replacement Series ◽  
Successful Establishment

Seedlings of 3 perennial grasses, Danthonia linkii Kunthcv. Bunderra, D. richardsonii Cashmore cv. Taranna(wallaby grasses), and Phalaris aquatica L. cv. Sirosa,were each grown in replacement series mixtures with seedlings ofTrifolium repens L. (white clover),Trifolium subterraneum L. var. brachycalycinum (Katzn.et Morley) Zorahy & Heller cv. Clare (subterraneanclover), and Lolium rigidum L. (annual ryegrass). Plantswere sown 5 cm apart in boxes (45 by 29 by 20 cm) at a density of 307plants/m2. Maximum likelihood estimates were usedto derive parameters of a non-linear competition model using the dry matterweights of perennial grasses and competitors at 3 harvests, approximately 168,216, and 271 days after sowing. Intra-plant competition was examined inmonocultures of each species, grown at plant spacings of 2, 5, and 8 cm apartwith plants harvested at the above times.Competition occurred in all perennial grass–competitor mixtures, exceptin those of each perennial grass with white clover and thephalaris–subterranean clover mixture (Harvest 1) and those withD. richardsonii and phalaris grown with white clover(Harvest 2). For D. richardsonii (Harvests 1 and 2) andD. linkii (Harvest 1 only) grown with white clover andthe phalaris–subterranean clover (Harvest 1), the two species in themixture were not competing. In the phalaris–white clover mixture, eachspecies was equally competitive (Harvests 1 and 2). These differences incompetition and aggressiveness reflected differences in individual plantweights in monocultures where there was an effect (P < 0.05) of species ondry matter weight per box, but no significant effect of plant spacing.These data indicated that for successful establishment,D. richardsonii and D. linkiishould not be sown in swards with either subterranean clover or white clover,or where populations of annual ryegrass seedlings are likely to be high.Phalaris was more compatible with both white clover and subterranean clover,but aggressively competed with by annual ryegrass.

scholarly journals Host plant recognition by the root feeding clover weevil, Sitona lepidus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

2004 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 433-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.N. Johnson ◽  
P.J. Gregory ◽  
P.J. Murray ◽  
X Zhang ◽  
I.M. Young
Keyword(s):  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Plant Roots ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Movement Rates ◽  
Sitona Lepidus ◽  
Macro Scale ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Invasive Techniques ◽  
Root Feeding

AbstractThis study investigated the ability of neonatal larvae of the root-feeding weevil, Sitona lepidus Gyllenhal, to locate white clover Trifolium repens L. (Fabaceae) roots growing in soil and to distinguish them from the roots of other species of clover and a co-occurring grass species. Choice experiments used a combination of invasive techniques and the novel technique of high resolution X-ray microtomography to non-invasively track larval movement in the soil towards plant roots. Burrowing distances towards roots of different plant species were also examined. Newly hatched S. lepidus recognized T. repens roots and moved preferentially towards them when given a choice of roots of subterranean clover, Trifolium subterraneum L. (Fabaceae), strawberry clover Trifolium fragiferum L. (Fabaceae), or perennial ryegrass Lolium perenneL. (Poaceae). Larvae recognized T. repens roots, whether released in groups of five or singly, when released 25 mm (meso-scale recognition) or 60 mm (macro-scale recognition) away from plant roots. There was no statistically significant difference in movement rates of larvae.

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