Description
Two cultivars of Festuca arundinacea, one of temperate origin (El Palenque: PAL) with higher spring and summer growth and one of North African origin (Maris Kasba: MK) with higher winter growth, were compared under grazing during three years. They were grazed continuously, using a “put and take” system, by young steers and the swards maintained at equal heights, but which varied slightly between seasons. Daily live weight gain (LWG) and instantaneous stocking rate (ISR) were used to estimate productivity per unit area. There was no difference between cultivars in LWG, but consistent and important differences in ISR: MK carrying and producing nearly 50% more steers/ha in winter than PAL, while in spring-summer PAL carried nearly 40% more. This strong interaction between cultivar and period meant that overall production on the two was similar.
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Evaluation Under Grazing of Two Festuca Arundinacia Cultivars with Contrasting Growth Patterns
Two cultivars of Festuca arundinacea, one of temperate origin (El Palenque: PAL) with higher spring and summer growth and one of North African origin (Maris Kasba: MK) with higher winter growth, were compared under grazing during three years. They were grazed continuously, using a “put and take” system, by young steers and the swards maintained at equal heights, but which varied slightly between seasons. Daily live weight gain (LWG) and instantaneous stocking rate (ISR) were used to estimate productivity per unit area. There was no difference between cultivars in LWG, but consistent and important differences in ISR: MK carrying and producing nearly 50% more steers/ha in winter than PAL, while in spring-summer PAL carried nearly 40% more. This strong interaction between cultivar and period meant that overall production on the two was similar.
