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Publication Date
1981
Description
Much of Australian tropical-pasture research in the last 20 years has been aimed at filling the "protein gap" of the dry season with a well-adapted legume. Several such legumes are now available, but their contribution to an improved nutritional regimen has been variable. This paper puts forward generalizations as to the contribution of pasture components to cattle nutrition and attempts to apply this information in devising regional strategies for pasture design and management. The contribution of a forage component is a function of (1) its nutritive value and (2) its relative acceptability. Three components emerge as both highly nutritious and acceptable-i.e, young green grass, mature green legume, and legume litter (mainly leaf and seed). Young grass dominates the diet from first storms until late in the rainy season. Drastic reduction in grass quality corresponds to peak yields of mature green legume, and diet composition changes correspondingly. Green legume remains the major diet component until soil water depletion triggers senescence and leaf shed. During the dry-feed period, legume litter is capable of supporting live-weight gain unless rainfall causes spoilage. Sufficient rain to promote substantial grass growth can also have a net benefit. The most deleterious situation is one of small rainfalls, sufficient to cause spoilage but insufficient to support growth. Dry-season rainfall in the beef-producing regions of tropical Australia is highly variable, both geographically and temporally. Figures are presented that show (a) the variation in risk of rainfall damage to dry legume and (b) the probability of green grass availability. These provide a basis for design of pastures and management for various regions. Strategies for two contrasting environments are discussed. Although the goal of a well-adapted, high-yielding pasture legume for the subhumid to semiarid tropics has been achieved, there remains a major task in optimizing utilization of such a plant in production systems over a wide range of environments.
Citation
McCown, R L. and Gardener, C J., "Diet Quality Considerations in the Design and Management of Pastures in Seasonally Dry Tropics of Australia" (1981). IGC Proceedings (1977-2023). 14.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1981/section12/14)
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Diet Quality Considerations in the Design and Management of Pastures in Seasonally Dry Tropics of Australia
Much of Australian tropical-pasture research in the last 20 years has been aimed at filling the "protein gap" of the dry season with a well-adapted legume. Several such legumes are now available, but their contribution to an improved nutritional regimen has been variable. This paper puts forward generalizations as to the contribution of pasture components to cattle nutrition and attempts to apply this information in devising regional strategies for pasture design and management. The contribution of a forage component is a function of (1) its nutritive value and (2) its relative acceptability. Three components emerge as both highly nutritious and acceptable-i.e, young green grass, mature green legume, and legume litter (mainly leaf and seed). Young grass dominates the diet from first storms until late in the rainy season. Drastic reduction in grass quality corresponds to peak yields of mature green legume, and diet composition changes correspondingly. Green legume remains the major diet component until soil water depletion triggers senescence and leaf shed. During the dry-feed period, legume litter is capable of supporting live-weight gain unless rainfall causes spoilage. Sufficient rain to promote substantial grass growth can also have a net benefit. The most deleterious situation is one of small rainfalls, sufficient to cause spoilage but insufficient to support growth. Dry-season rainfall in the beef-producing regions of tropical Australia is highly variable, both geographically and temporally. Figures are presented that show (a) the variation in risk of rainfall damage to dry legume and (b) the probability of green grass availability. These provide a basis for design of pastures and management for various regions. Strategies for two contrasting environments are discussed. Although the goal of a well-adapted, high-yielding pasture legume for the subhumid to semiarid tropics has been achieved, there remains a major task in optimizing utilization of such a plant in production systems over a wide range of environments.
