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Publication Date
1981
Description
To examine the influence of structural distribution of herbage within a sward on intake by grazing animals, two swards of contrasting structure were established at two periods in the grazing season by either infrequent mowing (C) or hard sheep grazing (G) of a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) pasture. The plots were then allowed to grow undisturbed for about 5 weeks before being grazed by young cattle for periods of 2 weeks at two levels of herbage allowance, 30 and 60 g dry matter/kg live weight/day, in July (1) and in September (2). Detailed measurements of sward structure were made by stratified cutting of the pasture. The herbage intake of the cattle was measured both by the chromic oxide dilution technique and by before-and-after clipping. In period 1, sward C was apparently more accessible than G (50% vs. 30% of herbage mass above 5 cm), but in period 2 this accessibility was reversed (G, 60% vs. C, 30% ). In spite of this reversal, herbage intakes were 10% greater in the C than the G treatment in both periods, the difference being greater at the low than at the high allowance (16 % vs. 5 % ). It was concluded that the presence of sheep excreta from the pretreatment had a greater effect on the herbage intake of the calves than did the spatial distribution of the swards.
Citation
Wade, M H. and Le Du, Y.L P., "Influence of Sward Structure upon Herbage Intake of Cattle Grazing a Perennial Ryegrass Sward" (1981). IGC Proceedings (1977-2023). 14.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1981/section8/14)
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Influence of Sward Structure upon Herbage Intake of Cattle Grazing a Perennial Ryegrass Sward
To examine the influence of structural distribution of herbage within a sward on intake by grazing animals, two swards of contrasting structure were established at two periods in the grazing season by either infrequent mowing (C) or hard sheep grazing (G) of a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) pasture. The plots were then allowed to grow undisturbed for about 5 weeks before being grazed by young cattle for periods of 2 weeks at two levels of herbage allowance, 30 and 60 g dry matter/kg live weight/day, in July (1) and in September (2). Detailed measurements of sward structure were made by stratified cutting of the pasture. The herbage intake of the cattle was measured both by the chromic oxide dilution technique and by before-and-after clipping. In period 1, sward C was apparently more accessible than G (50% vs. 30% of herbage mass above 5 cm), but in period 2 this accessibility was reversed (G, 60% vs. C, 30% ). In spite of this reversal, herbage intakes were 10% greater in the C than the G treatment in both periods, the difference being greater at the low than at the high allowance (16 % vs. 5 % ). It was concluded that the presence of sheep excreta from the pretreatment had a greater effect on the herbage intake of the calves than did the spatial distribution of the swards.
