Publication Date
1989
Description
The equine breeding industry of New Zealand makes a considerable contribution to the export earnings, but the production base of that industry, i.e. the equine pastures have been neglected by our researchers. Thoroughbred studs are established on ex-dairy or ex-sheep farms which are usually sown with perennial ryegrass and white clover. Ryegrass based pastures can be highly productive, but in New Zealand suffer from the Argentine stem weevil - ryegrass staggers dilemma. i.e. Low endophyte ryegrasses do not survive Argentine stem weevil, but resistant high-endophyte ryegrasses cause the animal muscular disorder« ryegrass staggers». The seasonal productivity pattern of ryegrass is also out of phase with the high feed demands on studs that occur from late spring into summer. Despite hard feeding, horses eat a great deal of grass (McCarthy, 1987) especially when agisting and growing. Race horses are agisted on pasture to recover condition after each session of racing, and are frequently fed grass or given access to pasture when in training. Young foals are dependant for their first 17 months from conception to weaning on the quantity and quality of pasture offered the mares. Yearlings may or may not get some hard feed but pasture will still contribute a great deal to their growth. Horses also receive a significant amount of pasture hay in their diets. We report here research undertaken to gauge the extent of this problem for the horse breeders of New Zealand, and to test the acceptance of a range of possible alternatives species to ryegrass.
Citation
Hunt, W F.; Hay, R.J M.; and Clark, D, "Pasture Species Preferences by Horses in New Zealand" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 21.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session7/21
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Pasture Species Preferences by Horses in New Zealand
The equine breeding industry of New Zealand makes a considerable contribution to the export earnings, but the production base of that industry, i.e. the equine pastures have been neglected by our researchers. Thoroughbred studs are established on ex-dairy or ex-sheep farms which are usually sown with perennial ryegrass and white clover. Ryegrass based pastures can be highly productive, but in New Zealand suffer from the Argentine stem weevil - ryegrass staggers dilemma. i.e. Low endophyte ryegrasses do not survive Argentine stem weevil, but resistant high-endophyte ryegrasses cause the animal muscular disorder« ryegrass staggers». The seasonal productivity pattern of ryegrass is also out of phase with the high feed demands on studs that occur from late spring into summer. Despite hard feeding, horses eat a great deal of grass (McCarthy, 1987) especially when agisting and growing. Race horses are agisted on pasture to recover condition after each session of racing, and are frequently fed grass or given access to pasture when in training. Young foals are dependant for their first 17 months from conception to weaning on the quantity and quality of pasture offered the mares. Yearlings may or may not get some hard feed but pasture will still contribute a great deal to their growth. Horses also receive a significant amount of pasture hay in their diets. We report here research undertaken to gauge the extent of this problem for the horse breeders of New Zealand, and to test the acceptance of a range of possible alternatives species to ryegrass.
