Publication Date
1989
Description
Animal production is not only affected by pasture mass and its seasonal distribution but also by the composition and quality of the consumed pasture (Rattray and Clark, 1984). Legumes have a higher nutritive value than grasses, but may be suppressed by application of artificial nitrogen (N) when soil N status is low (Ball and Field, 1982). Nutritive value of pasture falls as it matures due to a rise in fibrous tissue and a decline in digestibility, and mineral and protein content (Ulyatt, 1978). However, vegetative growth can be prolonged and quality maintained by greater utilisation of pasture in late spring (Clark et al., 1982). Legume growth is also promoted by reduced competition from grasses (Ball and Field, 1982). The objective of the study was to determine the relative importance of two management strategies versus seasonal and annual variations on three measures of feed quality.
Citation
Betteridge, K; Haynes, D A.; and Sedcole, J R., "Change in Composition and Quality of a Temperate Species Mixed Pasture Grazed Over Three Years at Two Stocking Rates with and without Nitrogen Fertilizer" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 35.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session7/35
Included in
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Change in Composition and Quality of a Temperate Species Mixed Pasture Grazed Over Three Years at Two Stocking Rates with and without Nitrogen Fertilizer
Animal production is not only affected by pasture mass and its seasonal distribution but also by the composition and quality of the consumed pasture (Rattray and Clark, 1984). Legumes have a higher nutritive value than grasses, but may be suppressed by application of artificial nitrogen (N) when soil N status is low (Ball and Field, 1982). Nutritive value of pasture falls as it matures due to a rise in fibrous tissue and a decline in digestibility, and mineral and protein content (Ulyatt, 1978). However, vegetative growth can be prolonged and quality maintained by greater utilisation of pasture in late spring (Clark et al., 1982). Legume growth is also promoted by reduced competition from grasses (Ball and Field, 1982). The objective of the study was to determine the relative importance of two management strategies versus seasonal and annual variations on three measures of feed quality.
