Publication Date
1989
Description
INTRODUCTION With a mediterranean climate in the south-west of Western Australia, pastures are composed of annual species from the genera Trifolium, Hordeum, Lolium, Bromus, Vulpia, Erodium and Artotheca. The length of the growing season ranges from 9 months near the coast to less than 5 months in the eastern wheatbelt. Seven million hectares of pastures are grazed predominantly by Merino sheep (about 33 millions). Stoking rate is the major factor affecting wool production on farm. An increase in stocking rate reduces wool production per sheep.Increasing the stocking rate reduces total pasture growth (Dunlop, et al., 1984) and changes the botanic composition (Rossiter, 1966) toward less grasses and more volunteer species. These effects are important in models which estimate animal production from pasture growth eg. MIDAS (Morrison et al.,1988) and WOOLMDL (Curtis, 1988). This paper reports attemps to quantify this relationship, and presents data to explain which components of the pasture sward are affected.
Citation
Curtis, K.M S.; Dunlop, A C.; and Albertson, T O., "Effect of Grazing on Pasture Production in South-West Western Australia" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 47.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session9/47
Included in
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Effect of Grazing on Pasture Production in South-West Western Australia
INTRODUCTION With a mediterranean climate in the south-west of Western Australia, pastures are composed of annual species from the genera Trifolium, Hordeum, Lolium, Bromus, Vulpia, Erodium and Artotheca. The length of the growing season ranges from 9 months near the coast to less than 5 months in the eastern wheatbelt. Seven million hectares of pastures are grazed predominantly by Merino sheep (about 33 millions). Stoking rate is the major factor affecting wool production on farm. An increase in stocking rate reduces wool production per sheep.Increasing the stocking rate reduces total pasture growth (Dunlop, et al., 1984) and changes the botanic composition (Rossiter, 1966) toward less grasses and more volunteer species. These effects are important in models which estimate animal production from pasture growth eg. MIDAS (Morrison et al.,1988) and WOOLMDL (Curtis, 1988). This paper reports attemps to quantify this relationship, and presents data to explain which components of the pasture sward are affected.
