Publication Date
1993
Description
Three cultivars of late-heading perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) were continuously but variably stocked with ewes and lambs so as to maintain steady state sward conditions. Net herbage production (NHP) was estimated by following the turnover of tissue on individually marked tillers and monitoring tiller numbers. Animal productivity was measured as lamb live-weight gain and ewe liveweight change and utilised metabolisable energy (UMB) estimated. The cultivars were S23, Melle and Mascot which were categorised outclassed, recommended and rejected, respectively, by the UK's National Institute of Agricultural Botany, NHP rankings for the cultivars (S23==100) were Melle 104 and Mascot 95 measured over 2 grazing seasons, a result consistent with those obtained under standard cultivar testing conditions. Seasonal UMB totals gave a ranking of 100, 103 and 99 for S23, Melle and Mascot respectively. This confirms that NHP is not always a reliable predictor of animal performance. The results indicate that in absolute terms only small differences exist between modern and old cultivars however they are assessed. It appears that the grass breeder, like the cereal breeder, has had limited success In Increasing above-ground biomass.
Citation
Clark, H, "Relative Performance of Three Cultivars of Late-Heading Perennial Ryegrass Continuously Stocks by Ewes and Lambs" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 7.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session12/7
Included in
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Relative Performance of Three Cultivars of Late-Heading Perennial Ryegrass Continuously Stocks by Ewes and Lambs
Three cultivars of late-heading perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) were continuously but variably stocked with ewes and lambs so as to maintain steady state sward conditions. Net herbage production (NHP) was estimated by following the turnover of tissue on individually marked tillers and monitoring tiller numbers. Animal productivity was measured as lamb live-weight gain and ewe liveweight change and utilised metabolisable energy (UMB) estimated. The cultivars were S23, Melle and Mascot which were categorised outclassed, recommended and rejected, respectively, by the UK's National Institute of Agricultural Botany, NHP rankings for the cultivars (S23==100) were Melle 104 and Mascot 95 measured over 2 grazing seasons, a result consistent with those obtained under standard cultivar testing conditions. Seasonal UMB totals gave a ranking of 100, 103 and 99 for S23, Melle and Mascot respectively. This confirms that NHP is not always a reliable predictor of animal performance. The results indicate that in absolute terms only small differences exist between modern and old cultivars however they are assessed. It appears that the grass breeder, like the cereal breeder, has had limited success In Increasing above-ground biomass.
