Publication Date
1993
Description
A comparison between ryegrass, clover and a ryegrass-clover mixture was made in terms of animal production and possible limitations on intake. The occurrence of bloat on leguminous pastures restricts the use of these species in pasture systems in southern Africa. Highest average daily gains of 215 g were obtained on the clover pastures while average daily gains on ryegrass were I 63 g. Low specific gravity of the rumen content of sheep grazing pure clover, 0.62 kg/I, indicated gas formation in the rumen. On the ryegrass-clover mixture,· the influence of the lower degradability of ryegrass (P= S3.8%) effectively eliminated possible gas formation due to the legume, and the measured specific gravity of rumen content was 0.74 kg/I. Pure clover had the highest effective degradation of 67.3%, followed by the mixture and ryegrass with 57.5% and 53.8%, respectively. The higher degradation of clover was due to a significantly higher soluble fraction. Insoluble, potentially degradable fractions of ryegrass, clover and the mixture did not differ significantly from each other.
Citation
Paulsmeier, D V. and Meyer, J H.F, "Nutritional Quality of Ryegrass Pastures for Finishing Lambs in Southern Africa" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 25.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session14/25
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Nutritional Quality of Ryegrass Pastures for Finishing Lambs in Southern Africa
A comparison between ryegrass, clover and a ryegrass-clover mixture was made in terms of animal production and possible limitations on intake. The occurrence of bloat on leguminous pastures restricts the use of these species in pasture systems in southern Africa. Highest average daily gains of 215 g were obtained on the clover pastures while average daily gains on ryegrass were I 63 g. Low specific gravity of the rumen content of sheep grazing pure clover, 0.62 kg/I, indicated gas formation in the rumen. On the ryegrass-clover mixture,· the influence of the lower degradability of ryegrass (P= S3.8%) effectively eliminated possible gas formation due to the legume, and the measured specific gravity of rumen content was 0.74 kg/I. Pure clover had the highest effective degradation of 67.3%, followed by the mixture and ryegrass with 57.5% and 53.8%, respectively. The higher degradation of clover was due to a significantly higher soluble fraction. Insoluble, potentially degradable fractions of ryegrass, clover and the mixture did not differ significantly from each other.
