Publication Date
1993
Description
Pasture and animal production from pastures based on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) with either white clover (Trifolium repens L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), or a dual clover base having 60% of the area in white clover and 40% in red clover, were compared over 3 years in self-contained I ha farmlets stocked with 20 ewes/ha, Annual pasture production was similar on all three farmlets, although autumn production of the red clover farmlet was significantly lower than the white or mixed clover systems. Legume production was greatest on the mixed and red clover farmlets in summer and the red clover farmlet in autumn. Animal intal(es, ewe live weights at mating, mating pattern, lambing percentage and the number of infertile ewes were similar for all clover farmlets. Lamb carcass yields were similar for all farmlets, averaging 417 kg/ha, but a lower lamb live weight gain (208 v. 230 g/head/day) from birth to weaning on the red clover farmlet delayed average slaughter date by S days. Post-weaning live-weight gains were similar on all farmlets, averaging 192 g/head/day. Pormononetin levels of Grasslands Pawera red clover were between 0.8 and 1.2%. Red clover contributed approximately 20% and 30% of the annual and autumn herbage production respectively, but no significant depression on the fertility of sheep continually exposed to red clover-perennial ryegrass pasture was found.
Citation
Baxter, G S.; Stevens, D R.; and Harris, A J., "Integration of High Formononetin Red Clover in Sheep Grazing Systems" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 6.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session39/6
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Integration of High Formononetin Red Clover in Sheep Grazing Systems
Pasture and animal production from pastures based on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) with either white clover (Trifolium repens L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), or a dual clover base having 60% of the area in white clover and 40% in red clover, were compared over 3 years in self-contained I ha farmlets stocked with 20 ewes/ha, Annual pasture production was similar on all three farmlets, although autumn production of the red clover farmlet was significantly lower than the white or mixed clover systems. Legume production was greatest on the mixed and red clover farmlets in summer and the red clover farmlet in autumn. Animal intal(es, ewe live weights at mating, mating pattern, lambing percentage and the number of infertile ewes were similar for all clover farmlets. Lamb carcass yields were similar for all farmlets, averaging 417 kg/ha, but a lower lamb live weight gain (208 v. 230 g/head/day) from birth to weaning on the red clover farmlet delayed average slaughter date by S days. Post-weaning live-weight gains were similar on all farmlets, averaging 192 g/head/day. Pormononetin levels of Grasslands Pawera red clover were between 0.8 and 1.2%. Red clover contributed approximately 20% and 30% of the annual and autumn herbage production respectively, but no significant depression on the fertility of sheep continually exposed to red clover-perennial ryegrass pasture was found.
