Publication Date
1997
Description
Animal production on pasture systems provided with either fertiliser or biological nitrogen was compared. A grazing experiment was sown at AgResearch Gore (46°07’ S; 168°54’ E) in October, 1989. Four ryegrass/white clover paddocks were compared to four ryegrass paddocks, with the latter receiving 270 kg nitrogen/ha/year. Each paddock of 0.5 ha was subdivided for rotational grazing at 20 ewes/ ha. In comparison to the ryegrass pastures, mixed pastures produced 22% more herbage and were subsequently 22% higher stocked, lamb liveweight gains were 12% higher during lactation and 42% higher after weaning resulting in earlier sale at higher carcass weights. Ewe weight increases were 2.6 kg higher over lactation and wool production per kg body weight was 12% higher on the mixed pastures. Mixed pastures yielded more saleable product per kg of dry matter produced at lower($300/ha) cost than ryegrass pastures.
Citation
Erens, J.P J.; Miller, K B.; Lucas, R J.; White, J.G. H.; and Easton, H S., "White Clover Versus Nitrogen Fertilizer 2. Sheep Production" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 26.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session22/26
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
White Clover Versus Nitrogen Fertilizer 2. Sheep Production
Animal production on pasture systems provided with either fertiliser or biological nitrogen was compared. A grazing experiment was sown at AgResearch Gore (46°07’ S; 168°54’ E) in October, 1989. Four ryegrass/white clover paddocks were compared to four ryegrass paddocks, with the latter receiving 270 kg nitrogen/ha/year. Each paddock of 0.5 ha was subdivided for rotational grazing at 20 ewes/ ha. In comparison to the ryegrass pastures, mixed pastures produced 22% more herbage and were subsequently 22% higher stocked, lamb liveweight gains were 12% higher during lactation and 42% higher after weaning resulting in earlier sale at higher carcass weights. Ewe weight increases were 2.6 kg higher over lactation and wool production per kg body weight was 12% higher on the mixed pastures. Mixed pastures yielded more saleable product per kg of dry matter produced at lower($300/ha) cost than ryegrass pastures.
