Publication Date
1997
Description
Increasing concerns about food quality have resulted in investigations into the effects of different forage species on animal production and carcass quality. Pure species plots of high-endophyte ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) or lotus (Lotus corniculatus L.) were established and lambs grazed the species for 120 days during summer. Pasture species influenced growth rate, hot carcass weight, GR, wool growth, faecal egg counts, adult nematodes at slaughter, and sheep meat odour and flavour. Lambs grazing white clover, lotus or chicory outperformed those grazing ryegrass or plantain, and were also fatter.
Citation
Fraser, T J.; Rowarth, S=J S.; and Knight, T L., "Pasture Species Effects on Animal Performance" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 11.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session29/11
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Pasture Species Effects on Animal Performance
Increasing concerns about food quality have resulted in investigations into the effects of different forage species on animal production and carcass quality. Pure species plots of high-endophyte ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) or lotus (Lotus corniculatus L.) were established and lambs grazed the species for 120 days during summer. Pasture species influenced growth rate, hot carcass weight, GR, wool growth, faecal egg counts, adult nematodes at slaughter, and sheep meat odour and flavour. Lambs grazing white clover, lotus or chicory outperformed those grazing ryegrass or plantain, and were also fatter.
