Publication Date
1997
Description
NZ dairy pastures under rotational grazing (grazing interval 25 to 30 days) are often grazed down to low residual herbage masses (<1000 kg DM/ha) over summer resulting in white clover death. Deferred grazing, the practice of holding over pasture in situ over summer, was shown to promote survival of clover growing points and increase clover seedling density in mixed perennial ryegrass / white clover dairy pastures. As a result clover content (% of total dry matter (DM)) was increased, particularly in the first year of the trial when summer climatic conditions were unfavourable for clover growth. Additional pasture cover built up in plots deferred for 100 days from late November to March resulted in significantly higher soil moistures and lower soil surface temperatures so providing more favourable growing conditions for clover. Deferred grazing also resulted in small increases in total herbage accumulation but had little effect on ryegrass tiller density.
Citation
Harris, S L.; Waugh, C D.; McCabe, R J.; and Van Vught, V T., "Deferred Grazing During Summer Increases White Clover Content in New Zealand Dairy Pastures" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 18.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session29/18
Included in
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Deferred Grazing During Summer Increases White Clover Content in New Zealand Dairy Pastures
NZ dairy pastures under rotational grazing (grazing interval 25 to 30 days) are often grazed down to low residual herbage masses (<1000 kg DM>/ha) over summer resulting in white clover death. Deferred grazing, the practice of holding over pasture in situ over summer, was shown to promote survival of clover growing points and increase clover seedling density in mixed perennial ryegrass / white clover dairy pastures. As a result clover content (% of total dry matter (DM)) was increased, particularly in the first year of the trial when summer climatic conditions were unfavourable for clover growth. Additional pasture cover built up in plots deferred for 100 days from late November to March resulted in significantly higher soil moistures and lower soil surface temperatures so providing more favourable growing conditions for clover. Deferred grazing also resulted in small increases in total herbage accumulation but had little effect on ryegrass tiller density.
