Publication Date
1997
Description
A grazing experiment was conducted in North-West Sardinia with the aim of testing the sward height as a mean to set up an efficient spring management of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). Three fields were continuously grazed during spring 1992 by three groups of 12 dairy Sarda ewes, at three different sward heights (SH): 30 - 60 - 90 mm. The target sward height was obtained by continuously adjusting the field sizes. The results showed that the different grazing managements influenced the above ground biomass production and partitioning of the Italian ryegrass and the animal performances. During the vegetative phase, SH was significantly correlated to dry matter production (DM) and Leaf Area Index (LAI) and hence to the milk production and liveweight gains per ewe, while any difference was found taking performance per ha into account. In late spring, during the reproductive development of the ryegrass, SH was not correlated to LAI and hence it was not a good indicator of the animal intake. When grazing annual grass pastures, SH should not be maintained constant for the whole spring grazing period, but should be adjusted according to the sward development to extend the vegetative grazing period as long as possible.
Citation
Sitzia, M; Roggero, P P.; Fois, N; and Molle, G, "Grazing Management of an Italian Ryegrass Sward with Dairy Sheep in the Mediterranean Environment" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 76.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session29/76
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Grazing Management of an Italian Ryegrass Sward with Dairy Sheep in the Mediterranean Environment
A grazing experiment was conducted in North-West Sardinia with the aim of testing the sward height as a mean to set up an efficient spring management of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). Three fields were continuously grazed during spring 1992 by three groups of 12 dairy Sarda ewes, at three different sward heights (SH): 30 - 60 - 90 mm. The target sward height was obtained by continuously adjusting the field sizes. The results showed that the different grazing managements influenced the above ground biomass production and partitioning of the Italian ryegrass and the animal performances. During the vegetative phase, SH was significantly correlated to dry matter production (DM) and Leaf Area Index (LAI) and hence to the milk production and liveweight gains per ewe, while any difference was found taking performance per ha into account. In late spring, during the reproductive development of the ryegrass, SH was not correlated to LAI and hence it was not a good indicator of the animal intake. When grazing annual grass pastures, SH should not be maintained constant for the whole spring grazing period, but should be adjusted according to the sward development to extend the vegetative grazing period as long as possible.
