Offered Papers Theme A: Efficient Production from Grassland
Description
New Zealand hill and high country pastures for sheep and cattle cover very variable topography. Shady south face hill country pastures on steeper slopes are grazed inefficiently because of their mature state and low nutritive value. Flatter more fertile areas reflect more frequent defoliation and stock camping behaviour. These inland pastures are deficient in sodium (Na) (Aspinall et al., 2004) because they are distant from coastal sea spray. Management alternatives are sought to improve pasture quality on steep, shady aspects. The provision of different nutrients such as Na or nitrogen (N), which are deficient in these under-grazed areas of pasture, is expected to improve herbage nutritive value and its attractiveness to animals. Consequentially this could be expected to improve pasture utilization.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Lactating Ewes Were Strongly Attracted to Salt When Spread on Sodium-Deficient Undergrazed Hill Pastures
New Zealand hill and high country pastures for sheep and cattle cover very variable topography. Shady south face hill country pastures on steeper slopes are grazed inefficiently because of their mature state and low nutritive value. Flatter more fertile areas reflect more frequent defoliation and stock camping behaviour. These inland pastures are deficient in sodium (Na) (Aspinall et al., 2004) because they are distant from coastal sea spray. Management alternatives are sought to improve pasture quality on steep, shady aspects. The provision of different nutrients such as Na or nitrogen (N), which are deficient in these under-grazed areas of pasture, is expected to improve herbage nutritive value and its attractiveness to animals. Consequentially this could be expected to improve pasture utilization.
