Growth and venison production from red deer (Cervus elaphus) grazing red clover (Trifolium pratense) or perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)/white clover (Trifolium repens) pasture

1993 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Semiadi ◽  
T. N. Barry ◽  
P. R. Wilson ◽  
J. Hodgson ◽  
R. W. Purchas
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Total N ◽  
N Concentration ◽  
Velvet Antler ◽  
One Year

SUMMARYA study of growth and venison production from weaner red deer grazing pure tetraploid red clover (RC) or conventional perennial ryegrass/white clover (PRG) pasture was conducted in 1990, with the objective of attaining a minimum slaughter liveweight of 92 kg (50 kg carcass) by 12 months of age in the stags. Ten weaner red deer stags and ten weaner red deer hinds were randomly selected and rotationally grazed on either RC or PRG forage. In autumn and spring, forage allowances were 7 kgDM/hd/day and 8 kgDM/hd/day respectively. In winter, the animals from both groups were grazed together on PRG pasture, at a residual dry matter (DM) of 1100 kgDM/ha. Total nitrogen (N) concentration was higher in RC on offer than in PRG on offer (autumn 3·4 v. 3·1 %DM; spring 3·8 v. 3·1 %DM), whilst organic matter digestibility (OMD; autumn 80·5 v. 76·5%; spring 82·1 v. 80·3%) was also higher for RC on offer. Diet selected showed similar differences in total N concentration, but there were negligible differences between forages in OMD.Liveweight gains of RC and PRG stags were respectively 263 v. 192 g/day, 101 v. 106 g/day and 354 v. 341 g/day during autumn, winter and spring, with the corresponding values for hinds being 198. 173 g/day, 52 v. 53 g/day and 242 v. 218 g/day. At one year of age, stags grazing RC were 7 kg heavier and hinds 3 kg heavier than animals grazing PRG pasture. Animals grazing RC forage had higher voluntary feed intake (VFI) in both autumn (P < 0·10) and spring (P < 0·001), than animals grazing PRG pasture.All stags grazing RC forage reached the minimum slaughter liveweight by one year of age, compared to 75% of those grazing PRG pasture. At slaughter, stags that had grazed RC produced heavier carcass weights (59·9 v. 54·5 kg, P < 0·01), had higher carcass dressing percentage (55·3 v. 53·2 %; P < 0·01), and tended to have slightly greater carcass subcutaneous fat depth than stags grazing PRG pasture, but this effect disappeared when the data were corrected to equal carcass weight. All stags grazing RC produced velvet antler, relative to 75% of those grazing PRG; in stags producing harvestable velvet antler, there was no difference in antler weight between those grazing RC and PRG. It is concluded that RC offers potential as a special-purpose forage for the growth of weaner red deer.

Growth responses in red deer calves and hinds grazing red clover, chicory or perennial ryegrass/white clover swards during lactation

1993 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Niezen ◽  
T. N. Barry ◽  
J. Hodgson ◽  
P. R. Wilson ◽  
A. M. Ataja ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Total N ◽  
Calf Growth ◽  
Calf Performance ◽  
Voluntary Food Intake

SUMMARYTwo experiments were conducted at the Massey University Deer Unit, New Zealand in 1990 and 1991 to evaluate the performance of lactating red deer hinds and their calves grazing conventional perennial ryegrass-based pastures, red clover or chicory. In both experiments, hind and calf performance was evaluated from 1 month post-parturition over a 2½ month summer period to weaning at 3½ months of age.In Expt 1, hinds and calves were grazed on low (5·4 kg dry matter (DM)/hd/day), medium (10·8) or high (16·4) allowances of red clover, or on a medium allowance of a conventional ryegrass/white clover sward (9·9 DM/hd/day). In Expt 2, hinds and calves grazed equal DM allowances (12 kg DM/hd/day) of perennial ryegrass/white clover, chicory or red clover.Red clover generally had higher organic matter digestibility (OMD) and higher total N than ryegrass/white clover, and when grazed at equal DM allowances, promoted higher voluntary food intake in the hinds, increased calf growth (430 v. 330 g/day) and increased hind liveweight change. Although decreasing the red clover allowance in Expt 1 slightly but non-significantly decreased hind voluntary food intake and decreased both calf and hind liveweight change, all low red clover values were still consistently higher than all ryegrass/white clover values (P < 0·05). In Expt 2, chicory was of higher OMD and ash content than red clover but N content was lower and similar to ryegrass/white clover. Chicory promoted lower levels of calf liveweight change than red clover but higher than ryegrass/white clover. Hind liveweight change on chicory was lower than on red clover and was similar to ryegrass/white clover. It was concluded that red clover offers potential as a special purpose forage for deer production and that further experimental work is needed with chicory.

scholarly journals Pastures and forages for deer growth

2003 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 25-40
Author(s):  
A.M. Nicol ◽  
T.N. Barry
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Seasonal Effects ◽  
Forage Species ◽  
Clover Pasture ◽  
Deer Grazing

Pasture is the primary feed source for NZ deer production with the greatest proportion grazed in situ. The quantity and quality of the pastures available to grazing deer varies markedly as a result of environmental factors and feed planning decisions by deer farmers. The grazing behaviour of deer responds to changes in pasture height and mass and the effect of pasture variables (height, pre -and post-grazing pasture mass and pasture allowance) on deer productivity are presented. These show that maximum levels of deer production from pasture will be achieved at a pasture height of around 8 cm (continuously stocked or post-grazing) although there is some evidence that for large genotypes, higher pasture availability is required. The relationship of liveweight gain of young deer with pasture availability shows marked seasonal effects. At the same level of pasture availability liveweight gain in spring is about twice that in winter, with autumn and summer intermediate. Increasing pasture availability cannot compensate for seasonal differences in liveweight gain. Furthermore, liveweight gain increases at a greater rate in spring than winter to increasing pasture availability, thus it is more important that appropriate pasture allowances are provided in spring than in winter. There is more variability in liveweight gain at a similar pasture availability in summer than in other seasons because of the greater variation in pasture quality in summer with the potential accumulation of seedheads and dead material. Alternative forage species are used in deer production for times of the year when quantity and quality of perennial ryegrass-based pastures limit productivity. Relative to weaner red deer grazed on perennial ryegrass/ white clover pasture, grazing on pure swards of red clover or chicory increased growth during autumn by 26-47% and during spring by 10-14%. The proportion of stags attaining target slaughter liveweight at 12 months of age increased from 75 to 94%. Pre-weaning growth during lactation was increased by approximately 20%. Red clover and chicory produce a greater proportion of their total DM during late summer and autumn than does perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture, and are therefore better aligned with deer feed requirements, particularly those of lactating hinds. Grazing on sulla in autumn and spring increased the growth of weaner deer by 33 and 10%, relative to pasture fed deer. Indoor studies showed that relative to perennial ryegrass, chicory was of higher organic matter digestibility, disintegrated more rapidly in the rumen with a low rumination time and had shorter mean retention time of material in the rumen. This explains differences in voluntary feed intake which were 56, 26 and 15% higher for deer grazing chicory than perennial ryegrass/white clover pastures during summer, autumn and spring respectively. Similar r esults have been found for the digestion of red clover versus perennial ryegrass by red deer. Plant density in stands of both chicory and red clover declines with time, with their lifetime under deer grazing being approximately 4 years. A mixture of both plants offers a food option as specialist forage for increasing deer growth and also fixing nitrogen. To ensure good persistence such forages should not be grazed in periods of prolonged wet weather. Best persistence is obtained when these are managed as specialist forages for increasing deer growth on a small area of the farm, (10- 20% total area), rather than being sown as a mixture with grasses over large areas of the farm. There is no specific comparison of deer production under different stocking systems and both continuous grazing and rotational grazing are used. Based on evidence and practices with other species, choice of stocking system has more to do with pasture/forage species, feed budgeting, pasture management and animal behaviour than with productivity. At high stocking densities (150 deer/ha), the grazing time of subordinate animals is reduced. Where possible, without inducing undue stress (e.g. at weaning), young deer should be grouped for grazing by liveweight. Deer production systems have a seasonal pattern of energy demand that does not match that of pasture growth in most NZ environments. This calls for manipulation of the feed demand by integration of livestock systems and/ or modification of the feed supply through conservation and supplementation. The most commonly used supplements are pasture and lucerne silage/baleage and grain. The quality (ME/kg DM) has a significant impact on the resulting liveweight gain.

Digestion and rumen metabolism of red clover and perennial ryegrass/white clover forages by red deer

1994 ◽  
Vol 122 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. O. Freudenberger ◽  
C. J. Burns ◽  
K. Toyokawa ◽  
T. N. Barry
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Degradation Rate ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Nitrogen Retention ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Pool Size ◽  
Total N ◽  
Protein Cell

SUMMARYRed clover (RC) and perennial ryegrass (PRG)-based forages were cut fresh during late spring/early summer and fed at similar levels of dry matter (DM) intake to rumen fistulated castrated red deer kept indoors in metabolism pens. RC contained higher concentrations of total N and non-protein cell contents than PRG and lower concentrations of fibre. Rumen pool size and fractional outflow rates of liquid (13·3 ν. 15·1%/h) and of paniculate matter (2·5 ν. 3·9%/h) were lower for deer fed RC than PRG. Apparent digestibility of energy and fibre, rumen fibre fractional degradation rate and rumen fractional disappearance rate of non-protein cell contents were all higher for RC than for PRG deer. Nitrogen retention was similar for deer fed both forages. However, the concentration, pool size and outflow of ammonia from the rumen, together with urinary N excretion, were all much greater for deer fed RC than those fed PRG. The acetate: propionate ratio in rumen volatile fatty acids (VFA) was lower for the RC than the PRG group. It was concluded that the greater fibre digestion in deer fed RC was due to a faster rumen fractional degradation rate and a longer particulate mean retention time in the rumen, and that the very rapid outflow of water from the rumen relative to particulate matter in deer fed RC (5·5:1 ν. 3·8:1) may explain why deer are not susceptible to rumen frothy bloat when grazing RC. One reason for the greater voluntary feed intake (VFI) of deer grazing RC than those grazing PRG may be due to its greater concentration of protein and non-protein cell contents and their more rapid degradation and removal from the rumen.

Performance of red deer grazing pure white clover or perennial ryegrass swards

2002 ◽  
Vol 2002 ◽  
pp. 120-120
Author(s):  
D. W. Deakin ◽  
D. G. Chapple ◽  
M. H. Davies
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Grazing Season ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Excellent Growth ◽  
Early Late ◽  
Deer Grazing

Farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus) are highly seasonal animals, showing a marked winter inappetance followed by excellent growth from turnout in spring. The quality of grazed herbage has been demonstrated to have a significant impact upon growth during the grazing season. For example, performance is improved by the provision of a sward surface height of 8 - 10 cm compared with a sward height of 5 - 6 cm (Davies et al, 1998). The objective of this study was to assess whether deer performance could be further enhanced by providing white clover (Trifolium repens) swards (C) either in early, late or throughout the grazing season compared with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) swards (G).

Effects of grazing chicory (Cichorium intybus) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)/white clover (Trifolium repens) pasture upon the growth and voluntary feed intake of red and hybrid deer during lactation and post-weaning growth

1996 ◽  
Vol 127 (3) ◽  
pp. 387-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kusmartono ◽  
T. N. Barry ◽  
P. R. Wilson ◽  
P. D. Kemp ◽  
K. J. Stafford
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Trifolium Repens ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Voluntary Feed Intake ◽  
Velvet Antler ◽  
Deer Grazing

SUMMARYTwo grazing trials were carried out at Palmerston North, New Zealand using lactating red deer hinds in summer 1994 (Expt 1) and using weaner deer during the autumn, winter and spring of 1993 (Expt 2), to compare the feeding value of chicory (Cichorium intybus) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)/white clover (Trifolium repens) pasture for increasing the growth of deer calves. Red deer and hybrid (0·25 elk; 0·75 red deer) calves were used in both experiments. Experiment 2 concluded with slaughter at the end of spring, when the deer were c. 12 months old. In both experiments, animals were rotationally grazed on either pasture or chicory with DM allowances being 12 kg DM/hind per day (Expt 1), and 6, 6 and 7 kg DM/head per day during autumn, winter and spring respectively (Expt 2).Perennial ryegrass comprised 62% of pasture on offer in Expt 1 and 78–90% in Expt 2, whilst chicory comprised 90–92% of forage on offer in both experiments. Relative to pasture, chicory had a higher ratio of readily fermentable: structural carbohydrate and had higher organic matter digestibility (OMD) in summer and autumn but not in spring.Deer grazing chicory had higher voluntary feed intake (VFI), bite weight, liveweight gain (LWG), carcass dressing percentage and carcass weight and much shorter ruminating time than deer grazing pasture. Hybrid deer grew better than red deer and there were forage × genotype interactions in Expt 2, with LWG and carcass weight of hybrid deer being much greater when grazed on chicory. Carcass weight for red deer and hybrid stags was 63·2 and 73·0 kg when grazed on chicory and 56·6 and 57·0 kg when grazed on pasture. Grazing chicory advanced the date of first-cut velvet antler by 28 days and increased the weight of total harvestable (first-cut + regrowth) velvet antler. It is concluded that grazing chicory increased carcass weight, especially in hybrid stags with increased growth potential, and increased velvet antler production. This was achieved by increased VFI in all seasons and increased OMD of chicory in summer and autumn relative to deer grazing pasture. Further research is need to determine the efficiency of rumination on particle size breakdown and to measure rumen outflow rate in deer fed chicory.

Evaluation of Lotus corniculatus for increasing pre-weaning growth of red and hybrid deer

1998 ◽  
Vol 131 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. K. ADU ◽  
T. N. BARRY ◽  
P. R. WILSON ◽  
P. D. KEMP
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Lotus Corniculatus ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Voluntary Feed Intake ◽  
Clover Pasture ◽  
Deer Grazing

Lactating red deer (Cervus elaphus) hinds and their calves were rotationally grazed on Lotus corniculatus or perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture at an allowance of 12 kg DM/hind/day during summer 1996 in Palmerston North, New Zealand. Half the hinds suckled pure red deer calves and half suckled hybrid (0·25 elk[ratio ]0·75 red deer) calves. Measurements were made of the diet selected, voluntary feed intake of the hinds and liveweight changes of the hinds and calves.Lotus corniculatus and perennial ryegrass constituted c. 90% of green material in the diet selected on the respective forages. Total nitrogen (N) content and organic matter digestibility (OMD) were higher for Lotus corniculatus than for perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture. Lotus corniculatus contained 21 g condensed tannin (CT)/kg dry matter (DM), whilst pasture contained only traces of CT (1·6 g/kg DM).Hinds grazing Lotus corniculatus tended to have higher voluntary feed intake, and calf liveweight gain (485 v. 399 g/day) and weaning weight (52·6 v. 48·1 kg) were greater than for deer grazing perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture. Hybrid calves grew faster than pure red deer calves (P<0·01), with hybrid calves grazing lotus having very high liveweight gain (c. 520 g/day). Liveweight gain of hinds grazing Lotus corniculatus also tended to be higher (91 v. 20 g/day) than for hinds grazing perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture. CT was bound more strongly during chewing by red deer than had been found in comparable studies with sheep and the nutritional significance of this is discussed. Nutritional reasons for the superior performance of deer grazing Lotus corniculatus are discussed.

scholarly journals Pasture establishment on non-cultivable hill country

2013 ◽  
pp. 215-220
Author(s):  
K.N. Tozer ◽  
G.B. Douglas ◽  
C.A. Cameron ◽  
T.J. Fraser ◽  
R.A. Moss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Birdsfoot Trefoil ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Sowing Time ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Viable Seeds ◽  
One Year ◽  
North And South

To determine the best method of pasture establishment on non-cultivable hill country (>20o slope), four treatments were compared in one year on north and south aspects at four sites with contrasting climates and soil types. Sites were located in Waikato (1), Hawke's Bay (2) and Canterbury (1). The treatments included seed mix (grasses, legumes and herbs (GLH); legumes only (LEG)) and sowing time (spring; autumn). Six weeks after sowing, seedling establishment, as a percentage of viable seeds sown, was: i) greater on south than north aspects for perennial ryegrass (31% vs 18%) and birdsfoot trefoil (5% vs 4%); ii) greater for total sown species (14% vs 8%), subterranean clover (7% vs 4%) and red clover (25% vs 14%) in the GLH than LEG mix, but greater for white clover in the LEG than GLH mix (17% vs 8%); iii) greater in autumn than spring for perennial ryegrass (36% vs 13%) and total sown grasses (22% vs 9%) but greater in spring than autumn for lotus (6% vs 3%). Plantain established well in spring in summer-wet environments, while in summer-dry environments establishment was greater in autumn. Broadcasting seed on south aspects during autumn is likely to result in the highest establishment of sown grasses and legumes, but not necessarily of herbs. The trials were conducted in an unusually wet season. Repeating a subset of the treatments at these sites will provide a greater understanding of responses to climatic variation. Keywords: pasture renewal; pasture establishment; pasture mixtures; oversowing.

Effect of ground covers and tillage between raspberry rows on selected soil physical and chemical parameters and crop response

1993 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 481-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Zebarth ◽  
S. Freyman ◽  
C. G. Kowalenko
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Rubus Idaeus ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Wet Aggregate Stability

The use of inter-row ground covers has been suggested to reduce soil degradation in raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) production. The effect after 6 yr of consistent inter-row management of ground covers or roto-tillage in raspberry on soil wet aggregate stability (WAS), bulk density, organic C and total N, and mineralizable nitrogen in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia was studied. Management treatments included no cover crop or cover crops of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), sheep's fescue (Festuca ovina L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and white clover (Trifolium repens L.). A general pattern of perennial grasses > legume and barley > control was observed for soil WAS. Some quantitative and qualitative differences in the organic component of the soil profile to 30 cm were detected among management treatments. The differences were not statistically strong because the changes were small relative to the large pool present, but were relatively consistent overall. The white clover treatment tended to have more organic carbon, particularly in the subsurface, than the other treatments. The four treatments that included inter-row vegetation tended to have a greater amount of total and mineralizable N than the clean-tilled control. Crop vigour, as indicated by cane diameter, was reduced by the perennial grasses, but the inter-row management had only limited effects on berry yield. White clover appears to provide the best compromise between improving soil quality and minimizing competition with the berry crop. Key words: Wet aggregate stability, barley, sheep's fescue, perennial ryegrass, white clover

scholarly journals 159 The effect of multispecies swards on parasite faecal egg counts of grazing lambs

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 170-170
Author(s):  
Romina A Rodriguez ◽  
Cornelia Grace ◽  
Mary B Lynch ◽  
Helen Sheridan ◽  
Stephen Lott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
The Other ◽  
Birdsfoot Trefoil ◽  
Faecal Egg Counts

Abstract Multispecies swards (MSS) for ruminants are increasing in popularity in temperate regions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of MSS containing grasses, legumes and herbs on lambs faecal egg counts (FEC) compared to a perennial ryegrass monoculture. Over two years (2015 and 2016) lambs (n = 60 per year, n = 120 in total per treatment) grazed one of four sward types. The treatments were: perennial ryegrass only (PRG), perennial grass and white clover (PRGWC), six species sward (perennial ryegrass, timothy, plantain, chicory, white and red clover; 6S) and nine species (9S) additional to the 6S were cocksfoot, greater birdsfoot trefoil and yarrow. Feces samples were collected fortnightly commencing when lambs were six weeks old and FEC were determined by the modified McMaster procedure for quantifying Nematodirus and Trichostrongylus eggs. All lambs were treated with anthelmintic at 12 weeks of age and subsequent anthelmintic treatments were administered when a threshold of 400 egg per gram (epg) was reached. The statistical analysis used was a repeated measures model in PROC MIXED of SAS. Nematodirus FEC did not differ with treatment (P &gt; 0.05). Trichostrongylus FEC was influenced by sward type (P &lt; 0.05), the lambs grazing the PRG sward displaying higher FEC, while the lambs grazing the 9S sward displaying lower FEC compared to other treatments. The lambs offered PRG required fewer days in reach the 400 epg threshold compared to the other treatments (P &lt; 0.05) that did not differ. The repeatability of FEC from one date to the next date was 21.54% and 11.85% for Nematodirus and Trichostrongylus respectively, being considered low. The correlation between FEC (Nematodirus) and ADG (weaning-slaughter) was positive (0.1377), but FEC (Trichostrongylus) and ADG correlation was negative (-0.1084). These results suggest that lambs offered the 9S treatment had lower FEC of Trichostrongylus eggs compared to PRG.

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