Influence of sward height and advancing season on rumen fermentation in Merino sheep grazing grass/white clover pasture

1999 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 779-788 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.D. Carro ◽  
M.J. Ranilla ◽  
F.J. Giráldez ◽  
A.R. Mantecón ◽  
J.S. González
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Rumen Fermentation ◽  
Cellulolytic Activity ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Grass Hay ◽  
Grazing Sheep ◽  
Clover Pasture

AbstractThe study was carried out on a continuously stocked grass/white clover pasture, which was maintained at two sward heights: 3·5 cm (low; LSH) and 6·5 cm (high; HSH). Three oesophageal-cannulated and three other rumen-cannulated Merino sheep were allocated to each of the plots (LSH and HSH) in order to study the effects of sward height and advancing grazing season on rumen fermentation in grazing sheep. Three grazing periods (13 days) were considered: mid June, late July and early October. During each grazing period and after a preliminary period (7 days), samples of the grazed herbage and of grass hay were incubated in nylon bags in the rumen of each sheep for 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. On days 10 and 12 rumen fluid was sampled at the incubation time (11.00 h) and at 3, 6 and 12 h afterwards and pH, ammonia-nitrogen and volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations were determined. Sward height did not affect (P > 0·05) the degradation rate of dry matter (DM) and neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) from grazed herbage in any of the considered periods. Animals grazing LSH presented higher (P < 0·05) DM and NDF effective degradabilities (DMED and NDFED, respectively) during October but no differences were found during June and July. HSH grazing animals presented lower (P < 0·05) degradation rates of DM and NDF from grass hay during June and July than those found for LSH grazing sheep, with no differences (P > 0·05) observed during October. Sward height did not affect (P > 0·05) grass hay DMED and NDFED during July but during June and October HSH grazing sheep presented higher (P < 0·05) values. In general, DMED and NDFED from grazed herbage increased with advancing season, the lowest (P < 0·05) value being observed during June. Rumen ammonia-nitrogen concentrations were higher during October than during June and July for both sward heights but values were higher than 200 mg/l at any sampling time during all grazing seasons. Rumen pH values were within the range considered adequate for maintaining a normal cellulolytic activity at most of the sampling times, with the exception of sheep grazing LSH during October. Rumen VFA concentrations were within the range reported for other grazing studies and only a few differences between sward heights were found. Differences in rumen parameters are discussed in relation to both chemical composition of grazed herbage and pattern of intake.

scholarly journals Effect of Sward Height on Rumen Degradation in Merino Grazing Sheep

1993 ◽  
Vol 1993 ◽  
pp. 180-180
Author(s):  
A.R. Mantecón ◽  
M.D. Carro ◽  
F.J. Giráldez ◽  
M.J. Ranilla ◽  
P.R. Revesado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Rumen Fermentation ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Rumen Degradation ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Grazing Sheep

It is now well established that the height of the sward grazed by sheep has a large effect on their performance (Hodgson, Mackie and Parker, 1986). However, there is a scarce of information about the rumen fermentation in sheep grazing at different sward heights. The aim of this experiment was to study the effect of sward height (4 vs 6 cm) on the rumen fermentation in Merino sheep which were continuously maintained on the pasture.The study was carried out on a continuously stocked pasture in August 1992. Twenty mature Merino sheep were used to obtain two different sward heights: 4 cm (low; LSH) and 6 cm (high; HSH). Sward height was measured twice weekly using a swardstick and was controlled by the addition and removal of sheep. Herbage mass was of 633 and 1397 kg of dry matter (DM)/Ha for the LSH and HSH paddocks, respectively.

Effect of sward height and its clover vertical distribution on the performance of cashmere goats grazing perennial ryegrass/white clover swards during the autumn

1997 ◽  
Vol 1997 ◽  
pp. 172-172
Author(s):  
M. del Pozo ◽  
K. Osoro
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Vertical Distribution ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Northern Spain ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Cashmere Goats ◽  
The Vertical Distribution ◽  
Clover Pasture

Previous trials performed in temperate sown swards from New Zealand (Clark et al, 1982), from UK (del Pozo and Wright, 1995) and from Spain (Osoro and Martinez, 1995) showed improvements of sward clover contents on grass/clover pastures grazed by goats during the early part of the grazing season. However, this phenomenon might not occur to the same extent during autumn due to clover's poorer competitiviness with ryegrass. Additionally, Merchant and Riach (1994) showed that cashmere goats required pastures with mean sward heights to be above 6 cm to achieve aceptable levels of performance but were not able to considerate the implications of the sward legume content on their liveweight changes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of three contrasting sward height regimes and their associated relative changes in the vertical distribution of the sward clover proportion on the performance of cashmere goats grazing during the autumn season a lowland perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture located in Northern Spain.

Evaluation of the use of a small leaved clover as an alternative to fertiliser-N on tetraploid and diploid perennial ryegrass swards grazed to controlled sward heights by ewes and lambs

1990 ◽  
Vol 1990 ◽  
pp. 33-33
Author(s):  
J.E. Vipond ◽  
G. Swift ◽  
J. FitzSimons ◽  
T.H. McClelland ◽  
J.A. Milne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dry Matter Production ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Nitrogen Fertiliser ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Upland Pasture

Lamb performance at grass falls in July/August on upland farms. Allowing sward height to rise has been recognised as having an ameliorating effect [Keeling, 1987). The objective of this trial was to determine the influence of both sward quantity (sward height) and sward quality [sward type) on ewe and lamb performance from mid April to September. A further objective was the evaluation of clover as an alternative to nitrogen fertiliser.Three contrasting perennial ryegrass based swards were established in May 1987 for use in 1988 and 1989: a late heading diploid variety (D). CONTENDER and a late heading tetraploid variety [T) CONDESA sown alone or with S184 small leaved white clover [TO]. [D] swards represent the control being the normal upland pasture type. [T] companion ryegrass varieties have higher palatability and intake characteristics and, producing fewer tillers, are a compatible companion grass to white clover. Small leaved white clover was used owing to its higher persistency and dry matter production under continuous sheep grazing.

Substitution and production responses when lactating dairy cows graze a white clover pasture supplemented with maize silage

1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 771 ◽  
Author(s):  
CR Stockdale
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Clover Pasture ◽  
Friesian Cows

Friesian cows (16) in late lactation grazed pure white clover (Trifolium repens cv. Haifa) swards for 32 days in autumn and were supplemented with maize (Zea mays) silage. Four groups of 4 cows were offered either 19 or 39 kg dry matter (DM)/cow.day of white clover with either 0 or 4.4 kg DM/cow.day of maize silage. All cows were individually fed maize silage and grazed the pasture as individual groups according to treatment. When maize silage was fed, total intake increased, this occurring to a greater degree at the low pasture allowance. The level of substitution of silage for pasture was 0.14 and 0.40 kg DM reduction in pasture intake per kg DM of maize silage eaten at the low and high allowances, respectively. At the low pasture allowance, milk yields were 10.1 and 13.7 kg/cow. day when 0 and 4.4 kg DM/cow.day of maize silage were fed, respectively, and were 15.5 and 15.9 kg/cow.day at the high pasture allowance. Liveweight and body condition increased as plane of nutrition increased but there were no effects of feeding on milk fat or protein contents. Feeding maize silage had little effect on any rumen or faecal variable although there was generally less ammonia nitrogen in rumen fluid when cows were supplemented with maize silage.

The grazing value of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and phalaris (Phalaris aquatica) for sheep production in the northern tablelands of New South Wales

2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 57 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. Ayres ◽  
M. J. McPhee ◽  
A. D. Turner ◽  
M. L. Curll
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Clover Pasture

The grazing value of phalaris–white clover and tall fescue–white clover pastures was compared in a temperate summer-rainfall environment in the high rainfall zone of eastern Australia. Data were derived from an experiment which evaluated pasture cultivars when grown in binary mixtures and grazed by sheep. The data were also simulated with the decision support system SheepO (Version 4.0) and validated by visual techniques, deviance measures, and statistical tests. The model generally simulated green biomass, liveweight gain, and clean fleece weight with acceptable accuracy. Pasture based on tall fescue–white clover produced more green pasture biomass in all seasons, in all years, and at both low (10 sheep/ha) and high (15 sheep/ha) stocking rates when compared with phalaris–white clover. Sheep grazing tall fescue–white clover pasture were turned off about 5 kg heavier each year and produced about 0.6 kg/head more clean fleece weight; the wool production per head of sheep grazing tall fescue–white clover at 15 sheep/ha was similar to that for sheep grazing phalaris–white clover pasture at 10 sheep/ha. These differences in wool production were accompanied by consistent effects on wool quality; the fleeces of sheep grazing tall fescue–white clover pasture were markedly sounder in tensile strength but broader in fibre diameter. These data and the SheepO simulations highlight the potential for pasture cultivars with enhanced seasonal growth and nutritive value to alleviate feed-gaps and improve the feed-base for grazing animals.

Efficiency of wool production of grazing sheep. 3. The use of sulphur-containing amino acids to stimulate wool growth

1970 ◽  
Vol 10 (47) ◽  
pp. 665 ◽  
Author(s):  
JP Langlands
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Peritoneal Cavity ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Grazing Sheep ◽  
Native Pastures

Merino sheep grazing native and improved pastures were given up to 2.2 g DL-methionine each day through an abomasal cannula. Wool growth of sheep grazing improved and native pastures was increased significantly by up to 30 and 41 per cent respectively. Nine sheep with abomasal camulae were maintained in pens, and were infused into the abomasum with 7 g DL-methionine per week given on either one, two, or seven days each week. Wool growth was significantly increased by daily infusions of DL-methionine but the response was less when the methionine was given on only one or two days each week. Dorset Horn wethers were given single injections of up to 50 g DL-methionine or L-cystine subcutaneously or into the peritoneal cavity. The rate of excretion of urinary sulphur was recorded following the injection. DL-methionine was rapidly excreted but L-cystine was excreted more slowly. In a series of trials quantities of DL-methionine, methionine hydroxy analogue (MHA) or L-cystine were injected subcutaneously or intra-peritoneally into grazing Merino sheep. DL-methionine did not increase wool growth and MHA was toxic. Twenty-eight g L-cystine given as two compressed pellets each month into the peritoneal cavity increased wool growth by approximately 22 per cent over the 8-week experim6ntal period.

Effect of increasing elemental sulphur and copper intakes on the copper status of grazing sheep

1998 ◽  
pp. 271-274
Author(s):  
N.D. Grace ◽  
J.R. Rounce ◽  
S.O. Knowles ◽  
J. Lee
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Copper Deficiency ◽  
Elemental Sulphur ◽  
Molybdenum Content ◽  
Copper Status ◽  
Grazing Sheep ◽  
Clover Pasture

Under some conditions, the use of high-sulphur fertilisers has been thought to be associated with an increase in the incidence of copper deficiency among ruminants grazing the fertilised pastures or fed treated herbage. In this study 35 Romney lambs grazing ryegrass-white clover pasture of low molybdenum content (

scholarly journals SWEET BRIER CONTROL WITH GOATS

1987 ◽  
pp. 157-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.L. Holgate ◽  
D.A. Weir
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Minimal Impact ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Goat Grazing ◽  
Angora Goats ◽  
Clover Content

A grazing trial in Central Otago compared the effectiveness of feral goats, Angora goats and Merino sheep for sweet brier control. The three animal types were set stocked in replicate 0.5 ha paddocks at 10 Angoras, 14 ferals and 12 Merinos per ha. Goats were also rotationally grazed on a 50 ha block at approximately 10 goats per ha. Goat grazing reduced living brier in the trial paddocks to negligible proportions within 2 years whilst sheep grazing had minimal impact. Goat grazing resulted in increased clover content within the sward in trial paddocks. A reduction in brier density was also recorded on the 50 ha block. Keywords: Angoras, Merinos, white clover

Flavour differences in meat from sheep grazed on pasture or winter forage crops

1972 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Park ◽  
R. A. Spurway ◽  
J. L. Wheeler
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Taste Panel ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Forage Crops ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Native Pasture ◽  
Clover Pasture

SUMMARYMerino wethers grazed pure stands of rape, vetch or oats for 76 days in 1969 and 35 days in 1970. A laboratory taste panel found that the flavour characteristics of meat from these sheep differed significantly from those of meat from similar sheep grazing ryegrass-white-clover pasture or native pasture.Grazing on rape often produced a meat with a nauseating aroma and flavour, and with significantly lower acceptability of flavour than the pastures. There was no significant difference in the acceptability of flavour of meat from pasture and vetch fed sheep, although vetch gave an intense meaty flavour. Meat from sheep grazing oats possessed a pungent odour and flavour, but with a flavour only slightly, but significantly, less acceptable than that of meat produced on pasture.

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