Performance of sheep systems grazing perennial pastures. 3. Fertility, fecundity and lamb survival

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 414
Author(s):  
Susan M. Robertson ◽  
Michael A. Friend
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Reproductive Output ◽  
The Other ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Farm Profit ◽  
Lamb Survival ◽  
In Pregnancy

Management system has the potential to alter the reproductive output of sheep flocks and thereby farm profit. A study was conducted between 2006 and 2010 to evaluate the reproductive performance of four management systems with differing combinations of time of lambing, stocking rate and ram breed, while grazing at a similar midwinter stocking rate (dry-sheep equivalents per hectare of 8, 10.2, 13, 11.2 and 11.2 in the successive seasons 2006–2010). Three systems, winter lambing Merino (WLM), split lambing (SL) and later lambing (LL), grazed replicated farmlets comprising pastures that were 20% lucerne (Medicago sativa), 20% tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and 60% phalaris (Phalaris aquatica). A fourth system (high lucerne (HL)) grazed farmlets of 40% lucerne, 15% tall fescue and 45% phalaris. All systems used Merino ewes: in WLM mated to Merino rams, lambing in July; in SL half of the ewes lambing to terminal-breed rams in July, the other half lambing to Merino rams in September; and in LL and HL lambed in September, half to terminal-breed and half to Merino rams. The number of lambs weaned per ewe joined was 10% higher (P < 0.05) in the WLM system (0.99 ± 0.03) than in the September-lambing systems LL and HL, largely a result of a higher number of fetuses per ewe and despite lower (P < 0.05) lamb survival to marking in some years. The SL system weaned a similar (P > 0.05) number of lambs per ewe (0.95 ± 0.03) to all other systems. However, the number of lambs weaned per hectare was least in WLM (4.6 ± 0.2), lower than in the HL and LL systems by 2.7 lambs/ha because of a lower stocking rate. The ranking of systems for fetal number and lamb survival was not consistent among years. Spring-lambing systems produced more lambs per hectare because of a higher stocking rate but fewer lambs per ewe than the WLM system. System differences in pregnancy rate, fecundity and lamb survival were not consistent between years.

Seasonal animal production of temperate and Mediterranean tall fescue cultivars under continuous variable stocking with close control of sward state

2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando A. Lattanzi ◽  
the late Arturo Mazzanti ◽  
Michael H. Wade
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Carrying Capacity ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Critical Period ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
Continuous Variable ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
Season Interaction

In temperate regions, tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) cultivars derived from Mediterranean germplasm out-perform cultivars of temperate origin during autumn and winter, but the opposite occurs in spring and summer. This study assessed whether such seasonal differences are expressed under grazing and can thus be translated into animal production. Swards of ‘El Palenque’, a temperate cultivar, and of ‘Maris Kasba’, a cultivar developed from Mediterranean germplasm, were grazed under continuous stocking with frequent adjustment of the stocking rate to maintain similar sward state, in temperate Argentina. Liveweight gain per animal (LWGA) and per unit area was determined over 4 consecutive 1-year-long fattening cycles of Angus steers. Close control of sward state resulted in swards of similar height (82 ± 2.5 v. 83 ± 4.5 mm for El Palenque and Maris Kasba, respectively) and herbage mass (96 ± 13 v. 108 ± 8 g DM/m2). Thus, animals grazed structurally very similar swards in both cultivars, throughout the trial. Both cultivars showed similar seasonal trends in LWGA, but markedly contrasting seasonal patterns of carrying capacity. During autumn–winter, LWGA was 507 g/animal.day, but the temperate and Mediterranean cultivar supported, on average, 1.9 and 2.9 animals/ha, respectively. In spring, LWGA was 843 g/animal.day, but the temperate and Mediterranean cultivar supported, on average, 4.3 and 2.9 animals/ha, respectively. Thus, the established cultivar × season interaction in primary productivity was confirmed in terms of animal production. Mediterranean germplasm is certainly an option for increasing the carrying capacity of temperate-humid systems based on direct grazing during the critical period of low temperatures, helping to smooth annual forage supply.

Preferences of Japanese Beetle and Southern Masked Chafer (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Grubs Among Cool-Season Turfgrasses

1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 398-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Berry A. Crutchfield ◽  
Daniel A. Potter
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
The Other ◽  
Popillia Japonica ◽  
Feeding Preferences ◽  
Japanese Beetle ◽  
Acremonium Coenophialum ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Lolium Perenne L ◽  
Choice Tests

Feeding preferences of Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman, and southern masked chafer, Cyclocephala lurida Bland, grubs for six common cool-season turfgrasses were evaluated in choice tests in the greenhouse. On the basis of larval distributions, Popillia japonica consistently preferred perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne L., over all other turfgrasses tested. In contrast, C. lurida showed no consistent pattern of preference. Presence of one grub species did not affect distribution of the other species. Grubs did not discriminate between tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Schreb., infected with the endophyte Acremonium coenophialum Morgan-Jones & Gams and endophyte-free tall fescue.

scholarly journals A comparison of six grasses for animal production

1992 ◽  
pp. 147-150
Author(s):  
D.R. Stevens ◽  
G.S. Baxter ◽  
M.J. Casey ◽  
K.B. Miller ◽  
R.J. Lucas
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Trifolium Repens ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Prairie Grass

Farmers are aware of the increasing amount of information comparing alternative cultivars in dry environments in New Zealand. Animal production data in cool moist environments was unknown. To compare relative animal performance six different grasses were sown with Grasslands Tahora white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in 0.25 ha plots in two replicates in December 1988 at the Gore Research Centre in Southland. The six grasses were Grasslands Nui perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), Grasslands Roa tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L)., Grasslands Kara cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L). Grasslands Matua prairie grass (Bromus willdenowii Ku&), Grasslands Hakari upland bmme (Bromus sitchensis), and Grasslands Kahu timothy (Phleum pratense L). These pastures were rotationally grazed with goats through spring and summer of the following two years; 2-weekly liveweight gain of 10 goats was recorded. Stocking rate was estimated from the addition of extra goats each week to achieve a residual pasture height of 100 mm. Spring liveweight gains (mid Sept-late Nov) were greatest on timothy and least on prairie grass. Stocking rate in spring was highest on the upland brome and tall fescue pastures and lowest for prairie grass and timothy pastures. Prairie grass pastures produced less total liveweight gain per ha than the other pastures. During summer, goat liveweight gains were ranked similarly to spring. Stocking rates were greatest on upland brome, and lowest on tall fescue. Total liveweight gain per ha in summer was greatest on the timothy pastures and least on prairie grass pastures. Keywords Bromus sitchensis, Bromus willdenowii, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, goats, Lolium perenne. liveweight gain, Phleum pratense, stocking rate, Trifolium repens

scholarly journals Effects of three whole-farmlet management systems on Merino ewe fat scores and reproduction

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 740 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. N. Hinch ◽  
M. Lollback ◽  
S. Hatcher ◽  
J. Hoad ◽  
R. Marchant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Additive Model ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Emergent Properties ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Generalised Additive Model ◽  
District Management ◽  
Average Proportion ◽  
Fat Score

As part of the Cicerone Project’s whole-farmlet experiment on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, the fat scores and reproductive performance of ewes were measured to assess the effect of different management systems on these important production parameters over time. The three farmlets (each of 53 ha) included one (farmlet B) subjected to ‘typical’ district management consisting of moderate levels of inputs and a target stocking rate of 7.5 dse/ha, with flexible grazing management across eight paddocks. A second farmlet (A) was managed in a similar fashion to farmlet B with respect to number of paddocks and grazing management, but modified by high rates of pasture renovation and higher levels of soil fertility, with a target stocking rate of 15 dse/ha. The third farmlet (C) was managed at the same level of moderate inputs as farmlet B but employed intensive rotational grazing over 37 paddocks and also had a high target stocking rate of 15 dse/ha. The experiment was conducted over 6.5 years from July 2000 to December 2006. In spite of the fact that target levels of stocking rate were chosen at the beginning of the experiment, stocking rate, together with fat scores and reproduction were treated as emergent properties of each farmlet system. Joining took place in April–May and lambing occurred in September–October of each year. Over the first 2 years of the experiment, there were few differences among farmlets in ewe fat scores or reproductive performance. From 2003 onwards, while the percentage of ewes pregnant was similar between farmlets, the average proportion of multiple births (ewes scanned in late July, with twins) was 30%, 16% and 12%, respectively, on farmlets A–C. However, lamb losses were greater on farmlet A, with average lamb mortalities recorded on farmlets A–C of 29%, 10% and 19%, respectively. Over the duration of the experiment, ewes on farmlets A and B were more often above a fat score level of 3, and less often below 2.5, than were ewes from farmlet C. Differences among farmlet ewes in fat score were found to be significant in 7 of the total of 13 assessments over the duration of the experiment. A generalised additive model applied to whole-farmlet data showed that green digestible herbage, legume herbage, stocking rate, the amount of supplement fed and especially the proportion of each farmlet grazed at any one time all influenced fat scores of ewes. While fat scores and conception rates tended to be highest on farmlet A, farmlet B had slightly better reproductive outcomes due to less lambing losses, whereas ewes on farmlet C tended to have somewhat lower fat scores and levels of reproduction. These farmlet-scale findings highlighted the importance for livestock managers to focus not only on grazing management, stocking rate and stock density during lambing, but also on the availability of sufficient green, and especially legume herbage, and the difficulty of overcoming a deficit in quality herbage with supplementation.

PERSISTENCE OF A RANGE OF GRASSES IN A CONTINENTAL CLIMATE

1999 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Wilman ◽  
K. H. Dong ◽  
Z. L. Jin
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
The Other ◽  
Meadow Fescue ◽  
The Third ◽  
Harvest Year ◽  
Hybrid Cultivar ◽  
Continental Climate

The possibility of growing grasses of higher quality than tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) in a continental climate with cold winters, hot summers and low precipitation was investigated with and without irrigation at Taigu, Shanxi, China. Tall fescue was compared with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis) and a perennial ryegrass × meadow fescue hybrid cultivar in field swards, managed by cutting, during the year of sowing and in the three subsequent years. Tall fescue persisted satisfactorily throughout the experiment, even without irrigation. With irrigation, the other three grasses persisted satisfactorily to the end of the second harvest year and fairly satisfactorily to the end of the third harvest year. Without irrigation, the other three grasses had incomplete ground cover in the second harvest year and did not recover from the third winter.

Festucine, an alkaloid from tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.): Chemistry of the functional groups

1965 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
SG Yates ◽  
HL Tookey
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Hydrochloric Acid ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Positional Isomer ◽  
Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid ◽  
Cyclic Ether ◽  
The Other ◽  
Free Base ◽  
Chemical Evidence

The most abundant alkaloid of tall fescue hay, termed festucine by the authors, was isolated by preparative paper chromatography. The empirical formula of the free base is C8H14N2O, and the molecular weight is 154. One nitrogen of festucine is tertiary, the other secondary. The alkaloid also contains a cyclic ether which can be cleaved by treatment with hydrochloric acid at 160�. The chemical evidence for festucine is consistent with its structural formulation as a positional isomer of loline, a pyrrolizidine alkaloid from the seed of a related grass (Lolium cuneatum Nevski).

Increasing endophyte alkaloid expression in tall fescue by selecting for increased endophyte hyphal density

2007 ◽  
pp. 197-200
Author(s):  
M.G. Norriss ◽  
T.J. Frost-Smith ◽  
J.I.M. Sutherland
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Fungal Endophytes ◽  
Leaf Sheath ◽  
The Other ◽  
Apparent Correlation ◽  
Hyphal Density ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Breeding Pool ◽  
Hyphal Mass

Two AR542-endophyte infected tall fescue breeding pools were subjected to one cycle of selection for increased endophyte hyphal density. Hyphal density was assessed subjectively by microscopic examination of the leaf sheath. Levels of alkaloids produced by both the original and selected populations were subsequently measured during summer. Levels of lolines and peramine alkaloids increased significantly in one breeding pool (by 40% and 29%, respectively), with non-significant increases (by 24% and 2%) in the other breeding pool. The apparent correlation between observed hyphal density and levels of alkaloids supports the hypothesis that levels of lolines and peramine produced by fungal endophytes in their host grass are at least partly due to endophyte hyphal mass in the host sheath tissue. Measured lolines in one breeding pool were 21 times greater than the other, while sheath hyphal density was less. Possible explanations include contrasting patterns of hyphal colonisation beyond the sheath, and/or variation in the quantity of lolines produced per unit hyphal mass. Keywords: Neotyphodium coenophalium, endophyte, Festuca arundinacea, tall fescue, peramine, lolines, hyphal mass

Environmental and genetic factors influence the liveweight of adult Merino and Border Leicester × Merino ewes across multiple sites and years

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 775 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Blumer ◽  
G. E. Gardner ◽  
M. B. Ferguson ◽  
A. N. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Supplementary Feeding ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Breeding Values ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Farm Profitability ◽  
Lamb Survival ◽  
Poor Nutrition

Variation in liveweight change in the ewe flock during periods of poor nutrition can affect farm profitability through the effects of liveweight loss on potential stocking rate, management interventions including supplementary feeding, and ewe and lamb survival and productivity. There is variation between individual animals in their ability to manage periods of poor nutrition, but the links between liveweight change and breeding values in the adult ewe flock have not been quantified. We analysed 5216 liveweight profiles for 2772 ewes managed over 3 years at eight sites across Australia, to define the relative effects of environment, reproductive performance and breeding values on liveweight change. The range in liveweight loss varied from 1.3 kg to 21.6 kg, and for liveweight gain from 0.4 kg to 28.1 kg. Site and year had the largest influence on liveweight change, which demonstrates that seasonal conditions and management were the most important factors influencing liveweight change. Liveweight loss was influenced by previous and current reproductive performance but these effects were small in comparison to the effects of site and year. There were mixed associations with sire breeding values for growth, fat and muscle depending on site. An increase in sire breeding values for fat by 1 mm was associated with a reduction in liveweight loss by up to 1.3 kg regardless of ewe breed, and this was more evident at sites where ewes lost a greater proportion of their liveweight. While management had the greatest effect on liveweight change, there appears to be scope to use breeding values to select sheep that will lose less weight during periods of poor nutrition in some environments.

INFLUENCE DES TYPES DE PATURAGES ET DES SYSTEMES D’EXPLOITATION SUR LA PERFORMANCE DES BOUVILLONS

1974 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. LALANDE ◽  
J. L. DIONNE ◽  
L. LACHANCE
Keyword(s):  
Linear Trend ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
The Other ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Beef Meat ◽  
Beef Carcasses ◽  
Moderate Rate ◽  
Intensively Managed

A comparison of steer performance, as measured by body weight gains, carcass weight and quality, from ladino clover-timothy or grass pastures was carried out. Two pasture management systems were used, an extensive one with a stocking rate of 1.85 heads/ha and a moderate rate of fertilizer application, and an intensive one with stocking rate of 3.70 heads/ha and a heavy fertilizer application. Steer development followed a linear trend throughout the grazing season and steer growth was slower on the intensively managed timothy-ladino pastures than on the other pastures. The liveweight gains of the animals, per head, over the season was 10.3% greater on the grass swards than on the timothy-ladino swards, and 7.7% greater on the pastures under an extensive management system than on the other ones. Increase in stocking rate was not completely compensated for by heavy fertilization of pastures since steers grazing on high stocking rate pastures did not gain weight as rapidly as the ones on low stocking rate pastures. The amount of beef meat produced per steer (233 kilos) was not influenced by treatments. Beef carcasses from 3.70 head/ha pastures were as heavy as the ones from 1.85 head/ha pastures indicating that high stocking rate effect was balanced out by doubling the amount of fertilizers applied to pastures.

GRAZING SYSTEMS FOR EWES AND LAMBS

1962 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. W. Calder ◽  
J. W. G. Nicholson ◽  
H. M. Cunningham
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Period ◽  
The Other ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Creep Feeding ◽  
Free Range ◽  
Internal Parasites ◽  
Grazing Systems

Two experiments were conducted to compare forward creep grazing of lambs with other grazing management systems for ewes and lambs. In the first experiment, forward creep grazing with and without creep feeding of concentrates was compared with rotational grazing, using 7 ewes with single lambs per plot of [Formula: see text] acres. The first lambs reached market weight by the 57th day of the experiment, at which time the average lamb gains were higher on the creep grazed-creep fed groups, but there was no difference in the gains on the other two systems. The experiment was continued for 35 days and during this period the lamb gains on the creep grazed plots were higher than on the rotationally grazed areas. This later period coincided with a period of reduced herbage growth due to below normal precipitation. The average daily gains for the entire experimental period were.45,.51 and.57 pounds for rotational, creep, and creep fed-creep grazed systems respectively.In the second experiment, forward creep grazing was compared with rotational grazing and free range grazing, using a higher stocking rate of 8 ewes and 10 lambs per plot. The average daily gains for the experiment were.38,.40 and.34 pounds for rotational, creep grazed, and free range systems respectively. The differences between grazing systems were not statistically significant at P = 0.05. Both the ewe and lamb gains were lower on the free-range system than on the other systems. The ewe gains were higher on the rotationally grazed areas than the forward creep grazed areas in both experiments. This indicates that forward creep grazing of lambs can be advantageous under conditions where herbage is abundant.Evidence obtained from helminth ova counts on fecal samples, and examination of representative digestive tracts of the lambs marketed, indicated that the forward creep grazing of lambs reduced but did not prevent a build-up of internal parasites.

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