The intake and performance of cattle grazing irrigated pastures. 2. Effect of pasture length on growth of steers

1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (64) ◽  
pp. 477
Author(s):  
DW Hennessy
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Cattle Grazing ◽  
High Moisture ◽  
Moisture Contents ◽  
South Wales ◽  
And Performance

The organic matter intakes (OMI) and liveweight of twenty-four weaner steers grazing either short or long irrigated annual pastures were compared during May to November in 1964 and 1965 at Leeton, New South Wales. The OMI were estimated from determinations of faeces organic matter output using chromic oxide dilution, and of digestibility estimated from a faeces nitrogen-digestibility relationship for pen-fed cattle. Weaners that grazed the short or long pasture did not differ significantly in final liveweights (356 v.361 kg respectively, 1964; 357 v.361 kg, 1965) or OMI (4.99 v.5.42 kg day-1, 1964; 5.78 v.6.06 kg day-1, 1965) although available dry matter was less (P < 0.05) in short than in long pastures in both years. The OMI were commensurate with the 0.6 kg mean daily liveweight gains of weaners, which however were smaller than other reported growth rates, and an unsatisfactory production from the costly pastures. The reasons for the small liveweight gains are unknown but it is suggested that high moisture contents (85 per cent) of pastures restricted intake, or that high clover contents (58 per cent) caused bloating and rumen distension which thereby restricted intake.

Hybrid Bermudagrass compared with Kikuyu and common couch in coastal New South Wales. 1. Establishment, dry matter production and persistence

1979 ◽  
Vol 19 (99) ◽  
pp. 437 ◽  
Author(s):  
AC Andrews ◽  
FC Crofts
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Sandy Soils ◽  
The Other ◽  
Potential Value ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Matter Production

Four ecotypes of hybrid Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) were compared with common couch (C. dactylon) and kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) at five sites in coastal districts of New South Wales. The sites were Grafton and Coaldale (Lat. 30�S), Mitchells Island (Lat. 32�S) and Richmond and Badgerys Creek (Lat. 34�S). Hybrid Bermudagrass ecotypes 6389 and 692 were established quickly at all sites while ecotypes 71 9 and 632 were satsifactory. Kikuyu was strong at all sites except Grafton but the rate of establishment of common couch was poor. At the frost-free sandy site of Mitchells Island, Bermudagrass ecotypes 719, 692, 6389, and 632 outyielded kikuyu by 75, 65, 65 and 35%, respectively. However, at Grafton and Coaldale, the highest yielding Bermudagrass ecotype, 719, had only 35% higher production than kikuyu. At the frost prone southern sites of Richmond and Badgerys Creek, the annual production of kikuyu was equal to that of ecotypes 719, 6389, 692 and 632. Common couch yields were equal to kikuyu at all sites except at Richmond. At Mitchells Island, the hybrid Bermudagrasses outyielded kikuyu in spring, summer and early autumn but in the late autumn kikuyu had equal and sometimes higher growth rates than the best Bermudagrasses. In winter, the growth of both species was negligible, although kikuyu, unlike the Bermudagrasses, did produce some new shoots at the base of the sward. Data on persistence under grazing were collected from only three of the sites but trends were similar to establishment. Ecotype 6389 had the highest persistence rating of the Bermudagrasses. Kikuyu failed at the poorly drained sandy site of Grafton but remained strong at the other sites. It was concluded that hybrid Bermudagrasses were of potential value for pastures in New South Wales, especially for sites with sandy soils and low frost incidence.

Performance of temperate legumes and associated grasses on granitic soils of low fertility in the New England region of New South Wales

1975 ◽  
Vol 15 (77) ◽  
pp. 795 ◽  
Author(s):  
JA Thompson
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Applied Nitrogen

A range of temperate annual and perennial legumes, naturalized or commonly sown in the area, was examined at three field sites in low fertility soils derived from granite on the south western slopes of the New England Region, New South Wales. They were compared over a four year period in terms of their persistence, dry matter and nitrogen production and their compatibility with associated temperate perennial grasses, The response of sown grass to nitrogen fertilizer application was also examined in the absence of legume. Ten legumes were examined at one site and six of these at the other two sites. In general, nitrogen yields were ranked similarly to total dry matter yields of all treatments, including grasses in the absence of legume. However, the legumes were ranked differently in terms of productivity of the legume component and productivity of associated grass. At all sites lucerne gave the highest yields of total dry matter and of legume and the lowest yield and persistence of associated grass-comparable to grass growing in the absence of legume or applied nitrogen. Subterranean clover was ranked second or third in total dry matter yield, depending on site, but provided the highest yield of associated grasscomparable to grass receiving high levels of applied nitrogen. Under this legume soil nitrogen levels tended to be highest. Rose clover, sown at one site only, yielded more legume dry matter than subterranean clover but grass yield was comparable to that with lucerne. The results suggest that subterranean clover is the superior legume for successful mixed sowings although inclusion of white clover could be justified. Lucerne appears to be best sown as a pure sward.

Chemical seedbed preparation and the efficiency of nitrogen utilization by sod-sown oats. 2. Spraying interval and comparison of herbicides

1971 ◽  
Vol 11 (50) ◽  
pp. 307 ◽  
Author(s):  
GJ Murtagh
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Ammonium Thiocyanate ◽  
Nitrogen Utilization ◽  
North Coast ◽  
Paspalum Dilatatum ◽  
The North ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Seedbed Preparation

The effectiveness of chemical seedbed preparation for sod-sown oats was studied using varying intervals between spraying and sowing. Four herbicides were compared in a second experiment. Both experiments were conducted on paspalum (Paspalum dilatatum) dominant pastures on red basaltic soil on the North Coast of New South Wales. Herbicides were most effective when applied at 6.7 kg acid equivalent a hectare. At this rate, the highest yields of dry matter and nitrogen were obtained when there was a three-week interval and considerably less when there was no interval. A mixture of 2,2-DPA (2,2-dichloropropionic acid) and amitrole (3-amino-1,2,4-triazole) was more effective than 2,2-DPA alone with a three-week spraying interval but there was no difference with a six-week interval. Both amitrole and a mixture of amitrole and ammonium thiocyanate were ineffective for chemical seedbed preparation on paspalum pastures;

Persistence and water use efficiency of a tropical grass and lucerne on a solodic soil on the Far North-West Slopes of New South Wales

1993 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 245 ◽  
Author(s):  
PG Tow
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
North West ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Summer Temperatures ◽  
Spring Temperatures ◽  
Use Efficiency

The persistence and water use efficiency of Digitaria eriantha spp. eriantha and Hunter river lucerne were compared on red solodic soil with a hardsetting surface and poor internal drainage, on the North- West Slopes of New South Wales. After prolonged watering, the profile was wet to a depth of 48 � 1.5 cm, with an available moisture store of 90 mm. Over 3 years, persistence of digitaria was excellent. The population of lucerne was reduced following flooding at summer temperatures, Dry matter production of nitrogen (N) fertilised digitaria per mm warm season rainfall was similar to that of tropical grasses adapted to comparable rainfall environments in subtropical Queensland. Lucerne dry matter per mm rainfall was only about half that of digitaria (3.2 v. 6.3 kg). Lucerne grew well in mixture with digitaria except under prolonged wet soil conditions in summer. Artificial solodic profiles were constructed in the glasshouse to compare digitaria and lucerne in monoculture and mixture under varying temperature, moisture, and N regimes. Lucerne showed sensitivity to both high and low moisture levels at summer temperatures but performed very well at spring temperatures and moderate moisture levels where the mean evapotranspiration ratio was 400 g water per g dry matter. Water use efficiency was higher in digitaria than in lucerne, except at spring temperatures without added N. Water use efficiency of the mixture was always similar to that of the most efficient monoculture of the particular treatment.

Survey of the productivity, composition and estimated inputs of fixed nitrogen by pastures in central-western New South Wales

2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (12) ◽  
pp. 1165 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Bowman ◽  
W. Smith ◽  
M. B. Peoples ◽  
J. Brockwell
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
New South ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Legume Species ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
South Wales

Total productivity and legume nitrogen fixation (N2 fixation) in dryland pastures were examined in a 2 year study (1999–2001) on 118 farms in central-western New South Wales. Pasture exclosure cages, placed at 217 on-farm sites, were harvested on 7 occasions and the foliage hand-sorted according to species in order to measure shoot dry matter (DM). The separated legume shoot material collected in spring 1999 (52 different legume samples) and 2000 (76 different legume samples) from a subset of representative pastures (41 cages on 28 different farms in 1999, 32 cages on 25 different farms in 2000) was also analysed for concentration of nitrogen (%N) and 15N natural abundance. These data were subsequently used to calculate the proportion of the legume shoot N derived from atmospheric N (%Ndfa), comparative measures of the relative efficiency of N2 fixation (kg N fixed/t DM accumulated) and the amounts of shoot N fixed (kg N/ha). The survey encompassed 8 common pasture types, and 5 others that were less common, ranging from native perennial grass pastures with little legume content to lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) pastures with and without companion clovers. Fifteen legume species were found in the pastures, some only occasionally. Lucerne and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) were the only perennials. Mean spring estimates of %Ndfa were similar in 1999 and 2000 for lucerne (72 and 81%, respectively), rose clover (T. hirtum All., 82 and 77%) and annual medics (Medicago spp., 89 and 86%). For the remaining 12 legume species, measures of %Ndfa ranged from 64 to 95% and averaged 83%. Shoot %N contents were greater for lucerne than for the other 14 legumes and this was reflected in the comparative measures of N2 fixation which ranged from 14.5 kg N/t DM for rose clover to 25.7 kg N/t DM for lucerne in 2000. The most productive pasture type comprised lucerne plus balansa clover [T. michelianum Savi var. balansae (Boiss.) Azn.], white clover or arrowleaf clover (T. vesiculosum Savi), but all pasture types that contained lucerne were highly productive. Spring was the most productive season and summer the least. Lucerne was overwhelmingly the most productive legume and was responsible for >83% of the fixed N in those pastures that contained both lucerne and other legumes. Lucerne productivity was approximately uniform throughout the year whereas, for other pastures, especially those based on rose clover or subterranean clover (T. subterraneum L.), there were sharp peaks in spring and little or no dry matter production over summer. The presence of lucerne in pastures significantly (P<0.05) reduced broadleaf weeds. It was concluded that, where there are requirements in central-western New South Wales agriculture for uniform forage production throughout the year and a high input of fixed N, lucerne is substantially superior to other species.

The growth rates of weaned lambs grazing three legume-based pastures during summer

1980 ◽  
Vol 20 (102) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
ID Sanderson ◽  
JD McFarlane ◽  
WR McManus
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Poor Growth ◽  
Average Growth ◽  
The Poor ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Lamb Growth

An experiment was conducted on the Central Western Slopes of New South Wales with Dorset Horn x Merino lambs to assess their liveweight gains during summer when weaned on to a lucernebased pasture under dryland conditions, and when weaned on to irrigated lucerne and red clover pastures. Lambs grazing irrigated lucerne, irrigated red clover and dryland lucerne had average growth rates of 155, 178 and 124 g day-1/head, respectively, throughout the 106 day experimental period. The poor growth rates of lambs on the dryland lucerne were apparently due mainly to the low digestibility of the dry feed on offer as a result of low rainfall, which also caused feed supply to be limiting during part of the experimental period. Lamb growth and intake data suggest that the diets selected from the red clover were of higher digestibility than those selected from the irrigated lucerne. It was concluded that irrigated red clover and irrigated lucerne provided useful diets for young lambs in this environment, although the growth rates achieved were less than reported elsewhere for these species in cooler climates. Growth rates achieved by lambs grazing dryland lucerne were less satisfactory for prime lamb production.

Production from tagasaste (Chamaecytisus palmensis) at four contrasting sites in New South Wales

1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 639 ◽  
Author(s):  
PL Milthorpe ◽  
PR Dann
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperatures ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Production Potential ◽  
Good Production ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Fodder Crops

In 1985, experiments were conducted at 4 localities in south-eastern and central New South Wales, to assess the production potential of tagasaste. The results were disappointing: 2 experiments failed to establish because of soil waterlogging, while production from the other 2 sites was only intermittent. Annual dry matter production did not exceed 3 t/ha at Condobolin or 5 t/ha at Yass. Although survival of established plants was good, production was limited by prolonged dry periods at Condobolin and by low temperatures during winter at Yass. Tagasaste is costly to establish (up to $A500/ha) and difficult to manage. In our environments, conventional pastures or fodder crops which require simpler management would probably out-produce tagasaste at most times during the experimental period.

Growth, yield and nitrogen requirements of winter sown cereals grown after cotton or summer fallow in the lower Namoi Valley, New South Wales

1984 ◽  
Vol 24 (125) ◽  
pp. 236
Author(s):  
GK McDonald ◽  
BG Sutton ◽  
FW Ellison
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Summer Fallow ◽  
Applied Nitrogen

Three winter cereals (wheat varieties Songlen and WW 15, triticale variety Satu) were grown after cotton or summer fallow under three levels of applied nitrogen (0, 100 and 200 kg N/ha) at Narrabri, New South Wales. The cereals were sown on August 7, 1980 and growing season rainfall was supplemented by a single irrigation. Leaf area, total shoot dry matter production and ears per square metre were lower after cotton than after summer fallow, while grain yields of cereals sown immediately after cotton were 33% lower than those sown after fallow. Adding nitrogen increased leaf area, dry matter and grain yields of crops grown after cotton and fallow, but significant increases were not obtained with more than 100 kg/ha of applied nitrogen. Crops grown after cotton required an application of 100 kg N/ha for leaf and dry matter production at anthesis to equal that of crops grown after fallow with no additional nitrogen. The corresponding cost to grain yield of growing cotton was equivalent to 200 kg N/ha. The low grain yield responses measured in this experiment (1 8 and 10% increase to 100 kg N/ha after cotton and fallow, respectively) were attributed to the combined effects of late sowing, low levels of soil moisture and loss, by denitrification, of some of the applied nitrogen. The triticale, Satu, yielded significantly less than the two wheats (1 99 g/m2 for Satu c.f. 255 and 286 g/m2 for Songlen and WW 15, respectively), and did not appear to be a viable alternative to wheat in a cotton rotation.

Sizes and ages in commercial landings with estimates of growth, mortality and yield per recruit of yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) from New South Wales, Australia

2004 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 489 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Stewart ◽  
Douglas J. Ferrell ◽  
Bryan van der Walt
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Fork Length ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Current Minimum ◽  
Yellowtail Kingfish ◽  
Seriola Lalandi ◽  
Size At Age ◽  
Yield Per Recruit

The size and age compositions of yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) were studied in commercial landings in New South Wales, Australia between 1998 and 2000. The fishery was dominated by fish smaller than 65 cm fork length and these fish were estimated to be 2 and 3 year olds. Estimates of growth rates were made using size-at-age data from sectioned otoliths. The oldest yellowtail kingfish found was 21 years and measured 136 cm fork length. There were no differences in the growth rates between regions or between sexes. Yellowtail kingfish grow rapidly and reach their minimum legal length of 60 cm total length at around 2 years of age. These estimates showed that previous studies, which estimated ages using whole otoliths, may have underestimated the ages of older yellowtail kingfish. Total instantaneous mortality rates generated from catch curves ranged between 0.43 and 0.79. Yield per recruit models suggest that the population is currently growth overfished. The information provided is used to discuss the suitability of the current minimum legal length for yellowtail kingfish in New South Wales.

Modelling the effect on stocking rate and lamb production of allowing ewes to graze a dual-purpose wheat crop in southern New South Wales

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 1625 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. R. McGrath ◽  
J. M. Virgona ◽  
M. A. Friend
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Mixed Farming ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Gross Margins

Slow pasture growth rates during winter limit the potential gross margins from autumn and early winter lambing in southern New South Wales (NSW) by limiting stocking rates and/or increasing supplementary feed requirements. Dual-purpose crops can reduce the winter feed gap in mixed-farming systems by increasing the available feed in winter. The simulation software AusFarm was used to model a mixed-farming system at Wagga Wagga with Merino ewes joined to terminal sires and grazing lucerne-subterranean clover pasture over a 41-year period. A paddock of dual-purpose wheat was then added to the system, and ewes were allowed to graze the wheat crop when feed on offer reached 850 kg DM/ha and before GS31. Weaned lambs were sold after late August if lamb growth rates fell below 20 g/head.day, mean lamb weight reached 45 kg or production feeding of lambs was required. Lambing in June resulted in the highest median gross margin whether or not ewes were able to graze the wheat crop during winter. Grazing of a dual-purpose wheat crop resulted in greater proportional increases in gross margins as stocking rate was increased, increased lamb production and reduced supplementary feeding costs, and reduced interannual variability in gross margin returns.

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