Nitrogen supplementation of ruminants grazing native pastures in New England, New South Wales

The potential for nitrogen (N) supplementation of ruminants grazing native pastures in late winter was examined in two experiments. In experiment 1 the N contents of the diet selected by unsupplemented sheep and cattle, and by cattle receiving a supplement of linseed meal were determined. Dietary composition was not affected by supplementation but sheep selected a diet averaging 1.7 gN/100 g OM which was significantly greater than the corresponding value of 0.96 gN/100 g OM for cattle. Differences in dietary composition between sheep and cattle were also evident in experiment 2 and were confirmed by analysis of rumen liquor. It was concluded that sheep would not respond to non-protein N supplementation but that cattle might be marginally N deficient. In experiment 2 groups of heifers grazing native pasture were offered supplements of either molassesurea containing 2.54 gN/100 g OM, molasses-urea containing 7.66 gN/100 g OM, linseed meal containing 6.64 gN/100 g OM, or linseed meal treated with formaldehyde. Liveweight changes relative to an unsupplemented group were determined, and individual consumptions of supplement were measured using tritiated water. All heifers lost weight and the rate of loss was significantly greater in unsupplemented heifers than in those receiving supplement. Differences between supplemented groups were not significant after liveweight losses had been adjusted to equal energy intakes using covariance analysis.

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Annual pattern of soil moisture stress under sown and native pastures

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar9590518 ◽

1959 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 518 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

JE Begg

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

New England ◽

General Pattern ◽

Moisture Stress ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Soil Moisture Stress ◽

South Wales ◽

Native Pasture ◽

Available Soil Moisture ◽

Native Pastures

Soil moisture fluctuations were measured under a phalaris-white clover pasture and under three native pasture types in the New England region of New South Wales over a 4-year period, by means of the gypsum resistance block technique. The results indicate that large differences in available soil moisture occur at times within areas of apparently similar soil type and that these differences are reflected by the different pasture types in the area. Although the lengths of the period during which soil moisture was unavailable differed considerably under the different pastures the general pattern was similar. The months of greatest soil moisture stress were December, January, April, and May, while the period of most favourable soil moisture was from June to November. Thus although most of the rain fell during the period December to May the rain which fell from June to November was more effective in maintaining available soil moisture. The subsoil dried out more rapidly and remained dry for a longer period under the sown pasture than under the native pasture type which the area previously carried, owing to the greater rate of removal of available soil moisture from under the sown pasture. Of the three native pasture types studied, the most favourable soil moisture pattern for plant growth occurred under the Sorghum-Themeda pasture. This pasture type may be a useful indicator of areas with soil conditions favourable for the growth of productive sown pastures.

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Establishment of Warm- and Cool-Season Native Perennial Grasses on the North-West Slopes of New South Wales. Ii. Establishment and Seedling Survival in the Field

Australian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1071/bt9810121 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 121 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

GM Lodge

Keyword(s):

New South ◽

New South Wales ◽

Warm Season ◽

Perennial Grasses ◽

Late Winter ◽

Cool Season ◽

North West ◽

The North ◽

South Wales ◽

Native Pastures

Emergence and survival of the seedlings of warm-season native perennial grasses Aristida ramosa R.Br., Bothriochloa macra (Steud.) S . T. Blake, Dichanthium sericeum (R.Br.) Camus, Sporobolus elongatus R.Br., Eragvostis leptostachya Steud. and Chloris truncata R.Br. and the cool-season species Stipa variabilis Hughes and Danthonia linkii Kunth were studied in both native pastures and sown monospecific plots on the north- west slopes of New South Wales. The most favourable period for the successful emergence and establishment of warm-season grasses was from mid summer to early autumn. Cool-season native perennial grasses established best from seedlings that appeared from mid autumn to late winter. Few seedlings were observed to germinate in spring, probably as a result of large variations in temperature, low minimum temperatures or intra and interspecific competition. Seedlings growing in native pasture spent long periods in the vegetative phase compared to the early flowering of seedlings in the sown plots. In the pasture studied only two seedlings flowered over 700 days after emergence, and many others after persisting for up to 2 years died without producing seed. These findings indicate that the seedlings in these native pastures were under considerable stress and that the adult populations of the species examined were relatively stable and little recruitment occurred.

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The Diet of the Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Wallaroo in Areas of Improved and Native Pasture in the New England Tablelands.

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr9830203 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 203 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

RJ Taylor

Keyword(s):

New England ◽

New South ◽

New South Wales ◽

Plant Parts ◽

South Wales ◽

Grey Kangaroo ◽

Native Pasture ◽

Tussock Grasses

The diet of the eastern grey kangaroo and wallaroo was compared at 2 sites, Lana and Newsholme, in the New England tablelands of New South Wales. At Lana, the pastures had been fertilized for 20 yr and were dominated by low-fibre grasses such as Bothriochloa, Eragrostis, Sporobolus, Microlaena, Danthonia and Vulpia; some paddocks had been sown with introduced grasses, Phalaris, Festuca and lucerne. Coarse tussock grasses such as Poa spp., Stipa and Danthonia pallida predominated at Newsholme. The major difference in the diet of the 2 spp. was in winter when individuals on the unimproved area at Newsholme ate a higher proportion of tussock grasses and less low-fibre grass. Both spp. consistently selected for low-fibre grass leaf; they did not differ in their use of plant parts. The diets contained many plant spp. in common, although there were major differences in the use of several spp. The plant spp. favoured only by the wallaroo were of a higher quality than those favoured only by the grew kangaroo.

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Effects of superphosphate application and cutting interval on native pastures in the Clarence Valley, New South Wales

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea9780718 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 18 (94) ◽

pp. 718 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

DL Garden ◽

DR Brooks ◽

J Bradley

Keyword(s):

Crude Protein ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Phosphorus Content ◽

New South ◽

Dry Matter Yield ◽

Botanical Composition ◽

South Wales ◽

Native Pasture ◽

Cutting Interval ◽

Native Pastures

The effects of superphosphate rate (nil; 250 kg ha-l initial with 125 kg ha-1 maintenance; and 500 kg ha-1 initial with 250 kg ha-1 maintenance) and cutting interval (2, 4, 6 or 8 weeks) on dry matter yield, growth rate, botanical composition and chemical composition of native pastures on a sandstone soil in the Clarence Valley, New South Wales were studied over a period of three years. Mean annual dry matter yield of unfertilized native pasture was 990 kg ha-l and this was increased to 1322 kg ha-1 at the higher rate of superphosphate. Dry matter yield was depressed from 1587 to 647 kg ha-1 by decreasing cutting interval from 8 weeks to 2 weeks. Pasture growth was limited to the September to May period and 87 per cent of the total annual production occurred in summer and autumn. Maximum growth occurred in the February/March period, with 16.2 kg ha-1 day-1 being the maximum recorded for the unfertilized pasture and 19.9 kg ha-1 day-1 for pasture at the higher rate of superphosphate. Changes in botanical composition were neither large nor consistent. Phosphorus content of the native pasture averaged 0.12 per cent. Crude protein content averaged 7.4 per cent, with levels in standing herbage in winter-spring falling to 3 per cent. Phosphorus yield was 1.1 kg ha-1 year-1 and crude protein yield was 65.8 kg ha-1 year-1. Superphosphate increased phosphorus content and yield, and crude protein yield. Increasing cutting interval decreased phosphorus and crude protein contents but increased phosphorus and crude protein yields by its effect on dry matter yield. Maximum yields obtained were 3.3 kg ha-1 year-1 phosphorus and 100 kg ha-1 year-1 crude protein. It was concluded that the increases obtained would be insufficient to produce worthwhile improvements in animal production, and that an increase in the legume content of these pastures is required before this could occur.

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Comparative productivity of super-fine Merino and Border Leicester breeding ewes grazing semi-improved native pasture on the New England Tablelands, New South Wales

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea9790402 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 19 (99) ◽

pp. 402

Author(s):

RMW Sumner ◽

SK Stephenson

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

New England ◽

Cause Of Death ◽

New South ◽

New South Wales ◽

South Wales ◽

Native Pasture

Age-balanced breeding flocks of 40 ewes of the super-fine Merino (M) and Border Leicester (BL) breeds were set-stocked together on semi-improved native pasture for three years. The M ewes grew more wool and weaned more lambs of a lighter weight, while the BL ewes were heavier than the M ewes at all weighings. During the last year the BL ewes experienced an overall weight loss not shown by the M ewes, which was reflected in increased mortality. Mortality within the BL breed was high, 70% compared with 17.5% for the M. Pneumonia was the primary cause of death.

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Beneficial soil profile differences associated with tropical grass pastures on sodic texture contrast soils in Northern New South Wales

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr19140 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 58 (2) ◽

pp. 207

Author(s):

Robert Banks ◽

Laura Wendling ◽

Kaye Basford ◽

Anthony Ringrose-Voase ◽

Vera Banks

Keyword(s):

Soil Profile ◽

New South ◽

Water Storage ◽

Tropical Pastures ◽

South Wales ◽

Native Pasture ◽

Native Pastures ◽

Texture Contrast ◽

Root Abundance ◽

Tropical Grass

Volunteer native pastures on widespread sodic texture contrast soils in northern New South Wales slopes and plains are known for their limited agricultural production. Fertilised tropical grass pastures on these soils are reported to have much increased pasture production, deeper, more abundant root mass and greater soil profile moisture storage. The subsoil physical differences between native and tropical grass pastures are not well understood. This observational study compared root abundance, soil structure and soil physical parameters (dispersion, bulk density, porosity and pore distribution) in sodic texture contrast soils under native and adjacent, well established and fertilised tropical pastures in a 14-year chronosequence. The physical differences observed may have contributed to improved soil water storage reported by other authors. Fourteen years after establishment, mean root abundance was significantly lower in soils under native pasture and greater in the tropical grass pasture system with 4600 and 8400 m of roots m–3 respectively. Dispersion values were high in native pastures but soils under tropical pastures had to be physically worked to cause dispersion. Bulk density under native pasture was significantly higher than in tropical grass pastures by 0.08 g cm–3 at 0–10 cm and by 0.2 g cm–3 in the upper B horizons. Total soil porosity of topsoils and upper B horizons was consequently lower in native than in tropical grass pasture. Tropical grass pasture upper B horizons had a three-fold greater macroporosity (pores > 30 µm), than under native pastures. This is equivalent to significantly greater potential water flow through stable macropores in dense sodic B horizons in tropical pastures. These findings indicate that pasture system selection and management positively affects deep soil structural properties which promote pasture productivity. The study contributes to a better understanding of mechanisms of published deeper water storage in tropical grass pasture systems on these normally low production soils.

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Grazing management of native pastures in the New England region of New South Wales. II. The effect of size of flock on pasture and sheep production with special reference to internal parasites and grazing behaviour

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar9620880 ◽

1962 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 880 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

WH Southcott ◽

R Roe ◽

HN Turner

Keyword(s):

New England ◽

New South ◽

Parasitic Infection ◽

Flock Size ◽

South Wales ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Internal Parasites ◽

Native Pastures ◽

Sheep Production ◽

Grazing Behaviour

The effect of flock size on pasture and animal productivity, on parasitic infection, and on grazing behaviour was investigated in a grazing experiment over a period of 3 years. Merino sheep, undrenched, and stocked at the rate of one sheep per acre on native pasture dominated by Bothriochloa ambigua S.T. Blake, were used in five flock sizes, vie. 2, 4, 8, 16, and 30 animals. Flock size did not significantly affect the forage available or the botanical composition of the pastures, but liveweight gains and wool production were significantly lower in the flock of two sheep than in the other flocks. Observations indicated that the reduced productivity of the smallest flock was associated with reduced grazing time consequent on changes in grazing behaviour. No consistent significant differences in worm egg counts were observed in faecal samples from the different flocks. The results indicate that although under fairly extensive grazing conditions a unit of two sheep may be unsatisfactory in some respects, flocks of four sheep could give information on pasture or animal production or on parasitism comparable with that from larger flocks of up to 30 animals.

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