A comparison of four pasture types for the wheat belt of southern New South Wales

1979 ◽  
Vol 19 (97) ◽  
pp. 216 ◽  
Author(s):  
RD FitzGerald
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Annual Grass ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Stocking Rates

Four pasture types: subterranean clover/annual grass, subterranean clover/phalaris, lucerne/ subterranean clover, and lucerne/phalaris/subterranean clover were grazed by dry ewes at two stocking rates (8.9 and 13.3 sheep ha-1) from August 1969 until May 1973. Sheep on pasture containing lucerne were an average 2.4 kg heavier than sheep on subterranean clover with phalaris or annual grass. The difference increased to as much as 7 kg in summer and was usually maintained over the winter. Sheep on subterranean clover/phalaris pastures were heavier in favourable seasons and lighter in poorer seasons than those on subterranean clover/annual grass. Generally, these liveweight effects were reflected in wool production.

Evaluation of natural annual pastures at Trangie in central western New South Wales. 1. Sheep production

1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (62) ◽  
pp. 238
Author(s):  
RJ Campbell ◽  
DG Saville ◽  
GE Robards
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Sheep Production ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Sheep Wool

Natural annual pasture at Trangie, New South Wales, was set stocked from August, 1967 to December 1970 at rates of 2.5, 3.7, and 4.9 merino wethers per ha to determine an optimum stocking rate for the pasture type. All stocking rates were supported without the necessity to hand feed any sheep. Wool production per head was reduced significantly by increased stocking rate in 1968, but not in 1969 and 1970. The suppression of barley grass at the higher stocking rates appeared to benefit animal production in 1969. Substitution of portion of the natural annual pasture with areas of lucerne or natural perennial pasture was also investigated and found to be ineffective in increasing wool production per head above that of wethers at similar rates of stocking on natural annual pasture alone. Possible reasons for the apparent failure of the grazing supplements, particularly lucerne, are discussed in terms of grazing pressure and management strategies.

Evaluation of natural annual pasture at Trangie in central western New South Wales. 3. Effect of stocking rate on annual-dominated and perennial-dominated natural pastures

1978 ◽  
Vol 18 (92) ◽  
pp. 361 ◽  
Author(s):  
GE Robards ◽  
DL Michalk ◽  
RJ Pither
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Natural Pasture ◽  
Ewe Lamb ◽  
Stocking Rates

A four year experiment is reported during which breeding Merino ewes grazed two natural pasture types at three stocking rates at Trangie in central-western New South Wales. Initially, the pasture on a red brown soil was dominated by cool season annual species, particularly Hordeum leporinum, Erodium species and Medicago species. The pasture on a heavier grey soil was dominated by the perennial grasses Chloris acicularis, C. truncata and Stipa variabilis. Clean wool production of ewes grazing the annual-dominated pasture was significantly (P< 0.05) higher than that of ewes grazing the perennial grass-dominated pasture even though the wool of the ewes grazing perennial pasture had a higher percentage clean yield (P < 0.05). The ewes on the annual-dominated pasture were significantly heavier in autumn and winter, and had a faster rate of wool growth in each season except spring, than ewes grazing perennial pasture. Number of lambs born per ewe, lamb birth weight and lamb growth rate were not affected by pasture type or stocking rate. Stocking rate had a small but statistically significant effect on clean wool production and only small effects on ewe liveweight, regardless of pasture type. When hand feeding of the pregnant ewes became necessary in the poor winters of 1971 and 1972 all stocking rates had to be commenced simultaneously. The significance of perennial grasses in these natural pastures is discussed in relationship to animal production, stocking rate, pasture and soil stability, and regeneration of grasses following favourable seasons.

The value to Merino ewes and lambs of continued superphosphate topdressing on a subterranean clover pasture ley

1976 ◽  
Vol 16 (79) ◽  
pp. 197 ◽  
Author(s):  
OR Southwood ◽  
DG Saville ◽  
AR Gilmour
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Clover Pasture

In an experiment at the Agricultural Research Station, Temora, New South Wales, Merino breeding ewes with their lambs grazed continuously from 1966 to 1970 at three stocking rates, 5, 7.5 and 10 ewes ha-1, on annual Trifolium subterraneum clover pasture topdressed every autumn with superphosphate fertilizer at nil, 94 or 188 kg ha-1. Stocking rate had an effect on ewe body weight in autumn each year and in winter and spring of the last year but it had no effect no wool production per ewe. Apart from the dry year, stocking rate had no effect on lamb performance. Superphosphate had little effect on ewe body weight and none on wool production but there were more lambs on the fertilized treatments than on the unfertilized pastures in 1967 when rainfall was low. Fertilizer encouraged barley grass dominance whereas the pasture not topdressed grew more clover and produced more burr. With no topdressing, available soil phosphate declined steadily over the five years to less than half the initial level. The results indicate that in a spring lambing, Merino ewe enterprise in the southern New South Wales wheat belt, where clover-ley farming is the general practice, annual pasture topdressing is no longer necessary after approximately 1000 kg ha-1 superphosphate has been applied to the soil and the fertilizer is continued through the cropping phase.

An analysis of the variation in wool production between commercial properties from a survey of a wheat-sheep shire in New South Wales

1990 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 329 ◽  
Author(s):  
GD Denney ◽  
HI Ridings ◽  
KJ Thornberry
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Specific Analysis ◽  
Individual Productivity ◽  
Management Factors ◽  
The Difference

A survey of Merino breeding properties in the Weddin Shire of New South Wales was used to relate the variation in wool production among properties to physical and management factors. Clean wool production averaged 3.15 kg per sheep and showed little variation between the eastern, central and western portions of the shire. However, clean wool production per hectare was greatest in the eastern portion where rainfall, pasture improvement and stocking rate were highest. Overall, ewes produced 88% as much wool as the wethers but variation was great, with 23% of the properties surveyed producing more wool per sheep from their ewes. The difference in productivity for properties in the highest and lowest quartiles was 71% when ranked on clean wool production per sheep. The difference was 184% when ranked on clean wool production per hectare, and even though stocking rate more than doubled, individual productivity increased. Similar differences in quartile production were observed in each portion of the shire. Regression analysis was used to test the importance of 9 physical and 10 management factors as determinants of the variation in clean wool production between properties. Four factors (stocking rate, managerial assessment, sheep strain/bloodline and location within shire) accounted for 74% of the variance in wool production per hectare, but after adjusting for the time of shearing, only 16% of the variance in wool production per sheep was explained. In a more specific analysis of wool production of the properties' ewe flock, 42% of the variance was accounted for by the source of genetic material, stocking rate, pasture improvement, time of lambing, the proportion of Merino ewes and an assessment of managerial ability. Research workers considering on-farm experimentation in wool production should be aware that large productivity differences can occur between nearby properties. Therefore, treatments should be allocated to properties based on known wool production. Further, results obtained from either the ewe, wether or hogget flocks may have application to only that class of sheep because of the large differences in commercial management imposed on them.

The productivity of breeding ewes grazing on lucerne or grass and clover pastures on the tablelands of southern Australia. II. Wool production and ewe weight.

1983 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 537 ◽  
Author(s):  
JR Donnelly ◽  
FHW Morley ◽  
GT McKinney
Keyword(s):  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Chemical Characteristics ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Weight Losses ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Supplementary Feed ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Pregnancy Toxaemia

Spring-lambing Merino and crossbred ewes grazing on dryland lucerne pastures were generally heavier throughout the year than ewes grazing on phalaris and subterranean clover pastures, even though they experienced greater weight losses during winter. These losses were mostly eliminated by compensatory gains in spring. Annual fleece weights of the Merino ewes grazing on lucerne or phalaris and subterranean clover pastures declined linearly by 146 and 64 g respectively for each additional ewe carried over a range of stocking rates from 9 to 18 ha-1. Corresponding figures for crossbred ewes were 114 and 46 g. In each case the difference between pasture species was significant (P < 0.02). Only at the lowest stocking rates were fleeces from ewes on lucerne heavier (by c. 500 g) than those from ewes on phalaris. At the highest stocking rates, there were no advantages in terms of wool production from grazing breeding ewes on lucerne. Not only was there a greater need for supplementary feed during late pregnancy to avoid losses from pregnancy toxaemia, but the lucerne pastures at all stocking rates proved more sensitive to unfavourable physical and chemical characteristics of soils than did phalaris and subterranean clover pastures. The fleece weights of Merino and crossbred ewes declined, on average, by 70 and 50 g per year for ewes aged between 1+ and 6+ years. Pregnancy reduced fleece weights by 5-10% in Merinos and 5-21% in crossbred ewes, depending on seasonal conditions which varied from year to year. For Merinos only, dry ewes grew about 4% more wool than lactating ewes. No other effects of reproduction on fleece weights were observed.

Occurrence of Phytophthora clandestina in Trifolium subterraneum paddocks in Australia

2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 187 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Aldaoud ◽  
W. Guppy ◽  
L. Callinan ◽  
S. F. Flett ◽  
K. A. Wratten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Root Rot ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Differential Cultivars

In 1995–96, a survey of soil samples from subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) paddocks was conducted across Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and Western Australia, to determine the distribution and the prevalence of races of Phytophthora clandestina (as determined by the development of root rot on differential cultivars), and the association of its occurrence with paddock variables. In all states, there was a weak but significant association between P. clandestina detected in soil samples and subsequent root rot susceptibility of differential cultivars grown in these soil samples. Phytophthora clandestina was found in 38% of the sampled sites, with a significantly lower prevalence in South Australia (27%). There were significant positive associations between P. clandestina detection and increased soil salinity (Western Australia), early growth stages of subterranean clover (Victoria), mature subterranean clover (South Australia), recently sown subterranean clover (South Australia), paddocks with higher subterranean clover content (Victoria), where herbicides were not applied (South Australia), irrigation (New South Wales and Victoria), cattle grazing (South Australia and Victoria), early sampling dates (Victoria and New South Wales), sampling shortly after the autumn break or first irrigation (Victoria), shorter soil storage time (Victoria) and farmer’s perception of root rot being present (Victoria and New South Wales). Only 29% of P. clandestina isolates could be classified under the 5 known races. Some of the unknown races were virulent on cv. Seaton Park LF (most resistant) and others were avirulent on cv. Woogenellup (most susceptible). Race 1 was significantly less prevalent in South Australia than Victoria and race 0 was significantly less prevalent in New South Wales than in South Australia and Western Australia. This study revealed extremely wide variation in the virulence of P. clandestina. The potential importance of the results on programs to breed for resistance to root rot are discussed. in South Australia.

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.

Merino ewe and lamb performance in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales following joining in March-April or June-July

1988 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 561 ◽  
Author(s):  
HL Davies ◽  
E Devaud
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Group Number ◽  
Nutritional Advantage ◽  
June July ◽  
Group 1

A March-April joining of Merino ewes was compared with a June-July joining in central New South Wales at a low stocking rate on subterranean clover based pastures over 3 years. In all years, ewes joined in June were heavier (P < 0.05) than ewes joined in March (55 v. 52 kg). Liveweights at the start of lambing and liveweight change from joining to lambing were also high and favoured the later lambing group. The proportion of ewes lambing (97% March v. 93% June) and proportion of ewes twinning (29% March v. 20% June) were not significantly different between the 2 groups, but consistently favoured the March-April joining. Perinatal mortality was low (9.4% March v. 7.1% June) and not significantly different between the 2 groups, but was consistently lower in the June joined group. Number of lambs weaned per 100 ewes joined was also not significantly different, but was higher each year in the March joined group (1 13% March v. 105% June). The growth rate of the lambs (both singles [24% greater, 248 v. 200 g/day] and twins [37% greater, 2 13 v. 155 g/day]) was consistently in favour of March joined ewes. Mean greasy fleece weights of the ewes were not significantly different between the 2 groups, but were in favour of the late joined group (4.83 v. 4.50 kg). Time of joining significantly affected liveweights and greasy and clean fleece weights of the progeny at the shearing in the year following their birth in favour of March joining. These data suggest that, despite a nutritional advantage to the ewes in late pregnancy and milder weather at lambing with a June-July joining, a March- April joining is the preferred option on the Central Tablelands of New South Wales.

The effects of grazing and season on the stability of Chloris Spp. (Windmill grasses) in natural pasture at Trangie, New South Wales.

1978 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 106 ◽  
Author(s):  
DL Michalk ◽  
PK Herbert
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Basal Diameter ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Natural Pasture ◽  
Mean Diameter ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Stocking Rates

A study of the density and basal diameter of Chloris acicularis Lindl. (syn. Enteropogon acicularis (LindlJLazar. - curly windmill grass) and C. truncata R. Br. (windmill grass) was made at two stocking rates over a period of eight years. The propor- tion of ground covered by these Chloris species varied widely with season, and to a lesser extent with grazing pressure. The density of both species increased in good seasons, while the mean diameter decreased because of the number of new seedlings. Although C. truncata seedlings were more numerous in good seasons, they did not survive as well as did C. acicularis seedlings during prolonged dry periods.

Nature Conservation in Rangelands: Lessons From Research on Reserve Selection in New South Wales.

1992 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 214 ◽  
Author(s):  
RL Pressey
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Planning ◽  
New South ◽  
Full Range ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Reserve Selection ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Land Systems ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Selection Of

Information on the features to be protected in a system of conservation reserves is an obvious requirement. The quality of the data base will primarily determine the effectiveness of conservation planning in protecting the full range of natural features in a region. However, the way in which data are used to make decisions on the locations of protected areas is also critical. Rigorous procedures for reserve selection can make the difference between achieving reservation goals or not. Research on reserve selection in New South Wales over recent years has concerned both data bases and procedures for guiding decisions. Reserve planning in many regions is based largely on some form of land classification like vegetation types or land systems. There are good reasons for using such land classes to guide the selection of reserves and to judge their representativeness. Nevertheless, they can have considerable limitations as a basis for protecting all the species in a region. These limitations are reviewed with references to more detailed discussions of particular issues. The paper also reviews a variety of procedures for selecting reserves which have been tested and applied in New South Wales. Some of the recent procedures are conceptually simple but very useful in identifying the requirements of reservation goals and demonstrating the options available to planners for representing particular features. Three principles are proposed which should underpin any attempt at systematic conservation planning.

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