Relations between stocking rate, environment and scorch disease on grazed subterranean clover pasture in Western Australia

1982 ◽  
Vol 22 (116) ◽  
pp. 182 ◽  
Author(s):  
WK Anderson ◽  
RJ Parkin ◽  
MD Dovey
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Chemical Control ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Disease Symptoms ◽  
Sheep Production ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Clover Scorch

The effects of weather on clover scorch disease caused by Kabatiella caulivora, the effects of the disease on pasture and sheep production, and the effect of sheep stocking rate (6, 8, 10 and 12 sheep/ha) on the disease were studied in a field experiment over three seasons near Albany, Western Australia. Spraying with benlate was used to control clover scorch on some treatments. Mean temperatures during the period when symptoms of the disease increased were in the range 11-17�C. Rainfall was frequent each year during the same period. The rapid increase in disease symptoms was observed when pasture dry matter on offer was approximately 2500 kg/ha. Disease symptoms decreased during a period of water stress of the pasture. Clover scorch disease had no consistent effect on pasture or animal production except that pasture dry matter on offer in spring was reduced in the unsprayed treatments at the lower stocking rates in the second two years. Higher stocking rates (10 and 12 sheep/ha) reduced the level of clover scorch symptoms without the use of chemical control with benlate. At the period of peak scorch symptoms a stocking rate of 10 sheep/ha reduced disease incidence by 20-35% compared with 6 sheep/ha in unsprayed plots. Increased sheep stocking rates are suggested as a possible alternative to chemical control or replacement of susceptible strains of subterranean clover in grazed pasture.

Renovation of Yarloop subterranean clover pastures with Trikkala

1988 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 737 ◽  
Author(s):  
DL Little ◽  
PE Beale
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Seed Reserves ◽  
Minimal Damage ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Germinable Seed ◽  
Clover Scorch

Pastures containing the oestrogenic subterranean clover, Yarloop, were renovated and sown to Trikkala subterranean clover at the rate of 9 kg ha-1 germinable seed. The resultant pastures were continually grazed at either 7, 9 or 12 ewes ha for 6 years. Control Yarloop pastures were grazed similarly. Trikkala established at approximately 50 plants m-2 and represented 80% of all clover present in the year of sowing. Six years later Trikkala was successfully persisting at all stocking rates in terms of clover dry matter in spring (Trikkala 77%, Yarloop 23%), soil seed reserves in spring (Trikkala 450-1000 kg ha-1, Yarloop 300-450 kg ha-1) and plant density in spring (Trikkala 600-1000 plants m-2, Yarloop 200 plants m-2). Over the 6 years of the trial the proportion of Trikkala and Yarloop approached an equilibrium of 75% Trikkala to 25% Yarloop in all agronomic data collected. Compared with the control Yarloop pastures, the renovated Trikkala pastures maintained a greater clover percentage at all stocking rates. Available dry matter at the high stocking rate was consistently greater in the Yarloop pastures during winter and spring. At the low and medium stocking rates available dry matter tended to be greater in the Yarloop treatments for the first 2 years but was similar for both treatments in the latter 3 years. Clover scorch disease in the Yarloop pasture was controlled by spraying with a fungicide. Trikkala pastures were not sprayed and suffered minimal damage from the disease. Trikkala should perform better relative to Yarloop where clover scorch is a problem. It is concluded that Trikkala subterranean clover can successfully replace Yarloop subterranean clover in pastures previously dominated by Yarloop.

Tactical versus continuous stocking in perennial ryegrass-subterranean clover pastures grazed by sheep in south-western Victoria. 1. Stocking rates and herbage production

2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 1099 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Waller ◽  
P. W. G. Sale ◽  
G. R. Saul ◽  
G. A. Kearney
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Soil Fertility Status ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
Terminal Sire ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
Stocking Rates

A 4-year field experiment was carried out in south-western Victoria to determine whether tactical stocking might improve perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) persistence and prime lamb production, compared with the more common practice of year-around continuous stocking. Tactical stocking consisted of variable length summer, autumn and winter rotations and continuous stocking in spring. The 2 grazing strategies were compared on 2 contrasting pastures: an upgraded pasture, sown with newer cultivars of perennial ryegrass and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) with 26 kg phosphorus/ha.year, and a more typical naturalised perennial ryegrass pasture receiving 6 kg phosphorus/ha.year. Paddocks were grazed by Border Leicester x Merino ewes, which were mated to a terminal sire to lamb in September. The effects of the grazing systems and pasture treatments on herbage production and stocking rate are presented in this paper. Herbage production was similar between the treatments, but tactical stocking significantly increased herbage mass during the growing season (P<0.05) compared with continuous stocking. In spring each year, the herbage mass generally exceeded 3000 kg dry matter/ha in tactically stocked paddocks and averaged 500–900 kg dry matter/ha higher than the mass on continuously stocked paddocks. This enabled the year-round stocking rate to be increased by an average of 9% over the 4 years of the experiment. We considered that the stocking rates could not be further increased, despite the higher herbage mass in spring, as stock reduced the dry herbage to a low residual mass by the opening rains in autumn. In contrast, stocking rates averaged 51% higher on the upgraded pasture compared with the typical pasture over the 4 years of the experiment. This indicates that pasture improvement and soil fertility status have a much greater impact on productivity than changes to grazing method. However, tactical stocking was able to increase the sustainability of prime lamb production on upgraded pastures in a dry summer climate, by maintaining herbage cover on the paddocks over the summer–autumn period.

Effects of superphosphate fertiliser and stocking rate on the nutritive value of perennial ryegrass and subterranean clover herbage

1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 537 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. R. Saul ◽  
G. A. Kearney ◽  
P. C. Flinn ◽  
C. L. Lescun
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Infertile Soils

The effect of superphosphate fertiliser on digestible dry matter (DDM) and crude protein (CP) percentages of perennial ryegrass and subterranean clover was assessed on a long-term, grazed experiment in western Victoria. CP of both species increased significantly (3–6 units) where long-term average phosphorus (P) applications were 33 kg/ha.year compared with 1 kg/ha.year. CP of herbage was also greater on paddocks grazed at higher (9–23 ewes/ha) than lower (5–13 ewes/ha) stocking rates (1–3 units). DDM of subterranean clover significantly increased (8–10 units) with higher superphosphate applications but there was little effect on the DDM of perennial ryegrass. Long-term applications of superphosphate were associated with larger increases in both DDM and CP than if the same rate was applied in autumn of the year of measurement. For subterranean clover, 30 kg/ha of P applied to infertile soils (Olsen P 5 mg/kg) in autumn increased the DDM of herbage collected in September by only 4–6 units. The nutritive value of most volunteer pasture species also increased with higher superphosphate applications but the DDM of these species was usually inferior to perennial ryegrass. The results highlight the importance of monitoring nutritive value, pasture composition, and herbage production to quantify fully the likely effect of fertiliser applications on animal production.

Effect of chemical removal of grasses from pasture leys on pasture and sheep production

1987 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 349 ◽  
Author(s):  
CW Thorn ◽  
MW Perry
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Annual Grass ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Annual Grasses ◽  
Sheep Production ◽  
Stocking Rates

Pasture production, pasture composition and quality, and liveweight, body condition and wool growth of Merino weaner wethers were monitored over 2 seasons and at 2 stocking rates (4 and 8 sheep/ha) on a mixed annual grass-legume pasture sprayed with propyzamide to control grasses. Propyzamide virtually eliminated annual grasses from the pasture (less than 5 kg/ha of grass dry matter in spring v. 403 kg/ha on untreated pasture in 1981) and this carried over into the second season (61 kg/ha v. 647 kg/ha in spring 1982). Propyzamide treated pastures had less total dry matter (P = 0.05) throughout 1981: however, except for a single sample date, there was no effect of propyzamide on total available pasture in the second season. Increased growth of clover and capeweed compensated for the absence of the grasses. The higher stocking rate reduced available clover, capeweed and total dry matter (P = 0.05) throughout both years. Sheep grazing grass-free pastures had lower liveweights during winter in both years, but made compensatory gains during late spring and summer consistent with the higher quality (1.6 v. 1.07% nitrogen when sampled in January) of propyzamide treated pastures. In 198 1, wool growth rates were reduced at the higher stocking rate and total clean wool production was reduced from 4.55 kg/sheep at 4/ha to 3.65 kg/sheep at 8/ha. Pasture treatment had no effect on wool production in either year. The implications of using selective herbicides to remove the annual grass component of legume-based annual pastures in south-western Australia are dis cussed in relation to pasture and sheep production.

Effects of grazing management and stocking rate on pasture production, ewe liveweight, ewe fertility and lamb growth on subterranean clover-based pasture in Western Australia

2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Lloyd Davies ◽  
I. N. Southey
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Lamb Growth

Border Leicester x Merino ewes joined to Dorset Horn rams were grazed for 3 years on subterranean clover-based pastures established on virgin ground at Bakers Hill, Western Australia, at 3 stocking rates and 2 systems of grazing management (viz. continuous grazing compared with a deferred grazing system which was designed to ensure that pasture availability met the nutritional requirements of breeding ewes at critical phases of their reproductive cycle). Both stocking rate and grazing management affected pasture availability: there was always a greater amount of pasture available on offer under the deferred grazing system. However, this extra pasture rarely increased animal production; the effect of the deferred grazing compared with continuous grazing was inconsequential for ewe liveweight in late pregnancy and for lamb growth rate. The deferred grazing system promoted grass dominance at all stocking rates whereas there was only 24% grass under continuous grazing at the high stocking rate. Stocking rate on some occasions affected ewe liveweight at joining but always affected the prelambing weight. The highest stocking rate on some occasions reduced twinning rate. Stocking rate (particularly in 1966) affected lamb growth rate. The combination of the effect of stocking rate on twinning rate, lamb survival and lamb growth rate resulted in a lower proportion of lambs achieving 30 kg liveweight per lamb marked at higher stocking rates (3-year mean low stocking rate 106% lambs marketed; medium stocking rate 95% and high stocking rate 80%). In 1966, total plasma ketones were lower and plasma glucose (measure of ewe metabolic status) was higher on the deferred system than on the continuously grazed system.

The productivity of pastures sown with Phalaris tuberosa or Lolium perenne. 1. Pasture growth and composition

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (70) ◽  
pp. 640 ◽  
Author(s):  
KFM Reed
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Protein Concentration ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Basal Cover ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
Cutting Height ◽  
Stocking Rates

Pastures at Glenormiston in western Victoria, sown with Phalaris tuberosa cv. Australian (phalaris) or Lolium perenne cv. Victorian (ryegrass) each with Trifolium subterraneum (subterranean clover), were grazed continuously by wethers at six rates of stocking over the range 19.8 to 32.1 sheep ha-1 from October 1966 to March 1971. Pasture growth was measured at three rates of stocking. During a four-year period, the phalaris and ryegrass pastures produced average annual yields of 10.4 and 8.0 t dry matter ha-1 respectively. The growth of phalaris pasture was usually greater in winter when it produced approximately 30 per cent more dry matter than ryegrass pasture. The effect of rate of stocking on pasture growth was rarely significant except in the final six months of the experiment when there was a reduction in growth rate as stocking rate increased. The basal cover of phalaris declined in the two years after a drought in 1967-68 to about 20 per cent irrespective of stocking rate. The basal cover of ryegrass also declined during this period, to a greater extent than phalaris, but in 1969 and 1970 there was some recovery at the lower stocking rates when the ryegrass was able to set seed. The basal cover of subterranean clover was about 20 per cent at 19.8 sheep ha-1 in most years and usually less at the higher stocking rates. The main species that replaced the sown species were Poa annua, Trifolium cernuum, Trifolium glomerata, Arctotheca calendula and Holcus lanatus. The amount of pasture present above a cutting height of 1.5 cm was less than 2 t ha-1 during most of the experiment and decreased as rate of stocking increased. The crude protein concentration of pasture present was always greater than 11 per cent except during the drought in 1967-68, when it fell as low as 5.2 per cent on the ryegrass pastures and to half this level on the phalaris pastures.

Studies in the wool production of grazing sheep. 1. Seasonal variation in feed intake, liveweight and wool production

1964 ◽  
Vol 4 (15) ◽  
pp. 392 ◽  
Author(s):  
GW Arnold ◽  
WR McManus ◽  
IG Bush
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
First Year ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
Annual Grasses ◽  
Stocking Rates

A four year experiment is described in which Merino wethers were continuously grazed on Phalaris- subterranean clover pasture containing some annual grasses, at three rates for a year and at four rates in subsequent years. For the first year of the experiment a pasture of annual grasses and subterranean clover was also studied at three stocking rates. From the time that the eco-systems that were established reached an equilibrium there was rarely less than 2500 lb of herbage dry-matter an acre available on the lowest stocking rate and rarely more than 1000 lb an acre on the highest stocking rate. There was a significant difference in wool cut per head only in the first year ; over the last three years of the experiment it was slightly lower on the highest and lowest stocking rates than on the intermediate stocking rate. Wool production per acre was proportional to stocking rate. Large seasonal fluctuations were recorded in estimated digestible organic matter intake, liveweight, and wool production. Peaks of intake, liveweight gain, and wool production occurred in autumn and spring but at different dates at different stocking rates. At all but the highest stocking rate, wool production per unit time was lower in summer than in winter. Estimated herbage intake increased with decreasing availability of pasture. Digestibility of the diet, availability of pasture, and body condition of the sheep appeared to affect intake. Despite a higher estimated herbage intake on the higher stocking rate treatments, wool production was no higher.

A comparison of levels of production and profit from grazing Merino ewes and wethers at various stocking rates in northern Victoria

1980 ◽  
Vol 20 (104) ◽  
pp. 296 ◽  
Author(s):  
DH White ◽  
BJ McConchie ◽  
BC Curnow ◽  
AH Ternouth
Keyword(s):  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Sheep Production ◽  
Rate Of Decline ◽  
One Year ◽  
Stocking Rates

Merino wethers and breeding ewes were grazed at various stocking rates on an annual pasture in the sheep-wheat zone of Northern Victoria from 1966 to 1973. There was considerable variation between years in botanical composition, the incidence of subterranean clover in the pasture plots varying by up to 80 percentage units between years. Total pasture production was measured in one plot during the last 4 years of the experiment, varying from 2.1 t ha-1 in the drought year (325 mm rain) of 1972, to 8.8 t ha-1 in the higher rainfall (883 mm) year of 1973. The large year-to-year variations in pasture production and botanical composition were reflected in differences between years in sheep production at various stocking rates. Wethers produced about 20% more wool than breeding ewes grazing at the same stocking rate, providing no supplements were fed. August-lambing ewes either lost weight in early spring or gained weight more slowly than wethers of the same age and flock background. The consequence of this was that maximum weights of ewes were consistently about 10 kg less than wethers at the same stocking rate. Both ewes and wethers had similar rates of weight loss from November to March. In one year ewes at 3.7 ha-1 were fed supplements in autumn, since they were lighter than the feeding weight of 41 kg, whereas wethers stocked at 11.1 ha-1, were not. An economic analysis of the experimental data indicated that the most profitable stocking rates of Merino wethers were up to 1.7 times that of August-lambing ewes. This ratio varies with season, and is also likely to vary with changes in lambing date or environment. The most sensitive determinants of optimal stocking rate were the rate of decline of fleece weight, and lambs born relative to ewes joined, with increasing stocking rate. Sheep liveweight at time of sale could also be important.

Milk production from cows grazing on tropical grass pastures. 1. Effects of stocking rate and level of nitrogen fertilizer on the pasture and diet

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 505 ◽  
Author(s):  
TM Davison ◽  
RT Cowan ◽  
RK Shepherd ◽  
P Martin
Keyword(s):  
Protein Content ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Crude Protein Content ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Applied Nitrogen

A 3-year experiment was conducted at Kairi Research Station on the Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, to determine the effects of stocking rate and applied nitrogen fertilizer on the pasture yield and composition, diet selection by cows, and soil fertility of Gatton panic (Panicum maximum cv. Gatton) pastures. Thirty-two Friesian cows were used in a 4x2 factorial design: four stocking rates (2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 cows/ha), each at two rates of fertilizer application 200 and 400 kg N/ha.year. The higher rate of fertilization increased the pasture green dry matter on offer at all samplings (P < 0.01); the increase ranged from 1 106 kg/ha in summer to 548 kg/ha in spring. Green dry matter decreased ( P< 0.0 1) with increasing stocking rate, with mean yields of 3736 and 2384 kg/ha at 2.0 and 3.5 cows/ha, respectively. Weed yields increased over the 3 years at the higher stocking rates for pastures receiving 200 kg N/ha.year. The crude protein content of leaf and stem increased with increasing stocking rate and amount of applied nitrogen fertilizer. Values ranged from 12.1 to 26.5% of dry matter (DM) in leaf and from 3.7 to 13.8% DM in stem. In leaf, sodium concentration (range 0.05-0.20% DM) was increased, while phosphorus concentration (range 0.21-0.44% DM) was decreased by the higher rate of fertilizer application. Plant sodium and phosphorus levels were inadequate for high levels of milk production. Dietary leaf content and crude protein contents were consistently increased by both a reduced stocking rate, and the higher rate of fertilization. Cows were able to select for leaf and at the lowest stocking rate, leaf in the diet averaged 38%; while the leaf content of the pasture was 20%. Dietary leaf content ranged from 38 to 57% in summer and from 11 to 36% in winter. Dietary crude protein ranged from 13 to 15% in summer and from 7 to 11% in winter and was positively correlated with pasture crude protein content and dietary leaf percentage. Soil pH decreased (P<0.05) from an overall mean of 6.3 in 1976 to 6.1 at 200 N and 5.8 at 400 N in 1979. Soil phosphorus status remained stable, while calcium and magnesium levels were lower (P<0.01) after 3 years.

Productivity and intensive sheep stocking over a five-year period

1967 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. W. Spedding ◽  
J. E. Betts ◽  
R. V. Large ◽  
I. A. N. Wilson ◽  
P. D. Penning
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Economic Implications ◽  
Production Processes ◽  
Percentage Weight ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Sheep Production ◽  
Stocking Rates

During the last ten years or so, the management of sheep for intensive lamb production has been studied on a considerable scale, and a variety of grazing systems have been investigated (Dickson, 1959; Cooper, 1959; Spedding & Large, 1959; Boaz, 1959). It is still too soon to specify precisely the place that any of these systems should occupy in sheep-production processes, in relation to breed, lambing percentage, weight of lamb at slaughter, stocking rate, botanical composition of the pasture, size of ewe and level of her milk yield. Quite apart from these biological considerations, the full economic implications are by no means clear. What has emerged most clearly, however, is that much higher stocking rates can be tolerated than had generally been regarded as safe and that, at these stocking rates, productivity can be extremely high.

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