Productivity of grazed Makarikari grass-lucerne, Rhodes grass-lucerne and lucerne pastures in the northern wheat belt of Australia

1983 ◽  
Vol 23 (123) ◽  
pp. 383 ◽  
Author(s):  
DL Lloyd ◽  
JG Nation ◽  
TB Hilder ◽  
PK O'Rourke
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Clay Soil ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Rhodes Grass ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
Chloris Gayana ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Grain Farms ◽  
Better Than

Three Makarikari grasses (Panicum coloratum var. makarikariense) viz. 0.4634, cv. Pollock and cv. Bambatsi and Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) cv. Pioneer, each grown with lucerne (Medicago sativa) cv. Hunter River, and sward lucerne were compared for productivity and stability in a rotational grazing system at three stocking rates (22.2, 14.8 and 7 . 4 Merino wethers/ha for grasslucerne pastures; 14.8, 11.1 and 7.4/ha for lucerne swards) on a cracking clay soil on the Darling Downs, Queensland over four years. There were no differences between the Makarikari grass cvv. Pollock and Bambatsi pastures. However, each produced more dry matter and animal liveweight, and persisted better, than Rhodes grass pasture during dry conditions that occurred during the first two years. Rhodes grass nevertheless recovered during two subsequent wet summers. During those two dry years, wool production from sward lucerne was equal to that of the grass-lucerne pastures at both 14.8 and 7.4 animals/ha. Animal liveweight from lucerne was greater than from grass-lucerne pastures at 7.4 animals/ha only. Wide variation, both between and within seasons, was measured in the quantity of feed produced by pastures in this study. This is discussed in relation to the concept of stocking rate of pasture grown on limited areas of grain farms in the northern wheat belt, and to the provision of a continuing feed supply in integrated crop-pasture systems.

Animal production on sown and native pastures on brigalow land in southern Queensland during drought

1969 ◽  
Vol 9 (36) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
JE Coaldrake ◽  
CA Smith ◽  
JJ Yates ◽  
LA Edye
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
First Year ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Rhodes Grass ◽  
Buffel Grass ◽  
Native Pasture ◽  
Chloris Gayana ◽  
Native Pastures ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Better Than

Liveweight gains of six yearling steers grazing on each of four introduced grasses, each with lucerne, were compared with those from native pasture and native pasture plus forage oats, on a weakly solonized brown clay loam of moderate fertility in the brigalow region of southern Queensland. The pastures were grazed continuously for three years (1963 to 1965) at set stocking rates during the worst drought known from 87 years of local records. At the height of the drought in 1965 the sown pastures supported animals as far into the drought as did the two native pasture treatments at half the stocking rate. Sorghum almum (CV. Crooble) and Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana CV. Pioneer) died late in the drought and did not re-establish after rain, whereas buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris CV. Nunbank) and green panic (Panicm maximum var. trichoglume CV. Petrie) survived. Standing dry matter in the pastures was less than 1,000 lb dry matter an acre for much of the life of the experiment. At a stocking rate of one bullock to 2.3 acres S. almm gave the highest average gain per head in the first full year of grazing (462 lb per head), but this was only significantly better (P<0.05) than the gain from buffel grass, and not significantly better than the gains (at one bullock to 4.6 acres) on native pasture (415 lb per head) and native pasture plus oats (390 lb per head). Rainfall in the first year was 18 inches. In the remaining two years, with 13 and 8 inches of rain respectively, there were no significant differences between the sown pastures until the S. almum and Rhodes grass died. Native pasture plus oats (681 lb per head) and native pasture (424 Ib per head) gave the greatest gain per head in 1964, but not per acre because of the lower stocking rate.

scholarly journals Effect of stocking rate on Rhodes grass-stylo pasture in Northern Guinea Savanna zone of Nigeria 3. Chemical composition

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-244
Author(s):  
O. S. Onifade
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Rhodes Grass ◽  
Northern Guinea Savanna ◽  
Acid Detergent Lignin ◽  
Grazing Period ◽  
Chloris Gayana ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Savanna Zone

A grazing trail was conducted to evaluate the effect of five stocking rates 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 sheep/ha) on the chemical composition of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana)- Stylo (Stylosanthes guinanensis) pastures in Nigeria. The pastures were set stocked for 154-210 days over five grazing periods. Stocking rate had no significant (P>0.05) effect on the crude protein (CP), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium Mg) contents of the pasture components. The concentrations of CP, K and Ca declined as plants matured while the levels of CP, P and Ca in the stewm were short of the recommended levela for rams. Acid detergent lignin (ADL) and fibre (ADF) were not affected by stocking rate but the neutral detergent fibre (NDF) of the components increased with stocking rate. The non-persistence of Style beyond one grazing period lowered the chemical composition of the pasture thus the need to incorporate more persistent legume(s) with the grass.

Rearing of dairy cattle 6. The effect of length of grazing rotation on animal and herbage production in a grazing system for calves and heifers

1975 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Leaver
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Average Growth ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Total Percentage ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Stocking Rates

SUMMARYA rigid system of grazing management was examined for 2 years using rotations of fixed length. Rotations of 21 and 35 days were compared at low (3 calves+ 3 heifers/ha) and high (4 calves+ 4 heifers/ha) stocking rates. The calves and heifers grazed the paddocks on a leader/follower basis.Average growth rates for the 21- and 35-day rotations were respectively 0·75 and 0·78 for calves and 0·78 and 0·83 kg/day for heifers, but these differences were not significant. The 35-day rotation produced 6% more live-weight gain and 4% more herbage dry matter/ha than the 21-day rotation. The high stocking rate produced 14% more live-weight gain but 3% less herbage dry matter/ha than the low stocking rate. The total percentage utilization of herbage dry matter for the whole season was similar for 35- and 21-day rotations, averaging 90%. There were no significant interactions between length of rotation and stocking rate.

Performance of Southern African Digitaria spp. in southern Queensland

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (67) ◽  
pp. 186 ◽  
Author(s):  
RW Strickland
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Mineral Content ◽  
Phosphorus Content ◽  
Clay Soil ◽  
Dry Matter Production ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Rhodes Grass ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Chloris Gayana

Dry matter production and quality of 45 Digitaria accessions were measured over the period 1964-70. In three experiments at Samford, south-east Queensland, the accessions were fertilized with either 336 or 672 kg ha-1 of N a year and cut four-weekly. Both total and cool season production was measured. Highest annual yields were produced by D. smutsii (40,000 kg ha-1), D. macroglossa (37,000 kg ha-1) and D. decumbens (30,000 kg ha-1). D. decumbens yielded up to 5000 kg ha-1 dry matter between May and September compared with up to 6800 kg ha-1 from D. pentzii, 6700 kg ha-1 from D. macroglossa and 6400 kg ha-1 from D. smutsii. In two other experiments persistence and production of nine accessions were compared with those of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) on heavy, gilgaied clay soil at Meandarra, Queensland and with Panicum coloratum var. makarikariense on a shallow, self mulching, sedentary black earth at Southbrook, Queensland. D. decumbens showed the greatest potential for persistence and production at Meandarra and one strain of D. smutsii had the greatest yields at Southbrook. Digestibility and mineral content varied little between species and were generally satisfactory for animal production. Digitaria tended to be higher in phosphorus content than P. coloratum and C. gayana.

Nitrogen-fertilised grass in a subtropical dairy system 3. Effect of stocking rate on the response to nitrogen fertiliser

1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 145 ◽  
Author(s):  
RT Cowan ◽  
KF Lowe ◽  
PC Upton ◽  
TM Bowdler
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Ground Surface ◽  
Yield Response ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Rhodes Grass ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Chloris Gayana ◽  
Low Efficiency ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Friesian Cows

Two stocking rates, one as practised on farms (2 cows/ha) and the other 50% higher, were assessed for effect on pasture and milk yield response to applied nitrogen (N) fertiliser (0-600 kg N/ha. year) for Holstein-~Friesian cows grazing Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) cv. Callide pastures. Pastures were grazed in combination with grazing oats for winter, with overall farm stocking rates of 1.17 and 1.37 cows/ha for ' the 2 treatments. Cows were maintained on these areas for 3 years. Cracked grain was given at 0.8 t/cow. year, and hay or silage supplements were given when green grass yield was <0.5 t dry matter (DM)/ha. The incremental response (P<0.05) in milk yield to each kg increase in level of applied N was 4.93 kg/ha at 1.17 cows/ha and 1.64 kg/ha at 1.37 cows/ha. The amount of conserved forage fed at the high stocking rate increased (530 and 970 kg/ha. year at 1.17 and 1.37 cows/ha), and financial margins over costs were reduced at the high stocking rate. The low milk response at the high stocking rate was associated with a low response in pasture growth. At <2 t pasture DM/ha on offer, incremental response to applied N declined, and there may have been an excessive loss of N through volatilisation in heavily grazed pastures. Milk yield per cow was closely related to total pasture yield on offer (P<0.01), and to leaf and stem yields (P<0.05). Relationships were stronger in summer and autumn than in spring. Over the full year, milk yield increased by 1.24 kg/kg leaf DM or 0.24 kg/kg total pasture DM on offer. At the higher stocking rate, surface soil (0-10 cm) concentrations of phosphorus and nitrate were higher than at the lower stocking rate. We conclude that in areas of moderate rainfall (<1000 mm/year) in the subtropics, high stocking rates resulting in low pasture yields and exposed ground surface will be associated with low efficiency of use of applied N.

scholarly journals Milk yield and composition, feed intake and stocking rate of crossbread cows in tropical grasses managed in a rotational grazing system

2010 ◽  
Vol 39 (7) ◽  
pp. 1548-1557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nelson Massaru Fukumoto ◽  
Julio Cesar Damasceno ◽  
Fermino Deresz ◽  
Carlos Eugênio Martins ◽  
Antônio Carlos Cóser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
The Body ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Grazing System

The objective of this study was to evaluate milk yield and composition, dry matter intake, and stocking rate in pastures with tanzania grass (Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia), star grass (Cynodon nlemfuensis cv. Estrela-Africana), and marandu grass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu). The grasses were managed in a rotational grazing system with Holstein x Zebu crossbreed cows, with a 30-day resting period and three days of paddock occupation. The pastures were fertilized with 1,000 kg/ha/year using the 20:05:20 (NPK) formula, split in three applications during the rainy season. It was used a complete random block experimental design with three factors being studied and two replications. In the experiment, four cows/paddock were used and, when it was necessary, regulator animals were added in order to obtain a supply of 7% body weight green forage dry matter. The animals were individually fed concentrate at 2 kg/day during the experimental period. Milk yield did not differ among the three grasses, with values of 9.1; 9.1; and 8.7 kg/cow/day for pastures with tanzania grass, star grass and marandu grass, respectively. Similarly, grass did not affect milk chemical composition. Stocking rate was similar among the three grasses, with values of 4.6; 4.5 and 5.0 UA/ha for tanzania grass, star grass and marandu grass, respectively. The highest dry matter intake was observed for tanzania grass with 2.6% of the body weight while stargrass (2.3%) and marandu grass (2.4%) did not differ among each other. The highest dry matter intake on tanzania grass pasture was not reflected on milk yield per animal. Milk yield and composition and stocking rate are similar among the evaluated grasses.

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.

Studies on potassium. IV. Interspecific differences in the uptake of non-exchangeable potassium

Soil Research ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
IF Fergus ◽  
AE Martin
Keyword(s):  
Soil Solution ◽  
Clay Soil ◽  
Plant Roots ◽  
Exchangeable Potassium ◽  
Swelling Clay ◽  
Rhodes Grass ◽  
Interspecific Differences ◽  
Chloris Gayana ◽  
Macroptilium Atropurpureum ◽  
Plant Removal

Five soils were cropped with four plant species in pot experiments in the glasshouse, without addition of potassium, until growth virtually ceased, after which the depleted soils were replanted with either the same species, or a different one, to test the reproducibility of the 'exhaustion' conditions imposed. Uptake of potassium by the plants exceeded the changes in exchangeable potassium in four soils; the excess amounts taken up differed markedly between species and these differences were reproducible on replanting. Uptake by setaria (Setaria anceps) and siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum) exceeded that by Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) and lucerne (Medicago sativa), except for one swelling clay soil from which uptake by lucerne equalled that by siratro. Most of the differences between species were attributed to the uptake of initially non-exchangeable potassium, which was removed in significant amounts from three of the soils. For these three soils, uptake from non-exchangeable sources was detected only after about 80% of the exchangeable potassium had been removed. It is postulated that the efficiency of plant removal of non-exchangeable potassium from soil is directly related to the degree to which plant roots can lower the concentration of potassium in the soil solution.

Grazing system and stocking rate effects on the productivity, botanical composition and soil surface characteristics of alfalfa-grass pastures

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 669-676 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Popp ◽  
W. P. McCaughey ◽  
R. D. H. Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Soil Surface ◽  
Surface Characteristics ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Basal Cover ◽  
Grazed Pastures ◽  
Litter Cover ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Stocking Rates

A 4-yr experiment was conducted (1991 to 1994) near Brandon, MB, to determine the effects of grazing system (continuous and rotational) and stocking rate [light (1.1 steers ha−1); heavy (2.2 steers ha−1)] on the productivity, botanical composition and soil surface characteristics of an alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.; approximately 70%), meadow bromegrass (Bromus biebersteinii Roem & Schult.; 25%) and Russian wild ryegrass [Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski; 5%] pasture. Grazing season length was shorter (P < 0.05) for cattle in continuously compared with rotationally stocked pastures in 1991, while in 1993 and 1994 it was shortest (P < 0.05) in heavily stocked continuously grazed pastures. Carrying capacity (steer days ha–1) was greater (P < 0.05) in heavily stocked rotationally grazed pastures compared with other treatments in 1991, 1993 and 1994. In 1992, it was greater (P < 0.05) in heavy than light stocking rate treatments for both rotationally and continuously grazed pastures. Cattle usually gained more (P < 0.05) per day (kg d−1) and during the season (kg hd−1) at light than at heavy stocking rates, while total liveweight production (kg ha−1) was greater (P < 0.05) at heavy than at light stocking rates. Forage production and disappearance did not differ (P > 0.05) within grazing systems and stocking rates from 1991 to 1993, but in 1994, production and disappearance were greater (P < 0.05) at heavy than at light stocking rates. Mean seasonal herbage mass available and carry-over were greater (P < 0.05) in lightly stocked pastures than heavily stocked pastures from 1991 to 1994. After the first year of grazing, the proportion of alfalfa increased (P < 0.05), while grasses declined (P < 0.05) within all grazing treatments. In subsequent years, a trend was observed, where alfalfa declined and grasses increased in all pastures, except those stocked heavily and grazed continuously, which by 1994 had the greatest (P < 0.05) percentage of alfalfa. As years progressed, increases (P < 0.05) in basal cover concurrent with declines in bare ground were recorded on all grazing treatments, while litter cover often did not differ (P > 0.05) within either grazing system or stocking rate, except in 1992, when basal cover was lowest (P < 0.05), while litter cover was greatest (P < 0.05) on lightly stocked continuously grazed pastures compared with other treatments. Stocking rates were a key factor to optimizing individual animal performance and/or gain per hectare on alfalfa grass pastures, however differences in the effect of continuous and rotational stocking on pasture productivity were minimal. Key words: Alfalfa, grazing, stocker cattle, production

The inter-relationships of grazing method and stocking rate in the efficiency of pasture utilization by dairy cattle

1963 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. P. McMeekan ◽  
M. J. Walshe
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Vanishing Point ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Stocking Rates

1. A large-scale grazing management study comparing rotational grazing and continuous grazing with dairy cows at two stocking rates over four complete production seasons is described.2. The four treatments were: (i) controlled grazing, light stocking rate; (ii) controlled grazing, heavy stocking rate; (iii) uncontrolled grazing, light stocking rate; (iv) uncontrolled grazing, heavy stocking rate.Each treatment involved 40 cows for a first 2-year phase and 42 cows for the following 2 years. Each herd had a normal age distribution pattern and seven 2-year-old first lactation heifers (17% of total herd) were introduced each year to maintain this pattern.3. Stocking rate was the more important factor affecting the efficiency of pasture utilization as measured by per acre output of milk and butterfat. In general, high stocking was associated with higher outputs per acre despite lower yields per animal.4. Grazing method was of less importance. In general, controlled rotational grazing was superior to uncontrolled continuous grazing, both per animal and per acre, but the average influence even of these extremes of management was only half that of stocking rate.5. Significant interactions between stocking rate and grazing method existed. Under continuous grazing a point was reached where production per acre declined to the vanishing point with increased stocking rate due to excessive depression of per cow yield: this point was not reached under rotational grazing at the same high stocking levels.6. The results suggest that optimum stocking rate under rotational grazing occurs at a level some 5–10% higher than under continuous grazing. A depression of 10–12% in per cow yield, compared with more lenient grazing, corresponds with optimum stocking level irrespective of the grazing system. This estimate is suggested as a guide line in applying the principles involved.

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