Performance of breeding ewes on lucerne-subterranean clover pastures

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 758 ◽  
Author(s):  
DG Hall ◽  
EC Wolfe ◽  
BR Cullis
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Wagga Wagga ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Sheep Production ◽  
Lamb Growth

Pasture production, ewe and lamb growth, ewe wool production and diet quality were studied on lucerne-subterranean clover pastures at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. Lucerne was sown at rates of 0.75 to 3.0 kg/ha, and the pastures were rotationally grazed with Border Leicester x Merino ewes at 9.6 or 12.7 sheep/ha, the ewes lambing in August- September. Lucerne density declined by 45% over the 3 years on all treatments. The clover cultivar sown, Woogenellup, had low persistence, particularly at 12.7 sheep/ha. The density of lucerne had little effect on annual wool and lamb production, although the ewes grew faster on the denser lucerne in summer and the sparser lucerne in winter. At 12- 7 sheep/ha, there was an extra 19% total lamb weight by the end of November and an extra 22% of finer wool (1 �m) annually, but the fleeces had a higher proportion of wool tenderness. The major limitations of the lucerne-subterranean clover pastures to sheep production were the low quality of the diet in early summer, and low pasture production in late winter. In early summer the lucerne was rapidly consumed, leaving only moderate quality clover and grass residues, which limited lamb growth, while in winter pregnancy toxaemia occurred, fleeces were tender and wool growth was low, particularly during a drought in 1976.

Beef production from lucerne and subterranean clover pastures. 1. The effects of pasture, stocking rate and supplementary feeding

1980 ◽  
Vol 20 (107) ◽  
pp. 678 ◽  
Author(s):  
EC Wolfe ◽  
RD FitzGerald ◽  
DG Hall ◽  
OR Southwood
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Development ◽  
New South ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Supplementary Feeding ◽  
Wagga Wagga ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
South Wales ◽  
June July

The production and management of weaner steers on two pasture types were studied over 3 years at Wagga Wagga in southern New South Wales. One pasture (LC) was sown with a mixture of lucerne (Medicago sativa) and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) and the other (C) was sown only with subterranean clover. On each pasture the management treatments were 1.3 and 2.0 steers ha-' in 1975, and 2.1 and 3.0 steers ha-1 in 1976 and 1977, with a grain supplement at the heavier stocking rate in all years. Each year, steers gained more liveweight in February-March or April-May on LC than on C, and this advantage was maintained or increased until slaughter in the following January. The faster growth of steers on lucerne-clover was always associated with an increased supply of green herbage. Annual liveweight gain on LC exceeded that on C by 20-30 kg/head in 1975 and 1977, and by up to 90 kg/head in 1976, when the rainfall pattern was unsuitable for clover growth. Carcases from steers on LC were heavier (all years), covered with a greater depth of fat (1 975 and 1976) and showed better eye muscle development (1 76 and 1977) than those on C. In 1975, neither stocking rate nor supplementary feeding affected liveweight or carcase development. In the following 2 years, increasing the stocking rate from 2 to 3 steers ha-1 reduced annual liveweight gains by 35-40 kg/head. Oat grain supplements (2-3 kg/head day-1 in February-March, June-July and December-January) improved weight gains and carcase quality on both pasture types in 1977, but only on C in 1976

Effect of gypsum on establishment, persistence and productivity of lucerne and annual pasture legumes on two grey Vertosols in southern New South Wales

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 435 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. S. Dear ◽  
M. B. Peoples ◽  
R. C. Hayes ◽  
A. D. Swan ◽  
K. Y. Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Legume Seed ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Annual Legumes ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Seed Yields ◽  
Pasture Yield

Changes in pasture yield and botanical composition due to gypsum application were examined on Vertosols at two locations of differing soil sodicity, Grogan and Morangarell, in southern New South Wales. Two pasture treatments were examined. One was an annual pasture comprised of 3 annual legumes (2 subterranean clover Trifolium subterraneum L. cultivars, Clare and Riverina, and balansa clover T. michelianum Savi cv. Paradana), while the second treatment consisted of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) cv. Aquarius sown in a mixture with the same annual legumes. Gypsum had no effect on the establishment or persistence of lucerne at either site. Gypsum increased the number of subterranean clover seedlings present in autumn in annual swards at the more sodic Grogan site in each of the 4 years, but provided no difference when the clover was in a mixture with lucerne. Annual legume seed yields in annual-only swards increased with gypsum by up to 58% at Grogan and 38% at Morangarell. Seed yields of both cultivars of subterranean clover declined as a proportion of the total annual legume seed bank when lucerne was included in the mixture, in contrast to balansa clover (at Grogan) and the naturalised annual legumes, burr medic (M. polymorpha L.) and woolly clover (T. tomentosum L.), which all increased in relative seed yield in the presence of lucerne. Total pasture production at the Grogan site increased with gypsum by up to 15% per annum in annual swards and 36% in lucerne swards depending on the season. Yield responses to gypsum by the lucerne component were observed in 10 of the 13 seasonal yield measurements taken at Grogan. However, total pasture yield and seasonal yields were unaffected by both gypsum and pasture type at the less sodic Morangarell site. It was concluded that sowing a diverse mixture of annual legumes or polycultures was conducive to maintaining productive pastures on these spatially variable soils. Lucerne dried the soil profile (0.15–1.15 m) more than annual pastures at both sites. The combination of gypsum and lucerne enhanced water extraction at depth (0.6–1.15 m) at the Grogan site increasing the size of the dry soil buffer whereas gypsum increased soil water at depth (>0.6 m) under annual swards.

Assessment of the phosphorus and sulphur status of subterranean clover pastures. 2. Soil tests

1969 ◽  
Vol 9 (38) ◽  
pp. 320 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Spencer ◽  
D Bouma ◽  
DV Moye
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Soil Tests ◽  
Test Procedures ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Extractable P ◽  
Yield Responses

Values obtained by a number of established soil test procedures for phosphorus and sulphur were correlated with yield responses to addition of the relevant nutrient, by subterranean clover-based pastures at 21 sites in south-eastern New South Wales. Colwell's bicarbonate-soluble P and Bray's P, phosphorus values showed sufficiently close associations with response to added phosphorus to be useful for predictive purposes ; Bray's P, values generally gave smaller coefficients. In general, the pasture on soils testing less than 25 p.p.m. bicarbonate-extractable P in the surface three inches responded appreciably to applied phosphorus (relative yields were <85 per cent). The corresponding value for the Bray P, procedure was 10 p.p.m. P. Soil samples from 0-1, 0-3, and 3-6 inch depths gave similar correlations with response. The time of soil sampling did not affect the relationships but winter pasture production was not as closely related to soil test values as was spring production. By contrast, soil tests for sulphur were not reliable but some discrimination between soils could be made with a 500 p.p.m. phosphate extraction. Values from soil samples collected in the winter were less closely related to response than were values from samples collected in the autumn.

The winter production of some strains of subterranean clover grown in defoliated swards

1983 ◽  
Vol 23 (121) ◽  
pp. 140 ◽  
Author(s):  
WJ Collins ◽  
RC Rossiter ◽  
EC Wolfe
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Growth Habit ◽  
New South ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Field Evaluation ◽  
The Other ◽  
Wagga Wagga ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Moisture Supply

The results of two experiments are reported, one at Perth, Western Australia, in an open-sided glass shelter, and the other at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, in the open. Clover swards were grown in boxes and after about one month were subjected to weekly, close defoliation. Two strains that differ in growth habit, Woogenellup (relatively erect) and Esperance (compact, lowgrowing), were used in both experiments. In addition, strain 209.8.19.1 (a crossbred similar to Esperance) was included at Perth, and Nungarin, Yarloop and Larisa at Wagga Wagga. The main finding was that winter production differed little, if at all, between the strains. The relevance of the results to the field evaluation of clover strains is emphasized, and we suggest that under good conditions of moisture supply, nutrition, plant density, etc., substantial differences between strains in winter production are unlikely

Beef production from lucerne and subterranean clover pastures. 3. Composition and quality of the diet selected

1980 ◽  
Vol 20 (107) ◽  
pp. 695 ◽  
Author(s):  
DG Hall ◽  
RD FitzGerald ◽  
EC Wolfe ◽  
BR Cullis
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Nitrogen Content ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Late Autumn ◽  
Nitrogen Levels ◽  
South Wales

During 1976 and 1977 in southern New South Wales, diet samples were obtained at approximately 3-week intervals from oesophageally fistulated steers grazing a lucerne (Medicago sativa) and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) pasture (LC) and a subterranean clover (C) pasture. On LC, green lucerne was the predominant diet component for much of the 2 years. On C, the diet consisted mainly of dry material during a drought in autumn-winter 1976, green wireweed (Polygonurn aviculare) until late autumn 1977, green clover and grass in winter and spring 1977, and finally dry material again. During 1976 and early 1977, diets on LC had a higher digestibility (61.7% vs 49.4%) and nitrogen content (2.55% vs 2.04%) than those on C. This difference was due to the contribution of lucerne on LC, and also because the wireweed on C was of very low quality, even when green. During the latter part of 1977, LC and C had equivalent digestibility and nitrogen levels. The information on the diets helped explain changes in liveweight and the incidence of bloat of cattle grazing the plots.

scholarly journals The effect of pasture species on pasture and animal performances in irrigated systems

2000 ◽  
pp. 59-66
Author(s):  
R.A. Moss ◽  
T.J. Fraser ◽  
M.J. Daly ◽  
T.L. Knight ◽  
D.G. Carson
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
First Year ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Sheep Production ◽  
Animal Performances ◽  
Buying In ◽  
Lamb Growth ◽  
Improved Pasture ◽  
Animal Production System

The effect of two contrasting forage supply options on forage and sheep production was evaluated on irrigated farmlet systems at Winchmore, mid Canterbury, over 3 years. One system was based on perennial ryegrass pastures (Control), and the other on hybrid ryegrass, tall fescue, and chicory pastures (Improved). Pasture growth rates were similar for all pasture types, however, pasture cover was on occasion, higher on the Control than Improved systems ensuring this system was self-sufficient in feed while the Improved system had a deficit averaging 714 kgDM/ha/yr. Swards on both systems contained similar proportions of legume but the Improved system contained less grass and more chicory before lamb grazing. Despite the apparent improvement in feed quality of the Improved system, its lamb performance was greater than that from the Control system for the first year only, when swards were newly established and contained greater proportions of chicory and legume. Although pasture production was similar between years there was considerable variation in lamb growth rates. This was most pronounced in the Improved system where pre-weaning rates averaged 266 and 216 g/d in years 1 and 3 respectively, and post-weaning rates 190 and 108 in years 1 and 2 respectively. The post-weaning variation appeared to coincide with fluctuations in clover and to an even greater extent, the chicory content of swards, the proportion of which declined as seasons progressed and pastures aged. The Improved system gave financial returns from lamb that were $49/ha higher than the Control in year 1 but offered no advantage in subsequent years. Compared to the Control, the Improved system had the added costs of more frequent pasture renewal and was further disadvantaged by a feed deficit necessitating buying-in supplies. Improvements anticipated to accrue from the inclusion of higher quality swards in an irrigated animal production system, were not supported by findings from this study. Keywords: irrigation, lamb production, pasture production, pasture quality, pasture species

A long-term study of superphosphate and stocking rate on sheep production and plant and soil characteristics in central west New South Wales

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 433 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Lloyd Davies ◽  
J. D. McFarlane ◽  
O. L. P. de Oliveira ◽  
G. W. King ◽  
J. W. James
Keyword(s):  
Soil Ph ◽  
New South ◽  
Soil Phosphorus ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Sheep Production

Summary. The effect of 4 rates of superphosphate application (250 kg/ha. year, 125 kg/ha. year, 125 kg/ha every 2 years or 125 kg/ha every 4 years) and a low and high stocking rate (3.6 and 5.4 ewes/ha, 1980–86; and 4.0 and 7.0 ewes/ha, 1986–89) on sheep liveweight, fleece weight, lamb weaning weight, pasture production and botanical composition, soil pH, soil phosphorus, manganese and aluminium concentrations were measured on a Phalaris aquatica–subterranean clover pasture at Stuart Town, New South Wales. Only when 250 kg/ha of superphosphate had been applied annually was there a higher level of soil phosphorus than with the other 3 systems. None of the treatments affected soil pH, soil manganese or aluminium. There were large year effects and individual plot effects on pasture and sheep production but neither the superphosphate rates nor stocking rate significantly affected pasture or animal production. It was concluded that over a 9-year period the application of 125 kg/ha in alternate years can maintain adequate soil phosphorus levels, and satisfactory pasture and animal production on the central tablelands of New South Wales.

Comparison of the performance of subterranean clover cultivars in southern New South Wales. 1. Persistence, productivity, and seed yields

1993 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 581 ◽  
Author(s):  
BS Dear ◽  
PD Cregan ◽  
GM Murray
Keyword(s):  
Seed Set ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Wagga Wagga ◽  
Hard Seed ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Seed Reserves ◽  
Seed Yields

The density, productivity, flowering characteristics, and seed reserves of 14 lines (10 cultivars and 4 experimental lines) of subterranean clover were observed over 5 years (1983-87) on a red earth soil at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. Plant density increased from 149-318 plants/m2 in 1983 to 1975-13925 plants/m'n 1987. Herbage yields of all cultivars during autumn-winter were similar in most years except in July 1985 when Seaton Park was superior. Cultivars in the midseason or later flowering groups were more productive in late spring and better able to utilise the extended growing seasons that occur periodically in this environment. The mean time from emergence to 5% flowering of all cultivars was 168 days with March germination in 1985 but decreased to 13.5 days with May germination in 1986. The number of days to flowering at Wagga Wagga was highly correlated with maturity ranking at Perth (r2 = 0.92 in 1985 and? = 0.93 in 1986). In the first year, average seed set was 295 kg seed/ha. but by summer of the fourth year the seed pool ranged from 124 kg/ha for Clare to 1190 kg/ha for Nungarin, the earliest flowering cultivar. The quantity of hard seed that carried over to the next year varied significantly between cultivars, with Enfield, Woogenellup, and Clare having the least, and Nungarin, Northam, Dalkeith, and Daliak the most. Seed set was related to maturity ranking only in 1984, although root disease probably affected seed yields in 1985-86. The proportion of hard seed that carried over was much higher than expected, particularly in soft-seeded cultivars. The newly released cultivar Junee was well adapted to the environment; it was later maturing than the recommended cultivar Seaton Park but was able to maintain high seed reserves. Karridale, another new cultivar, maintained higher seed reserves than the older Mount Barker.

Prime lamb production in relation to time of mating

1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Freer ◽  
JR Donnelly ◽  
A Axelsen ◽  
H Dove ◽  
DG Fowler
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Daily Weight Gain ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Individual Productivity ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
First 90 Days ◽  
Lamb Growth

Over 3 years, we examined the possible benefits of moving the joining date from mid March to early February for the productivity of a prime lamb system based on Border Leicester x Merino ewes on the southern tablelands of New South Wales. The proportion of ewes with >1 lamb (fertility) was affected more by year and by age of ewe than by joining date. The mean proportion of fertile ewes with >1 lamb (fecundity) was reduced from 0.28 to 0.15 at the earlier date, while immunisation against androstenedione increased fecundity at both mating times to 0.42 but significantly reduced fertility in the earlier group. Over the 3 years, the earlier joining produced 12 fewer lambs per 100 ewes mated and immunisation increased lamb number by 17, but flushing (for 3 weeks with sunflower meal) had no significant effect. Immunisation did not have a consistently greater effect at the earlier joining. Groups of these ewes, balanced for fetus number, grazed at 6.5, 10, or 13 per ha on pastures based on phalaris and subterranean clover. Ewe liveweight after lambing, lamb birth weight, and perinatal mortality were not affected by joining date, but mean daily weight gain by later born lambs over the first 90 days of life was 44 g greater than for earlier born lambs. However, earlier joining enabled 17 more lambs per 100 ewes to reach a marketable weight of 31 kg within the pasture season. Twins grew more slowly and relatively few reached sale weight. With a mean 1.4 lambs per ewe, the optimum stocking rate on these pastures appeared to be 6.5-10 ewes/ha. Superphosphate application to half of the experimental area, after 17 years without treatment, increased pasture weight, lamb growth rate, and numbers sold. The increase was such that a treated pasture could have carried an extra 3 ewes/ha without depression in individual productivity, relative to an untreated pasture. Supplementation of ewes in late pregnancy and early lactation benefited only twin lambs at the higher stocking rates. The results suggest that a prime lamb system in this environment is more likely to succeed with the earlier joining date. The lower lambing percentage, resulting from a decrease in fecundity, is likely to be of benefit, rather than detriment, to the efficiency of a system in which single- and twin-bearing ewes and their lambs are given equivalent treatment.

Effect of herbicide and application of superphosphate and subterranean clover seed on regeneration of vulpia in pastures

1997 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 431 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Dowling ◽  
A. R. Leys ◽  
B. Plater
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Wagga Wagga ◽  
Permanent Pasture ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Clover Seed ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact

Summary. The annual grass vulpia has become one of the main weed problems in permanent pasture and cropping areas across southern Australia. The effect of herbicides and management (application of superphosphate and subterranean clover seed) on regeneration of vulpia in pasture was evaluated over a 2 year period at 6 sites in central and southern New South Wales (Beckom, Wagga Wagga, Eugowra, Bathurst, Holbrook and Millthorpe) during 1989–91. Four herbicide strategies (nil, spraytopping with paraquat in spring 1989, winter cleaning with simazine in winter 1990, and spraytopping with paraquat in spring 1989 followed by winter cleaning with simazine in 1990) were evaluated at a low (no added superphosphate or subterranean clover seed) and high level (250 kg/ha additional superphosphate applied in autumn 1989 and again in autumn 1990, plus 10 kg/ha subterranean clover seed broadcast in 1989) of management. Herbicides decreased the incidence of vulpia (as assessed from seedling density and pasture composition measurements) at low and high levels of management, with simazine and the combined paraquat plus simazine treatment providing more effective control than paraquat. The population of vulpia, however, increased rapidly on both the simazine and paraquat treatments with time. On the paraquat plots, this resulted in a similar or greater vulpia density as the unsprayed control within 2 years of application. The higher level of management encouraged greater density of subterranean clover and nitrophilous species (e.g. barley grass where present), resulting in greater competition against vulpia, and extending the period of control conferred initially by the herbicides. Control of vulpia over the longer term will require integration of herbicides with other management strategies (e.g. superphosphate, additional seed, careful grazing management). Such an approach needs to be implemented on a more regular basis than is currently practised if the impact of vulpia in pastures is to be minimised.

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