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.

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.

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.

Pasture production of two cultivars of Trifolium subterraneum at Kybybolite, South Australia

1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 611 ◽  
Author(s):  
AD Craig
Keyword(s):  
South Australia ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Biochanin A ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Seedling Density ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Seed Reserves ◽  
Seed Yields ◽  
Stocking Rates

Two cultivars of subterranean clover, Trikkala and Mt Barker, were continuously grazed by Merino ewes and lambs at 3 stocking rates (8, 13, and 18 ewes/ha) from 1976 to 198 1. The pastures were assessed for clover seedling density, pasture availability and composition, seed reserves, and oestrogen content. Trikkala produced consistently higher seed yields than Mt Barker, with an average yield 3.36 times that of Mt Barker by January 1981 (1178 v. 350 kg/ka). The higher Trikkala seed yields resulted in improved clover seedling densities and increased amounts of clover in the pastures. At the last assessment (8 September 1980) there was an average of 3.15 times more clover in the Trikkala pastures than in the Mt Barker pastures (469 v. 149 kg/ha). Trikkala produced more total available pasture than Mt Barker, at several samplings, because the contribution of subterranean clover to total available pasture was greater after September 1978. The formononetin, genistein and biochanin A content of both cultivars decreased with increasing stocking rate. The most consistent effects were observed in genistein content, with reductions occurring in 7 of the 11 samplings.

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.

Levels of germinable seed in topsoil and cattle faeces in legume-grass and nitrogen-fertilized pastures in south-east Queensland

1991 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 953 ◽  
Author(s):  
RM Jones ◽  
M Noguchi ◽  
GA Bunch
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Heavy Grazing ◽  
Seed Content ◽  
Setaria Sphacelata ◽  
Seed Reserves ◽  
Cattle Faeces ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Germinable Seed

Measurements were made of germinable seed of all species in the top 5 cm of soil beneath 9 paddocks in an 11-year-old pasture experiment in south-east Queensland. The experiment comprised two pasture types grazed by cattle: legume-grass (Macroptilium atropurpureum- Setaria sphacelata) pastures grazed at four stocking rates and nitrogen fertilized S. sphacelata pastures grazed at five stocking rates. Levels of germinable seed in the soil varied with pasture type and stocking rate and ranged from 6760 to 45480 seeds/m2. Seed reserves increased on the legume-grass pastures as stocking rate increased. Fifty-seven different plant species were identified from the seedlings grown from the soil seed reserve. For 11 of these species, which contributed 70% of the seed reserves, there were significant trends in relation to pasture type and/or stocking rate. The only species where seed reserves significantly decreased with increasing stocking rate were the two sown species. Cattle faeces were also collected from lightly and heavily stocked legume-grass and nitrogen-fertilized pastures in spring, summer, autumn and winter. Germinable seed contents of all species were measured. Seed content of faeces was higher in the summer and autumn than in the winter and spring samplings, and in the heavily stocked than in the lightly stocked pastures. The highest content recorded was 20.5 germinable seeds g-1 faecal dry matter. The species with the highest germinable seed content in faeces were Digitaria didactyla, Axonopus affinis and Eleusine indica, the latter being restricted to nitrogen-fertilized pastures. Seed dissemination in faeces is a factor contributing to the invasiveness of prostrate perennial grasses such as D. didactyla and A. affinis under heavy grazing.

Persistence and growth of Lotononis bainesii–Digitaria decumbens pastures: 1. Sheep stocking rate

1983 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Pott ◽  
L. R. Humphreys
Keyword(s):  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Digitaria Decumbens ◽  
Heavy Grazing ◽  
Cotton South ◽  
Seed Reserves ◽  
Stocking Rates

SUMMARYSheep were grazed for 2 years at stocking rates of 7, 14, 21 and 28/ha on a pasture comprising Lotononis bainesii and Digitaria decumbens cv. Pangola at Mt Cotton, south–east Queensland. There were six replicates of each treatment grazed in rotation with 3 days' grazing followed by 15 days' rest.The initial dominance of lotononis was lost after 6 months of grazing and lotononis failed to persist satisfactorily at any stocking rate. Demographic studies showed that lotononis behaved as a short-lived plant, predominantly annual, with some vegetative perennation as stolon-rooted units under heavy grazing. Soil seed reserves varied from 5800 to 400 m2 at the lightest and heaviest stocking rates respectively. Lotononis failed to regenerate under Pangola shading or inopportune high grazing pressure. Soil bulk density (0–7 cm) increased from 1·2 to 1·4 g/cm3 according to stocking rate.

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.

Levels of total nitrogen and total volatile fatty acids in the rumen fluid of sheep under different grazing management systems

1967 ◽  
Vol 7 (28) ◽  
pp. 434
Author(s):  
WR McManus
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Stocking Rates

Concentrations of total nitrogen and total volatile fatty acids in the rumen fluid of sheep grazing improved pastures were measured for ten months in a dry year on the southern tablelands of New South Wales, and the concentrations of nitrogen and volatile fatty acids (V.F.A.) were related to season, wool production, and grazing management. The observations were made during two long-term grazing management experiments. In the first experiment four groups of breeding Merino ewes grazed a Wimmera ryegrass-subterranean clover (Lolium rigidum Gaud.-Trifolium subterraneum L.) pasture. A deferred grazing system (autumn saving) of pasture management was compared with continuous grazing at stocking rate treatments equivalent to 7.0 and 3.5 ewes to the acre. In the second experiment two groups of Merino weaners grazed a Phalaris tuberosa-subterranean clover pasture at a stocking rate equivalent to 8.6 sheep to the acre. One group received a hay supplement, the other did not. In both experiments nitrogen values were low between late autumn and mid-winter and again between late spring and summer, and high in early autumn and again in spring (P<0.05). The low levels were about 55 per cent of peak autumn and spring levels in (experiment 1) and 60 per cent of peak autumn and spring levels in (experiment 2). Total V.F.A. did not vary significantly between seasons in either experiment. At the higher stocking rate the ewes had lower levels of rumen total nitrogen than at the lower stocking rate. V.F.A. did not vary consistently between stocking rates. At both stocking rates ewes on the autumn saving system of grazing management had more nitrogen in the rumen fluid during late pregnancy and early lactation than did those on the continuous grazing system (P<0.001). After the ewes had access to the saved pasture, autumn saving resulted in a higher concentration of volatile fatty acids than continuous grazing (P< 0.05). Although feeding a hay supplement benefited the weaners the concentrations of total nitrogen in the rumen fluid of the two groups of sheep were similar. There was a fairly consistent tendency for the group receiving hay to have lower concentrations of volatile fatty acids in their rumen fluid. Possible reasons for these effects are discussed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document