Influence of the Biomass, Botanical Composition and Sward Height of Annual Pastures on Foraging Behaviour by Sheep

1987 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 759 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. Arnold
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Sward Height

scholarly journals Foraging behaviour and performance of steers from two local breeds (Asturian Valley and Asturian Mountain) grazing in Cantabrian (N Spain) summer pastures

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. e0601
Author(s):  
Alicia Román-Trufero ◽  
Antonio Martínez ◽  
Luis M. M. Ferreira ◽  
Valentín García-Prieto ◽  
Rocío Rosa-García ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Market Demand ◽  
Nutrient Requirements ◽  
Northern Spain ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
And Performance

Steer meat production in northern Spain is deficient to attend market demand. This research aimed to compare the foraging behaviour and production of yearling steers from two local breeds differing in body weight (BW), Asturian Valley (AV, 372 kg) and Asturian Mountain (AM, 307 kg), grazing in summer pastures consisting of 70% grassland and 30% heathland. Bodyweight gains from a total of 42 steers were recorded during four grazing seasons (from June to October). In two years, in July and September, plant community selection and diet composition were estimated by direct observation and using faecal markers, respectively. Grazing time increased from July to September (488 vs. 557 min/day; p<0.001) as sward height in the grassland decreased. Although AV steers grazed proportionally for longer on herbaceous pastures than AM steers (81.3 vs. 73.3%; p<0.05), no differences between breeds were found in diet composition. AM steers showed greater mean daily BW gains than AV steers (252 vs. 133 g/day; p<0.01). From June to August, steers from both breeds gained BW (487 vs. 360 g/day for AM and AV, respectively; p<0.01), but thereafter BW gains decreased (120 vs. –12 g/day for AM and AV, respectively; p<0.05), because of reduced availability of grassland herbage. Yearling steers from AM breed seem to be better suited to mountain conditions than those from AV breed, probably because of their smaller body size and lower total nutrient requirements for maintenance.

Defoliation pattern, foraging behaviour and diet selection by lactating dairy cows in response to sward height and herbage allowance of a ryegrass-dominated pasture

2003 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Tharmaraj ◽  
W. J. Wales ◽  
D. F. Chapman ◽  
A. R. Egan
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Diet Selection ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows

scholarly journals Persistence of ryegrass, tall fescue and cocksfoot following sequential annual sowings: pasture yield, composition and density in 3 establishment years under sheep grazing in Canterbury

2018 ◽  
pp. 169-176
Author(s):  
Thomas M R Maxwell ◽  
Grant R Edwards ◽  
Gerald P Cosgrove
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Long Term Effect ◽  
Forage Value

A long-term pasture persistence trial, consisting of repeated annual sowings, commenced in Canterbury in 2015 and is planned to continue until 2024. Preliminary results of the first 3 years sowings are reported. Each annual sowing used the same randomised block design of eight perennial ryegrass cultivars, one tall fescue and one cocksfoot cultivar, replicated four times. Grasses were drilled into a cultivated seedbed in autumn, with white clover broadcast-sown, then rolled with a Cambridge roller. Except for one 3-week spell in spring and in autumn to accumulate herbage to measure DM yield, botanical composition, morphology and sward density, plots were continuously stocked with sheep to maintain a 3-8 cm sward height from late-August to late-May. Results from the first 12 months following each of the three annual sowings (2015, 2016 and 2017) indicate establishment year had a greater influence on DM yield, botanical composition, grass leaf and stem proportions, and basal cover than did grass species or cultivar. Accumulating data from successive annual sowings and continued monitoring of each will help identify the long-term effect and difference between establishment years, as well as grass persistence traits for inclusion in the Forage Value Index ranking of perennial ryegrass cultivars.

scholarly journals Foraging behaviour of wild impala (Aepyceros melampus ) and Burchell's zebra (Equus burchelli ) in relation to sward height

2017 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 334-341
Author(s):  
Shem M. Mwasi ◽  
Ignas M. A. Heitkönig ◽  
Sipke E. Van Wieren ◽  
Herbert H. T. Prins
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Equus Burchelli ◽  
Aepyceros Melampus

Sward botanical composition and sward quality affect the foraging behaviour of free-range laying hens

2014 ◽  
Vol 150 ◽  
pp. 27-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Breitsameter ◽  
Matthias Gauly ◽  
Johannes Isselstein
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Free Range

scholarly journals Forage mass, botanical composition and stocking density of bermudagrass overseeded with forage legumes

Revista CERES ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 500-506
Author(s):  
Amanda Nunes Assis dos Anjos ◽  
Clair Jorge Olivo ◽  
Denise Pereira Leme ◽  
Priscila Flôres Aguirre ◽  
Franciane de Almeida Pires ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Design ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Forage Legumes ◽  
Common Vetch ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Conventional Production ◽  
Grazing Systems

ABSTRACT Pastures of the genus Cynodon are being cultivated alone in conventional production with high rates of nitrogen fertilizer. Information and research about its use on mixed-pasture system is scarce. The objective of this study was to evaluate three grazing systems with coastcross-1 (CC) + 100 kg N ha-1 year-1 + common vetch; CC + 100 kg N ha-1 year-1 + arrowleaf clover; and CC + 200 kg N ha-1 year-1. The experiment was carried out from May 2013 to April 2014. The sward height, forage mass, botanical composition, leaf:stem ratio, and animal stocking density were evaluated. Experimental design was completely randomized with three treatments (grazing systems) and three replicates (paddocks) in completely split-plot time (grazing cycles). The average stocking rate was 7.0, 6.8, 6.8 cows ha-1 day-1 for the respective forage systems. Better results were found with coastcross-1 mixed with common vetch + 100 kg N ha-1 year-1 in winter and spring and coastcross-1 alone + 200 kg N ha-1 year-1 in autumn.

Seasonal changes in quality and botanical composition of a rotationally grazed grass-legume pasture in southern Ontario

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Marshall ◽  
C. P. Campbell ◽  
J. G. Buchanan-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
System A ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Pasture Quality ◽  
Acid Detergent Fibre ◽  
Dead Material ◽  
Degradable Protein

Seasonal changes in quality and botanical composition of a grass-legume pasture were investigated under a controlled rotationally grazed system. A 19.2-ha area divided into sixteen 1.2-ha fields, each subdivided into eight paddocks, was grazed by 40 cows with calves over three consecutive summers. Grazing was managed by setting target sward heights for exit of each paddock between 8 and 10 cm and allowing at least 25 to 30 d for regrowth. Herbage growth in those paddocks not grazed by cow-calf pairs was consumed by yearling heifers on a "put and take" basis. Paddocks were topclipped at 10 cm and fertilized with 34 kg ha−1 of N immediately following the second grazing cycle. Botanical composition changed both within and among the grazing seasons. Legume content of the pasture increased (P < 0.05) throughout the grazing season, while grass content declined (P < 0.05) across all 3 yr. The amount of weeds and dead material averaged 8.9 and 3.8%, respectively, over the 3 yr. Crude protein (CP), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), soluble protein (% total CP), rumen degradable protein (RDP) (%total CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) decreased (P < 0.05) from May to June in each season and then increased (P < 0.05) to or surpassed levels seen at the beginning of the grazing seasons (May). Neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) content increased (P < 0.05) during June and July and were lowest in the spring and the fall across all 3 yr. Mean entry sward heights were 24.8, 30.3 and 28.1 cm for years 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Pre-grazing sward height was negatively correlated to CP (n = 786, r = −0.38, P < 0.0001) and IVOMD (n = 786, r = −045, P < 0.0001), but positively related to NDF (n = 786, r = 0.43, P < 0.0001) and ADF (n = 786, r = 0.68, P < 0.0001) across all 3 yr. The highest CP and IVOMD of the pasture were measured at a sward height of between 12 and 15 cm. Pasture quality varied both within and across all three grazing seasons but remained relatively high and was influenced by botanical composition and sward surface height. Key words: Pasture, quality, botanical composition, grass-legume

The effect of herbage allowance of Lotus pedunculatus cv. Grasslands Maku on winter and spring beef heifer performance

2002 ◽  
pp. 81-84
Author(s):  
P. Soca ◽  
W. Ayala ◽  
R. Bermudez
Keyword(s):  
Farming Systems ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Cattle Production ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Beef Heifer ◽  
Beef Cattle Production ◽  
Lotus Pedunculatus ◽  
Angus Heifers

Beef cattle production in Uruguay is limited by heifer mating age when grazing natural pastures. Lotus pedunculatus cv. Grasslands Maku is a forage species that was recently introduced to Uruguayan farming systems, with high potential to improve herbage production in acid and low fertility soils. This paper provides information about winter and spring performance of Hereford x Angus heifers grazing an improved Lotus pedunculatus cv. Grasslands Maku pasture when fed at different pasture allowances. Four pasture allowances (3, 5, 10 and 16 kg DM/100 kg animal liveweight/day) from June 30 to October 9 (P1) followed by one pasture allowance of 9 kg DM/100 kg animal liveweight/day from October 9 to November 28 (P2), were assigned to 9 months old Hereford x Angus heifers weighing 129 kg. Measurements included herbage mass, botanical composition, pasture growth rate, sward height and animal liveweight. Liveweight gains were evaluated using a repeated measurement model in time. Pasture mass decreased from 4000 kg DM/ha to 1100, 1050, 1350 and 2000 kg DM/ha for the herbage allowances of 3, 5, 10 and 16% respectively during P1. Legume content at the end of P1 was 550, 400, 700 and 700 kg DM/ha for 3, 5, 10 and 16% of total pasture mass respectively. Herbage mass increased by 328 kg DM/ha per cm sward height (P

The response of spring calving cows and their calves to sward height

1986 ◽  
Vol 1986 ◽  
pp. 105-105
Author(s):  
I.A. Wright ◽  
A.J.F. Russel
Keyword(s):  
Soil Structure ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Management Decisions ◽  
Objective Criterion ◽  
Sward Height

There is a need to introduce objectivity into the management of grassland under continuous stocking so that management decisions can be taken in response to changing conditions, and at the same time allow the consequence of these decision to be predictable. There is much interest in using sward height as an objective criterion by which to manage grassland under continuous stocking. An experiment was conducted to examine the performance of spring calving cows and their calves when continuously grazing swards maintained at a range of sward heights.Initially nine cows (four Hereford x Friesian and five Blue-Grey) and their Charolais cross calves which had been born in March - April were turned out in mid-May to each of five sward surface height treatments. Treatments 1, 3 and 5 were one field and Treatments 2 and 4 in another. The botanical composition of each treatment is shown in Table 1. Sward length was measured twice weekly using the H.F.R.O. Swardstick, and maintained by the addition and removal of non-experimental cows and calves. Because of excessive rainfall and very wet soil conditions the numbers of annuals were reduced below nine on some of the treatments, and the two lowest sward height treatments were abandoned in mid-August because of damage to soil structure. From mid-August until the end of September only the upper three treatments continued.

scholarly journals Grazing management strategies for massaigrass-forage peanut pastures: 1. dynamics of sward condition and botanical composition

2006 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 334-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Mauricio Soares de Andrade ◽  
Rasmo Garcia ◽  
Judson Ferreira Valentim ◽  
Odilon Gomes Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Management Strategies ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Bare Ground ◽  
Arachis Pintoi ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Grazing Period

This study was carried out from October 2002 to December 2003 to evaluate the dynamics of sward condition and botanical composition of a mixed massaigrass (Panicum maximum x P. infestum, cv. Massai) and forage peanut (Arachis pintoi Ac 01) pasture, intermittently stocked at three daily herbage allowance levels (9.0, 14.5 and 18.4% live weight). Sward condition was characterized in each grazing cycle in terms of the pre and post-grazing sward height, forage mass and percentage of bare ground. Botanical composition (grass, legume and weeds) was evaluated before each grazing period. Sward height and forage mass increased linearly with increasing herbage allowance (HA) levels, and higher values were observed during the rainy season. Percentage of bare ground increased primarily at the lowest HA level. Percentage of forage peanut increased throughout the experimental period, primarily in the barest and shortest swards, under the lowest HA level. In the last quarter of 2003 the legume constituted 23.5, 10.6 and 6.4% of the pasture forage mass, respectively, from the lowest to the highest HA level. These results suggest that forage peanut can be successfully associated with massaigrass, as long as the pre-grazing sward height is maintained shorter than 65-70 cm, which will prevent excessive shading to the legume.

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