scholarly journals COMPARISONS OF CATTLE GRAZING AND SHEEP GRAZING

1976 ◽  
pp. 56-65
Author(s):  
C.C. Boswell
Keyword(s):  
Cattle Grazing ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Rapid Deterioration

Controversy has surrounded the possible differences in pasture production which result from grazing by cattle or sheep. Experiments conducted over the 1972-76 period show that pasture production under grazing by sheep is greater than under grazing by cattle under similar intensive managements. A change from sheep grazing to cattle grazing can cause a rapid deterioration in pasture production, while the change in grazing from cattle to sheep brought a slo~ver improvement in pasture production. Cattle grazing restricted the production of the ryegrass component of the pastures in the five management systems considered.

scholarly journals Effects of the MaxP (TM) endophyte in tall fescue on pasture production and composition, and the sheep grazing preference in a dryland environment

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 259-262
Author(s):  
K.N. Tozer ◽  
S. Ates ◽  
N.R. Mapp ◽  
M.C. Smith ◽  
R.J. Lucas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Basal Diameter ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Annual Grasses

Pasture growth, botanical composition and sheep grazing preference were measured over 20 months in tall fescue (cultivar Advance), without endophyte (Nil) or infected with AR542 (MaxPTM) endophyte, and clover pastures sown into a dryland soil, Canterbury, New Zealand. Pastures were rotationally grazed with sheep, with grazing preference for the two endophyte treatments measured in late autumn and early spring. Annual dry matter production from April 2004 to April 2005 was not significantly different between AR542 (6293 kg DM/ha) and Nil (5864 kg DM/ha) tall fescue. The number of tall fescue plants/m2 and their basal diameter was greater for AR542 (35 plants/m2, 7.5 cm diameter) than Nil endophyte tall fescue (28 plants/m2, 6.8 cm diameter). AR542 endophyte tall fescue pastures had fewer weeds, mainly annual grasses, than Nil endophyte pastures throughout the trial. Grazing preference, measured by the number of sheep grazing each plot, and decline in pasture height did not differ between Nil and AR542 tall fescue. Keywords: tall fescue, novel endophyte, AR542, botanical composition, weed, grazing preference

Animals as Means of Evaluating Pasture Production

1948 ◽  
Vol 1948 (01) ◽  
pp. 7-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Watson
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Work ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Experimental Station ◽  
The World ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Agricultural Literature

The use of the animal as a means of evaluating pasture is an obvious approach to the problem, since this is the form in which the practical man will ultimately measure the return from his grassland. If anything has to be sacrificed it is the sward and not the animal, a point too often overlooked in our grassland work generally. Though many grazing trials of an observational nature are to be found in the early agricultural literature, the earliest experimental work was most probably that of the late Sir William Somerville. When Professor of Agriculture at Newcastle in 1897, he commenced the world-famous experiment at Cockle Park Agricultural Experimental Station on pasture improvement. An effort was then made to measure the effect of various systems of manuring in terms of the live-weight increase of sheep grazing on the different plots. In this experiment on Tree Field the relative values of the different systems of manuring were measured by weighing the sheep before and after the experimental period. In the early years the plots were stocked with hoggs, but in order to get closer grazing lambs and ewes are now used and have shown greater increases per acre.

Parasitism and production in weaner sheep grazing alternately with cattle

1978 ◽  
Vol 18 (92) ◽  
pp. 340 ◽  
Author(s):  
IA Barger ◽  
WH Southcott
Keyword(s):  
Haemonchus Contortus ◽  
Cattle Grazing ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Trichostrongylus Colubriformis ◽  
The Third ◽  
Cooperia Oncophora ◽  
Faecal Egg Counts

Three systems for the post-weaning management of Merino wethers were compared over two years. In all systems, the sheep were given two anthelmintic treatments with levamisole per year; at weaning in January, and in July. In the first system (SC) the same paddock was used as a weaning paddock each year in succession. In the second system (SC 6) sheep and cattle grazed the paddock alternately for 6- month periods from January and July; the third system (SC 12) comprised sheep and cattle grazing alternately for 12-month periods from July of each year. Compared with the SC treatment, weaners from the SC 6 treatment had significantly lower faecal egg counts and lower burdens of Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylm axei, Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Nematodirus spp. They had significantly higher numbers of Cooperia oncophora and similar numbers of Ostertagia circumcincta. SC 6 sheep made greater liveweight gains, produced heavier fleeces, and suffered lower mortalities than their SC counterparts. Results for the SC 12 system were usually intermediate. In a third year, the SC 12 system was modified to include a monthly treatment with levamisole. The liveweight gains, egg counts and mortalities of the monthly treatment sheep did not differ significantly from those of the SC 6 sheep. Both systems were superior to the SC treatment in controlling nematode infections in weaner sheep. There were no significant effects of any treatment on liveweight gains of cattle, although outbreaks of ostertagiosis occurred in the third year in two of the four replicates of the SC system.

Land-use intensification in New Zealand: effects on soil properties and pasture production

2010 ◽  
Vol 149 (3) ◽  
pp. 337-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. HOULBROOKE ◽  
R. J. PATON ◽  
R. P. LITTLEJOHN ◽  
J. D. MORTON
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cattle Grazing ◽  
Soil Taxonomy ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Land Use Intensification

SUMMARYLand-use intensification requires more farm inputs to sustain or increase farm product outputs. However, a common concern for land-use intensification is the potential deterioration of soil. The North Otago Rolling Downlands (NORD) region of New Zealand is drought prone, and although traditionally limited to extensive sheep farming, there are large-scale conversions to intensive cattle grazing operations such as dairy farming resulting from an irrigation scheme commissioned in 2006. Pallic soils (Aeric Fragiaqualf in US Soil Taxonomy) such as those in the NORD region are prone to soil compaction because of their ‘high’ structural vulnerability under intensive management. To address these concerns, a field trial was established on a common NORD Pallic soil (Timaru silt loam) to determine how land-use intensification affects indicators of soil quality (macroporosity, bulk density, structural condition score, total and mineralizable carbon and nitrogen and earthworms) and pasture production. The treatments compare irrigated v. dryland pasture and sheep v. cattle grazing on 16 plots. The findings show that soil physical quality responds more quickly to changes in land-use pressure than do biochemical and organic indicators. Both irrigation and cattle grazing, particularly in combination, increased soil compaction; macroporosity on irrigated plots grazed by cattle ranged from 9·1 to 13·3% v/v at a depth of 0–50 mm, compared to dryland plots with sheep grazing (18·9–23·0% v/v). Soil compaction/damage has implications for pasture production, soil hydrology and nutrient movement. Land management practices for intensive cattle grazing of irrigated soil prone to treading damage therefore need to implement high compaction risk strategies to avoid or ameliorate potential changes to soil quality.

scholarly journals On-farm wintering systems - issues to consider

2006 ◽  
pp. 289-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.D. Longhurst ◽  
D. Miller ◽  
I. Williams ◽  
A. Lambourne
Keyword(s):  
Management Systems ◽  
Waste Streams ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Sensitive Periods ◽  
Feed Stock ◽  
Cow Welfare ◽  
Bedding Materials ◽  
On Farm

Winter is a very important period during the dairying calendar. Regions such as Southland, with susceptible soils and extended periods with soils at saturation levels will face increasing pressure to review wintering practices. On-farm options for wintering cows to protect soils and prevent pasture damage are needed. This requires a turn-around in philosophy from taking cows to pasture/crops, to bringing supplementary feeds to cows. Specialised facilities exist such as feed pads, stand-off pads, wintering barns or Herd Homes. The advantages of such systems are reduced pugging and compaction of soils, better pasture growth and stock condition. Disadvantages may include requirements to upgrade effluent management systems to cope with more concentrated waste streams. Research has shown that pasture production can be increased by withholding stock from soils during sensitive periods. Advantage should be taken of this to fully feed stock in specialised facilities. However, cow welfare and effluent management must be prioritised to maximise the wintering benefits. Keywords: stand-off pads, bedding materials, soil pugging, Herd Homes

scholarly journals LOLIUM ENDOPHYTE AND SHEEP PERFORMANCE ON PERENNIAL RYEGRASS CULTIVARS

1986 ◽  
pp. 99-105
Author(s):  
L.R. Fletcher
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Sheep Production

Some effects of lolium endophyte (Acremonium lolioe) on sheep production were evaluated using pure swards of high (SO%>) and low (< 5%) endophyte Nui and Ariki ryegrass. The proportion of infected tillers in high endophyte treatments increased by 19% in 15 months. Ryegrass staggers occurred on both high endophyte ryegrasses - being slightly worse on Nui. The peak ryegrass staggers outbreak did not coincide with peak endophyte mycelium concentration in ryegrass plants. Hoggets grazing the low endophyte ryegrasses had a 1.6 kg advantage in liveweight gain in spring, when allowances were equal, but fewer sheep grazing days. In summer and autumn sward damage by Argentine stem weevil, drought and over-grazing eliminated low endophyte Ariki treatments and reduced herbage production from low Nui to 70% of high endophyte Nui. Tiller densities in low endophyte treatments were 28% of those in high endophyte treatments. High endophyte Ariki had the highest overall production: 7.8 t/ha of herbage and 15 kg/head liveweight gain compared with 6.9 t/ha and 12.5 kg/head for high endophyte Nui and 4.7 t/ha and 9 kg/head for low endophyte Nui. Differences in production due to endophyte highlight the need for caution in interpreting results from trials when endophyte status of ryegrass is unknown. Keywords: Lolium endophyte, Acremonium loliae, ryegrass staggers, Lol~m perenne, live weight gain, pasture production, Ariki, Nui

Summer production of sheep grazing irrigated and non-irrigated pasture

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (70) ◽  
pp. 613
Author(s):  
MJ Sharkey ◽  
JP Murphy ◽  
RG Ward ◽  
CG Winfield
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth

At Werribee in southern Victoria changes in liveweight, wool growth and carcase weights were measured over a 96 day period in summer during which two-year-old Corriedale and Merino ewes grazed various combinations of irrigated perennial and non-irrigated annual pasture. To provide the different combinations of grazing, groups of each breed grazed the two pasture types for different periods of time in 8 or 32 day grazing cycles. Groups with an eight day grazing cycle spent 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 days (the 32 day grazing cycle groups 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 or 28 days) on the irrigated pasture before completing the grazing cycle on the non-irrigated pasture. Two other groups grazed on either irrigated or non-irrigated pasture throughout the 96 days and a further group was slaughtered on day 1 of the experiment to measure the effect of treatments on carcases. The results were examined by regression analysis and showed that both breeds declined in liveweight, carcase weight, and wool growth on non-irrigated pasture. Production improved with time spent on irrigation. Corriedales (initial liveweight 47.0 kg) fattened when grazed on irrigated pasture for 50 per cent or more of the time but Peppin Merinos (initial liveweight 40.1 kg) could not be fattened beyond their initia carcase weights on any treatment. Wool production increased linearly with time spent on irrigation and was greater in Corriedales than in Merinos. The sheep grazing pastures in consecutive 8 day cycles did not differ significantly in production from sheep on similar treatments in the 32 day cycle.

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.

scholarly journals Simulation of senescence and disappearance rates in irrigated and dryland pastures

1997 ◽  
pp. 59-65
Author(s):  
R.F. Zyskowski ◽  
E.S. Burtt ◽  
T.J. Fraser ◽  
A.C. Bywater
Keyword(s):  
Research Station ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Sheep Farm ◽  
Dead Material ◽  
Few Data ◽  
Subjective Estimates ◽  
Performance Estimates

Previous experiments with a sheep farm grazing model suggested a weakness in assumptions concerning pasture senescence and disappearance rates which was influencing the quantity and more importantly quality of pasture on offer and hence animal performance. Data from the Winchmore Research Station describing pasture masses and the amount of dead material in irrigated swards over several years have been used to derive joint estimates of growth and senescence rates and produced patterns similar to the few data available in the literature. Subjective estimates were made of likely differences in senescence between dryland and irrigated conditions and the model used to simulate the implications of these assumptions. Results demonstrate the sensitivity of animal performance to assumptions about the senescence and disappearance rates of pasture, particularly in the dryland situation where previously unrealistically high levels of performance were reduced closer to expected levels. This reinforces the desirability of collecting data on dead material in trials involving pasture measurements. Pasture production, percentage harvested and animal performance estimates from the model are presented. Keywords: Lolium perenne, pasture disappearance, pasture senescence, sheep grazing, simulation model, Trifolium repens

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