scholarly journals NEW ZEALAND PERENNIAL, RYEGRASS CULTIVARS IN MID-CANTERBURY

1979 ◽  
pp. 116-122
Author(s):  
J.M. Hayman
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Autumn And Winter

The perennial ryegrass cultivars 'Grasslands Ruanui', 'Grasslands Ariki' and 'Grasslands Nui' were sown with clover and compared at three levels of irrigation under rotational grazing with sheep. Ryegrass cultivar had little effect on total annual pasture production, although Nui pastures produced more total DM in autumn and winter. Nui was the most persistent cultivar and produced substantially more ryegrass than the orhers (6.1 t/ha, compared with 4.1 t/ha for Ruanui and 3.3 t/ha for Ariki) . Nui pastures produced less white clover, volunteer grasses and weeds. When grazed at the same stocking rate, sheep liveweight gain was similar regardless of ryegrass cultivar.

scholarly journals Managing white clover for productive and profitable sheep farming in Southland

2000 ◽  
pp. 137-140
Author(s):  
J.P.J. Eerens ◽  
D.L. Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Clover Root ◽  
Pastoral Farming

White clover is often listed as one of the factors contributing to profitable pastoral farming in New Zealand. The positive aspects of white clover have been presented in a balanced manner in publications by scientists, environmentalists and farmers able to exploit these positive aspects. Increasingly, pastures contain sub-optimal levels of clover, as a result of pasture management that is detrimental to clover, including the increasing use of fertiliser nitrogen. In some regions of New Zealand, farmers can legitimately point to pests such as the clover root weevil and factors such as the ryegrass endophyte as causing restrictions in clover production, but this is less the case in Southland. Environmental conditions in Southland are well suited for ryegrass-white clover pastures. Wellmanaged ryegrass-white clover pastures containing the best regional cultivars can achieve high financial returns. A number of trials at the Gore Research Station are reviewed; they demonstrated that on mixed ryegrass-white clover swards farmers can produce nearly 25% more dry matter, 40% more carcass weight and 25% more wool than on pastures with ryegrass alone receiving 270 kg N/ha/year. The yield advantage would have been greater still if they were compared with typical Southland pastures. Not only was 180 kg more carcass and 17 kg more wool produced per hectare on mixed swards, but nitrogen fixation by clover produced more than $300 worth of nitrogen per hectare. The yield advantage achievable from the ryegrass-white clover swards requires specific pasture management, particularly in spring- summer and the use of adapted white clover cultivars. Keywords: cultivars, Lolium perenne, nitrogen, pasture production, perennial ryegrass, set stocking, Trifolium repens, white clover, wool

EVALUATION OF NEW ZEALAND BRED WHITE CLOVER CULTIVARS UNDER ROTATIONAL GRAZING AND SET STOCKING WITH SHEEP

1988 ◽  
pp. 203-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.L. Brock
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Moisture Stress ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Summer Drought ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Second Year ◽  
Clover Content

The four New Zealand bred white clover cultivars. Tahora, Hula, Pltau and Kopu were evaluated for two years under a high stocking rate in self contained sheep grazed farmlets comparing year round rotational grazing with set stocking. Tahora was clearly superior under set stocking, yielding 50% more than Huia and 140% more than Pitau and Kopu. Under rotational grazing all performed well with only Kopu showing a 20% advantage. An unseasonal early summer drought in the second year showed all cultivars to be highly susceptible to moisture stress at this time under rotational grazing. Large scale death of clover occurred reducing clover content to 2-3% in autumn with no recovery by mid winter. Under set stocking, although severely wilted, all clovers quickly recovered to their former level following rain The management implications are discussed. Keywords: Tahora. Huia, Pitau, Kopu, grazing management, drought, cultivar choice

Grazed pasture parameters. I. Pasture dry-matter production and availability in a stocking rate and grazing management experiment with dairy cows

1966 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.G. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Dry Matter Production ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Grazed Pasture ◽  
Matter Production

1. Net pasture dry matter production and available pasture dry matter were measured over 3 years in a small-scale replica of the study of the effects of dairy cow grazing management and stocking rate reported by McMeekan & Walshe (1963).2. The four treatments were(i) Controlled rotational grazing, light stocking rate (0.95 cows/acre).(ii) Controlled rotational grazing, heavy stocking rate (1.19 cows/acre).(iii) Uncontrolled, set stocked grazing, light stocking rate (0.95 cows/acre).(iv) Uncontrolled, set stocked grazing, heavy stocking rate (1.19 cows/acre).3. The pasture measurement technique employed measured net pasture production (gains through new growth minus losses from all sources). It is argued that this parameter, rather than absolute pasture production, governs the changes in the dry matter feed supply to the grazing animal.

Density of Trifolium repens plants in mixed swards under intensive grazing by sheep

1989 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. M. Hay ◽  
J. L. Brock ◽  
V. J. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Trifolium Repens ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Grazed Pastures ◽  
Point Density

SUMMARYDensities of physiologically independent plants of white clover were studied in New Zealand in pastures stocked at 22·5 ewes plus lambs/ha by set stocking, rotational grazing or a combination of both systems. Plants were sampled once a month for 1 year (1984/85) by taking turves and washing out the plants. Numbers of growing points and stolon dry weight per plant were obtained. At each sampling fifty, 50 mm diameter pasture plugs were taken from each sward and growing point density and stolon mass/m2 of white clover were measured. The density of white clover plants in the swards was estimated on the basis of both stolon dry weight and number of growing points.The two estimates gave similar results. There was a trend of lowest densities in set-stocked pastures (334/m2), intermediate densities in combination management pastures (431/m2) and highest densities in the rotationally grazed pastures (553/m2). The overall mean density of white clover plants was 439/m2 and the range was 193–811/m2.The structure of swards under the three systems of grazing differed and this was considered to contribute towards the variation in density of white clover plants in the various swards.

Effects of irrigation frequency and transient waterlogging on the production of a perennial ryegrass - white clover pasture

1997 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 165 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Dunbabin ◽  
I. H. Hume ◽  
M. E. Ireson
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Dry Matter Production ◽  
Irrigation Frequency ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Absolute Increase ◽  
Irrigation Interval ◽  
Matter Production

Summary. Perennial ryegrass–white clover swards were irrigated for 3 years every 50, 80 and 120 mm of crop evapotranspiration minus rainfall (ETc–R) and water ponded on the soil surface for either 4, 12 or 24 h at each irrigation. Pasture production and clover content were highly seasonal, peaking in spring and autumn. Frequent irrigation increased dry matter production by an average of 56%. When irrigating at 50 mm ETc–R, dry matter production was decreased by ponding water on plots, 17% for 12 h ponding and 14% if ponded for 24 h. However, when irrigating at an interval of 80 mm ETc–R ponding increased dry matter production by 7% for 12 h ponding and by 25% for 24 h ponding. Ponding also increased production at an irrigation interval of 120 mm ETc–R by 25% for 12 h ponding but only by 2.4% for 24 h ponding. While these increases in dry matter production are large in relative terms the absolute increase in production is small. More water infiltrated per irrigation at longer irrigation intervals, and at longer ponding times. Frequently irrigated, rapidly drained swards used irrigation water most efficiently. The small gain in dry matter production achieved by prolonging ponding at longer irrigation intervals is an inefficient use of water and likely to recharge regional groundwater systems. Oxygen diffusion rate measurements suggested that ponding for as short as 4 h was likely to cause waterlogging stresses and that these stresses were higher when irrigating frequently. The relative increase in waterlogging stress by extending the period of ponding from 4 to 24 h was small.

scholarly journals Liveweight changes in lambs grazing six perennial ryegrass cultivars

1999 ◽  
pp. 31-35
Author(s):  
C.T. Westwood ◽  
M.G. Norriss
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Moisture Stress ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Independent Research ◽  
Ewe Lambs ◽  
Research Organisation ◽  
Clover Content

Liveweight changes were measured for lambs grazing six high endophyte perennial ryegrasses, in a grazing experiment run by an independent research organisation in Canterbury, New Zealand. Ryegrass cultivars were sown under code in a binary mix with white clover in February 1997. Plots were strategically irrigated to avoid moisture stress, and stocked at approximately 27 Coopworth ewe lambs per ha in May 1997. Common pasture residual mass was maintained across cultivars by strategic addition of extra lambs, with extra grazing days recorded for each replicate. Lamb liveweight gains and botanical composition of replicates were assessed quarterly. Lamb liveweight gains differed significantly between treatments in Years 1 and 2 of this ongoing 3 year study. Lambs grazing 'Quartet' tetraploid perennial ryegrass gained, on average, 37.4 kg and 36.1 kg liveweight during Years 1 and 2 respectively, and together with 'Aries HD' (35.0 and 35.9 kg) produced significantly greater liveweight gain compared with 'Grasslands Nui' (22.0 and 23.7 kg) and 'Bronsyn' (22.5 and 24.1 kg), LSD0.05 = 6.0 and 7.4. Lambs grazing 'Embassy' gained 31.6 kg and 28.7 kg, and 'Vedette' 29.8 kg and 28.0 kg. Extra grazing days expressed as a percentage of base grazing days were between 3.8 and 6.7% across cultivars for Year 1 and between 2.0 and 6.5% across cultivars for Year 2. This study demonstrated significant differences in animal productivity between perennial ryegrass cultivars that produce comparable yields of dry matter. Differences may reflect variation in forage quality, endophyte toxins, clover content in the sward or other unidentified cultivar characteristics. Keywords: digestibility, endophyte, lamb, liveweight, perennial ryegrass, tetraploid

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.

Digestibility and voluntary intake measurements on regrowths of six Tasmanian pasture species

1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (61) ◽  
pp. 158 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Michell
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Late Spring ◽  
Pure Species ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Voluntary Intake ◽  
Autumn And Winter

Pure species swards of Trifolium repens (white clover cv. Grasslands Huia), Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass cv. Tasmanian No. I ) , Lolium perenne x L. multiflorum (short rotation ryegrass cv. Grasslands Manawa), Lolium perenne (long rotation ryegrass cv. Grasslands Ariki), Dactylis glomerata (cocksfoot cv. Currie) and Dactylis glomerata (cocksfoot cv. Grasslands Apanui) were mechanically cut in May, August, September-October, and November 1969, and January, March, May, and August 1970. The material from these cuts was artificially dried, and digestibilities and voluntary intakes measured using penned sheep. Overall, the digestibility and voluntary intake of white clover was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of any of the grasses, the digestibility of Apanui cocksfoot was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than that of the ryegrasses and there were no significant differences (P < 0.05) between the intakes of the various grasses. Under the management system used, the digestibility of the grasses remained relatively stable over the summer, autumn and winter, rose to a peak in early spring and fell in late spring after ear emergence. The digestibility of white clover remained high over the winter and early spring and declined slowly over the summer. The voluntary intakes of all the species were at their lowest levels in the winter, rose to a peak in the spring, fell in the late spring to a stable level over the summer, and fell again in the autumn. At any digestibility level, the intake of spring-summer cut pasture was approximately 20 per cent higher than that of winter cut pasture. The intake of autumn cut pasture was intermediate. The overall relation between intake (I) and digestibility (D) was I = 1.06D + 2.7 � 8.4 (P < 0.01). Within the spring-summer cuts, the relation was I = 1.01 D + 14.6 � 4.0 (P < 0.01) and within the winter cuts it was I = 1.08D - 5.9 � 4.1 (P < 0.01).

WHITE CLOVER OPTIONS FOR SHEEPFARMING IN SOUTHERN REGIONS OF NEW ZEALAND

1989 ◽  
pp. 175-179
Author(s):  
D.L. Ryan
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Trifolium Repens ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Rotational Grazing

Four white clover cultivars 'Grasslands tluia', 'Grasslands Tahora', 'Grasslands Kopu' and 'Grasslands Pit& were evaluated at Grasslands Division, Gore, for 4 years, under 2 grazing managements. Year round rotational grazing was compared with rotational grazing incorporating a 1 P-week period of set stocking during spring. Huia was the best cultivar under both grazing managements. Tahora yields were comparable with those of Huia in spring and summer, and ryegrass yields were best in Tahora wards. The larger leaved and less stoloniferous Kopu and Pitau were not suited to the climatic conditions or the mtensive sheep grazing practices of the region. Keywords: Trifolium repens, Huia, Tahora, Pitau. KOPU, grazing management, stolon morphology, persistence, sheepfarming

More feed for New Zealand dairy systems

2001 ◽  
pp. 283-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.A. Clark ◽  
C. Matthew ◽  
J.R. Crush
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Plant Breeding ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Plant Stress ◽  
Net Photosynthesis ◽  
Potential Yield ◽  
C3 Plant ◽  
Upper Limit

An upper limit to productivity of perennial ryegrass-white clover pastures in New Zealand at about 15 t DM/ha per year has been identified as a constraint to future increases in productivity. With potential yields of 26.6 t DM/ha per year from temperate grasses and 45 t DM/ha per year from maize at mid-latitudes, the challenge for New Zealand dairy farming systems is to achieve greater than 15 t DM/ha per year without imposing additional production or environmental costs. Given these constraints a major switch to crops is not feasible because those that produce more than pasture, e.g., maize, have insufficient crude protein to support lactation. Theoretically, a farm area allocation to 78% perennial ryegrass-white clover and 22% maize-winter oats could provide 23.3 t DM/ha per year at a crude protein content of 16%. This is greater than the 20 t DM/ha per year upper limit of irrigated perennial ryegrass-white clover. Incremental yield improvements of grasses and clovers by traditional plant breeding are low (1.5% per year), and difficult to capture. Future plant breeding gains are more likely to come from increased plant stress tolerance. Improved pasture monitoring to allow timely removal of constraints, will enable potential yields to be achieved. Biotechnology offers the possibility of improving the potential yield of net photosynthesis by 20% either through the transfer of genes from a C4 plant (e.g., maize) or a C3 plant (e.g., perennial ryegrass), or use of the major photosynthetic enzymes, rubisco, from a thermophilic alga. Biotechnology is also providing new knowledge about the control of plant development and response to stresses. The application of this knowledge may allow dairy farmers to achieve another 5 t DM/ha per year from perennial ryegrass-white clover pastures. Keywords: biotechnology, dairy, perennial ryegrass, photosynthesis, white clover, yield limitation

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