scholarly journals AUTUMN NITROGEN FERTILISER IN A DRYLAND SHEEP SYSTEM

1989 ◽  
pp. 135-138
Author(s):  
J.H. Hoglund ◽  
C.G.L. Pennell
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Daily Growth ◽  
Nitrogen Fertiliser ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Lamb Growth ◽  
Better Than

Applying 50 kg N/ha to dryland ryegrass-white clover pasture in autumn in each of four years resulted in an increased carrying capacity over the control for the last two years of 137 kg liveweight per ha at minimum in December, with an early spring peak of 211 kg extra liveweight per ha. Despite higher stocking rates on N-treated pastures in the later years. feed on offer at grazing was greater from early winter until the onset of severe drought, typically 8 months later. This improved level of feeding lifted ewe bodyweights post lambing by at least 4 kg. These higher ewe body weights were associated with significantly higher birth weights of twin lambs. Daily growth rates of these lambs. in a flock averagmg better than 175% lambing, were in excess of 260 g/head when ewe bodyweights were over 60 kg post lambing. Keywords: Nitrogen fertiliser, sheep grazing, lamb growth rates

The effect of ewe body condition at lambing on the performance of ewes and their lambs at pasture

1980 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 631-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Gibb ◽  
T. T. Treache
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
The Body ◽  
Daily Growth ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Lamb Growth ◽  
Secretion Rates ◽  
Body Condition Scores

SUMMARYEwes in body condition scores of 2·4 (thin) or 3·2 (fat) on a 5-point scale and suckling twin lambs were grazed at two stocking rates for the first 16 weeks of lactation. Paddocks were grazed for periods of 2 weeks at densities of 80 and 160 ewes/ha in weeks 1–8 and then 70 and 140 ewes/ha in weeks 9/16 of lactation.Intakes of herbage by ewes were not significantly affected by body condition. Estimation of milk yield by weekly measurement of secretion rates over 4 h failed to demonstrate significant differences due to body condition except in weeks 9, 11 and 12, although there was a tendency throughout for fat ewes to produce more milk. However, the daily growth rates of the lambs during the first 8 weeks and the overall live-weight gains were significantly higher for lambs suckled by fat ewes than for those suckled by thin ewes. Intake of herbage by lambs was not affected by the body condition of the ewes.Herbage intakes, milk yields and lamb growth rates were all significantly higher at the low stocking density than at the high stocking density.

scholarly journals Optimising grazing for livestock production and environmental benefits in Chinese grasslands

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warwick B. Badgery ◽  
David Kemp ◽  
Zhang Yingjun ◽  
Wang Zhongwu ◽  
Han Guodong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Alpine Meadow ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Desert Steppe ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Typical Steppe ◽  
Artemisia Frigida ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Lamb Growth

Overgrazing has extensively degraded Chinese grasslands. A reduction in stocking rate of 30–50% below the district averages is required to increase the profitability of livestock production and protect vital ecosystem services such as mitigation of greenhouse gases (GHG). Grazing experiments located in the desert steppe, typical steppe and alpine meadow verified the influence of stocking rate and grazing management on livestock production, grassland composition and associated ecosystem services. The desert steppe experiment found lower stocking rates of ~150 SE (where SE is sheep equivalent, which is a 50kg animal) grazing days ha–1 (1 SE ha–1 over 150 days) enhanced botanical composition, maintained profitable lamb growth rates and reduced GHG emissions intensity. The typical steppe experiment found moderate grazing pressure of ~400 SE grazing days ha–1 (4 SE ha–1 over 100 days) maintained higher lamb growth rates, an average herbage mass >0.5t DM ha–1 that maintained the content of Leymus chinensis above 70% and Artemisia frigida below 10% of the grassland and had the highest level of net carbon sequestration. In the alpine meadow experiment the district average stocking rate of ~16 SE ha–1 (1440 SE grazing days ha–1 over 90 days) was not too high, but extending grazing into the non-growing season had no benefit. The findings of these experiments highlight that many of the benefits to ecosystem services can be achieved with reduced stocking rates which also generate profitable levels of livestock production. In both the desert and typical steppe experiments, the results were optimal when the stocking rates were adjusted to maintain average herbage mass over summer above ~0.5t DM ha–1, whereas herbage mass was higher with the local, conservative stocking rates in the alpine meadow.

The performance and intake of weaned lambs grazing S24 perennial ryegrass, with and without supplementation

1974 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Newton ◽  
N. E. Young
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Target Level ◽  
Target Weight ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Level Increase ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Lamb Growth ◽  
Better Than

SUMMARYTwo forms of supplement, barley or dried grass pellets (G) were given to weaned lambs, set-stocked at pasture, at three stocking rates (43·5, 60 and 87 per hectare). The supplements were given either from weaning or from the time growth rate fell below a target value. The supplements significantly increased the proportion of lambs reaching the target weight (35 kg) and G was significantly better than barley, but slightly more G was given. The substitution value of supplement for herbage was 0·48 ± 0·12 and there was no difference in this value between barley and G. The proportion of lambs reaching the target slaughter weight was not influenced by whether the supplement was offered at weaning or delayed until lamb growth declined below a target level. Increase in stocking rate depressed the herbage intake and growth rate of the unsupplemented control lambs.

scholarly journals Lamb growth rates improve as goat to sheep ratio increases

1990 ◽  
pp. 115-118
Author(s):  
R.J. Townsend ◽  
J.E. Radcliffe
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Lamb Growth

Lambs were rotationally grazed with ewes in a 'sheep only' system and with low, medium, and high proportions,of wether goats from October to March on dryland perennial ryegrass-white clover pastures in Canterbury. Lambs grazed with ewes and goats until they were weaned; then they grazed ahead of other stock. Treatment ratios of adult stock on a per head basis were 3 ewes:1 goat ('low goats'), 3 ewes:2 goats ('medium goats') and 3 ewes:3 goats ('high goats'). The ewe:lamb ratio was 1:1.35 on all treatments. Lamb growth rates (g/day) were 152 for 'sheep only', and 169, 185 and 203 for low, medium and high goat treatments respectively. As each treatment lamb reached a target draft weight, it was replaced by a lighter lamb for finishing. In comparison with the 'sheep only' treatment, an extra 1.6 lambs/ha were drafted off the 'medium goat' and an additional 2.6-lambs/ha off the 'high goat' treatment by the end of January. Increasing the proportion of goats:ewes increased the supply of white clover in pastures especially after lambs were weaned. Examination of faecal plant material showed 30% clover in the diet of lambs in a 'sheep only' system, increasing as the goat:sheep ratio increased to 60% clover in the 'high goat' treatment. Keywords white clover, perennial ryegrass, goats, sheep,grazing management, diet, lamb

scholarly journals THE PERFORMANCE OF FRIESIAN STEERS GRAZING 'GRASSLANDS ROA' TALL FESCUE PASTURES ON PEAT SOILS IN THE WAIKATO

1979 ◽  
pp. 130-137
Author(s):  
G.J. Goold ◽  
F.C.C. Hupkensvan der Elst
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Peat Soils ◽  
Daily Growth ◽  
Stocking Rates

Legume-based pastures of perennial ryegrass ('Grasslands Ruanui + Nui') and 'Grasslands Roa' tall fescue were established on semideveloped peat soils near Hamilton in autumn 1975. Pastures were grazed with yearling Friesian steers at equal stocking rates from August until March during the years 1976 to 1979. Roa tall fescue swards substantially outyielded those of perennial ryegrass in January, February and March with an overall total yield advantage of some 21%. As a result, in most months, steers grazing Roa were offered approximately 15% more DM, which was utilized with similar efficiency to ryegrass (67% tall fescue and 69% ryegrass). Steer liveweight gains per head and per hectare were 10% higher on Roa tall fescue pastures, with average daily growth rates being 0.74 kg/head and the 3-year mean total LWG/ha being 970 kg from the tall fescue pasture.

scholarly journals Can lambs compensate for less milk by grazing more often?

2002 ◽  
pp. 103-105
Author(s):  
C.A.M. Moffat ◽  
J.M. Deaker ◽  
G.J. Wallace ◽  
M.W. Fisher ◽  
P.D. Muir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Milk Supply ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Machine Milking ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Lamb Growth

Lamb behaviour was investigated where varying stocking rates and rearing rank indirectly induced differences in ewe milk production. 24 Romney x Poll Dorset ewes, with either twin or single lambs, were stocked at either 25 or 15 ewes per hectare, three weeks after lambing (2 August ± 1.0 days). Lamb activity (grazing, otherwise active, or inactive) was determined by instantaneous scan sampling at 3-min intervals over 4 hours at 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks of age. Milk production, estimated by machine milking and lamb live weights were also measured at these ages, on the day prior to observations. Ewes with twin lambs produced slightly more milk than ewes with singles (213 vs. 183 ml per 4 hours, respectively). Ewes on the high stocking rate produced an average of 181 ml milk per 4 hours compared with 216 ml per 4 hours in the low stocking rate group. Twin lambs spent significantly more time grazing than did single lambs (52.3% vs. 41.0% overall, respectively) and lambs on the higher stocking rate spent on average 10% more time grazing, than those stocked less densely. These results suggest that lambs with access to less milk spend more time by grazing, but this does not adequately compensate for the lower milk supply which resulted in reduced lamb growth rates. This raises the possibility of enhancing lamb growth rates prior to weaning by providing high quality, lamb-specific forage to the lamb independently of the ewe. Keywords: ewe milk production, grazing, lamb behaviour, lamb growth rate

Growth rates of lambs and adult sheep grazing forage sorghums and lucerne

1972 ◽  
Vol 12 (55) ◽  
pp. 144 ◽  
Author(s):  
KP Sheridan ◽  
JF Holland ◽  
JA Thompson ◽  
BA Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Daily Growth ◽  
Adult Sheep ◽  
Sudan Grass

Daily growth rates of adult sheep grazing a sorghum-sudan grass hybrid, Sorghum almum and lucerne were 87 g, 73 g and 171 g a head. Weaned lambs had low daily growth rates on the forage sorghums, 84 g and 48 g a head, compared to 159 g a head on lucerne. On lucerne growth rates of lactating ewes and their lambs were also higher than those on forage sorghums. In vitro dry matter digestibilities of the forage sorghums were ' low, ranging from 52 to 61 per cent, and were considered to be an important factor contributing to the low growth rates of weaned lambs.

scholarly journals Dryland pasture yields and botanical composition over 5 years under sheep grazing in Canterbury

2008 ◽  
pp. 37-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Mills ◽  
M.C. Smith ◽  
R.J. Lucas ◽  
D.J. Moot
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Daily Growth ◽  
Lincoln University

Annual dry matter (DM) production and botanical composition of six dryland pasture combinations, grown under sheep grazing at Lincoln University for 5 years, are presented. In 4 years, lucerne produced the highest DM yields (13.1-18.5 t/ha/yr) through higher daily growth rates, compared with grass based pastures, particularly during periods of water stress in summer and autumn.

A comparison of continuous grazing and deferred autumn grazing of Merino ewes and lambs at 13 stocking rates

1977 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 947 ◽  
Author(s):  
TH Brown
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Grazed Pastures ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Lamb Growth

The performance of Merino ewes and their lambs was measured when the sheep were either continuously grazed or autumn-deferred on annual pastures. The two management systems were compared at a series of 13 stocking rates from 4.9 to 19.8 ewes ha-1 for 5 years from 1970 to 1974 at the Kybybolite Research Centre, South Australia. The deferred sheep were fed in yards on a mixture of oat grain and hay at 6.8 kg per head per week during the 6-week deferment period. It was found that the continuously grazed ewes required very little hand-feeding up to a stocking rate of 17.3 ewes ha-1. Grazing management had little or no effect on wool production in ewes or lambs, on the number of lambs born and weaned, or on lamb growth rates. Although the incidence of pregnancy toxaemia was very low (1%) it was higher in the deferred treatments. Autumn deferment resulted in extra pasture during the winter months of June and July. However, the continuously grazed pastures reached the same level of availability as the deferred pastures in late winter and early spring. Total yearly pasture production tended to be greater on the continuously grazed pastures and increased as the stocking rate increased. It is concluded that there is little merit in adopting an autumn deferment system of grazing management for Merino ewes and lambs. A relationship between lamb growth rate and both available pasture and pasture height is presented. It would appear that pasture height measurements are no better predictors of Iamb growth rates than pasture yield measurements.

Arrowleaf clover improves lamb growth rates in late spring and early summer compared with subterranean clover pastures in south-west Victoria

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (8) ◽  
pp. 807 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. N. Thompson ◽  
A. J. Kennedy ◽  
J. Holmes ◽  
G. Kearney
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Late Spring ◽  
South West ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Lamb Growth

The profitable production of lamb from pasture-based systems is dependent on high levels of pasture production being efficiently utilised by sheep of superior genetic merit. Pastures that can extend the pasture-growing season and provide high quality feed in late spring and summer have the potential to increase production efficiency and the proportion of lambs that meet market specifications. In this paper we tested the hypothesis that arrowleaf clover (cv. Arrotas), a cultivar selected for late maturity, would supply feed of higher nutritive value than conventional annual legumes and perennial ryegrass mixtures during December and January and this would improve lamb growth rates over this period. Two experiments were conducted to compare the nutritive value of pasture and growth rates of lambs grazing arrowleaf clover, subterranean clover (cv. Leura) or subterranean clover/perennial ryegrass mixtures at different stocking rates during late spring and early summer in south-west Victoria. In the second experiment an arrowleaf clover/perennial ryegrass treatment was also included. Lambs were removed from the plots when they could no longer maintain liveweight. Arrowleaf clover extended the growing season by 4–6 weeks and provided feed of significantly higher digestibility than subterranean clover during December and January. The digestibility of arrowleaf and perennial ryegrass was comparable, but arrowleaf had significantly higher crude protein content during this period. Lambs grazing arrowleaf clover at stocking rates up to 24 lambs/ha grew at or above 100 g/day until the end of January, whereas lambs grazing subterranean clover and perennial ryegrass mixed pastures could not maintain weight by mid-to-late December in both years and were removed from the pastures. At the highest stocking rates total lamb production from arrowleaf clover monoculture pastures in late spring and early summer was ~400 kg liveweight/ha, and was more than double that achieved from the subterranean clover and perennial ryegrass/subterranean clover mixed pastures. The perennial ryegrass/arrowleaf clover mixed pastures in the second experiment produced a similar quantity of lamb per hectare as the arrowleaf clover monoculture pastures at the same stocking rate. In this paper we demonstrated that late-maturing arrowleaf clover can be a profitable, special purpose lamb-finishing pasture. Arrowleaf clover was most suited to more elevated parts of the landscape where estimated carrying capacity was 20 to 40% greater than that from lower lying parts of the landscape that were more subject to water logging and weed infestation. The risks of including arrowleaf clover pastures into the farming system could be reduced by direct drilling arrowleaf clover, which has relatively poor winter production, into existing perennial ryegrass pastures.

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