GRAZING SYSTEMS FOR EWES AND LAMBS

1962 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. W. Calder ◽  
J. W. G. Nicholson ◽  
H. M. Cunningham
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Period ◽  
The Other ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Creep Feeding ◽  
Free Range ◽  
Internal Parasites ◽  
Grazing Systems

Two experiments were conducted to compare forward creep grazing of lambs with other grazing management systems for ewes and lambs. In the first experiment, forward creep grazing with and without creep feeding of concentrates was compared with rotational grazing, using 7 ewes with single lambs per plot of [Formula: see text] acres. The first lambs reached market weight by the 57th day of the experiment, at which time the average lamb gains were higher on the creep grazed-creep fed groups, but there was no difference in the gains on the other two systems. The experiment was continued for 35 days and during this period the lamb gains on the creep grazed plots were higher than on the rotationally grazed areas. This later period coincided with a period of reduced herbage growth due to below normal precipitation. The average daily gains for the entire experimental period were.45,.51 and.57 pounds for rotational, creep, and creep fed-creep grazed systems respectively.In the second experiment, forward creep grazing was compared with rotational grazing and free range grazing, using a higher stocking rate of 8 ewes and 10 lambs per plot. The average daily gains for the experiment were.38,.40 and.34 pounds for rotational, creep grazed, and free range systems respectively. The differences between grazing systems were not statistically significant at P = 0.05. Both the ewe and lamb gains were lower on the free-range system than on the other systems. The ewe gains were higher on the rotationally grazed areas than the forward creep grazed areas in both experiments. This indicates that forward creep grazing of lambs can be advantageous under conditions where herbage is abundant.Evidence obtained from helminth ova counts on fecal samples, and examination of representative digestive tracts of the lambs marketed, indicated that the forward creep grazing of lambs reduced but did not prevent a build-up of internal parasites.

scholarly journals Livestock weights in response to three whole-farmlet management systems

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 727 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. N. Hinch ◽  
J. Hoad ◽  
M. Lollback ◽  
S. Hatcher ◽  
R. Marchant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Supplementary Feeding ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Management Regime ◽  
Similar Range

This paper reports changes in livestock weights recorded in a whole-farmlet experiment, which aimed to examine the profitability and sustainability of three different pasture and grazing management strategies. The assessment of liveweights was considered a key component of measuring the integrated effects of the farmlet-scale treatments. The three farmlets comprised a typical management regime, which employed flexible rotational grazing over eight paddocks with moderate soil fertility (farmlet B), a system based on the same grazing management and paddock number but with higher levels of sown pasture and soil fertility (farmlet A) and a farmlet with moderate soil fertility and intensive rotational grazing over 37 paddocks (farmlet C). Early in the experimental period, there were no significant differences between farmlets in the liveweight of any class of livestock. However, from the second year onwards, as the pasture renovation, soil fertility and grazing management treatments took effect, differences in liveweight between farmlets became more apparent and significant. The stocking rate, which was treated as an emergent property of each farmlet, reached a maximum annual average value after 5 years of 12.6, 8.5 and 7.7 dry sheep equivalents (dse)/ha on farmlets A, B and C representing 84, 113 and 51% of their respective target stocking rates which were 15, 7.5 and 15 dse/ha. The liveweights of ewes, both before joining and during pregnancy, varied with year and farmlet with those on farmlets A and B tending to be significantly heavier than those on farmlet C. From 2003 to 2006, liveweights were significantly (P < 0.001) affected by a wide array of factors and their interactions including: date, ewe age, green digestible herbage, legume herbage mass, proportion of farmlet grazed, stocking rate and level of supplementary feeding. The weights of lambs/weaners/hoggets, both pre- and post-weaning, were at times also higher on farmlets A and B compared with those on farmlet C and were affected by a similar range of factors to those which affected ewe weights. Similar relative differences also applied to the liveweights of the other livestock run on the farmlets, namely wethers and non-reproductive cattle. The results suggest that stocking rate was able to be increased towards the higher target of farmlet A due to the higher level of pasture renovation and soil fertility on that farmlet, which led to high liveweights per head as well as the higher stocking rate. However, as the stocking rate increased on farmlet A, the differences between farmlets in liveweight per head diminished and the need for supplementary feeding increased. In contrast, the intensive rotational grazing practised on farmlet C did not allow the farmlet to increase its stocking rate towards its higher target. It appears that the higher proportion of each of farmlets A and B grazed at any one time allowed all classes of livestock to reach higher liveweights per head than on farmlet C, due presumably to the greater proportion of those two farmlets grazed at any one time.

Post-experimental modelling of grazing systems to improve profit and environmental outcomes using AusFarm

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (9) ◽  
pp. 1849 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. Broadfoot ◽  
W. B. Badgery ◽  
G. D. Millar
Keyword(s):  
Management Strategies ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Experimental Modelling ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Sheep Production ◽  
Flexible Management ◽  
Stocking Rates

Assessments of grazing systems are often constrained by the decisions regarding the management of the grazing systems, including stocking rate, and also the seasonal conditions that occur during the assessment period. These constraints have led to sometimes conflicting results about comparisons of grazing management systems. This paper examines 1-, 4- and 20-paddock (1P, 4P and 20P) grazing management systems to determine how the intensity of grazing management on native pastures influences the financial performance of sheep production systems. The performance of the grazing systems, as part of the Orange EverGraze research experiment, was initially examined using the biophysical data over the 4 years of the experiment and then a more detailed analysis over a longer timeframe was undertaken using the AusFarm simulation modelling software. Flexible management strategies to optimise ewe numbers, sale time of lambs, and adjust ewe numbers based on season, were also assessed to determine which management systems are the most profitable and sustainable. There was higher profit for the 20P grazing system than the 1P system during the experiment. However, when stocking rates were held constant at optimum levels and systems were simulated over 40 years, there was no difference between grazing systems. Modelling strategies used to vary stocking rates showed that flexible management options are better based on optimising ewe numbers and the sale time of lambs rather than changing ewe numbers between years. The sustainability of modelled systems was also assessed using frequency of events where the average herbage mass (0.8 t DM/ha) or ground cover (80%) in autumn dropped below levels that are associated with degradation. Degradation events occurred more so with increasing ewe number than lamb sale time. Overall, the most sustainable systems, when considering profitability and environmental issues, had a stocking rate of 4.2 ewes per ha, with lambs sold in February (2 or 18). Higher stocking rates (5.3 ewes/ha) would need to be run for more intensive grazing management to have higher profitability.

Management of grazing systems

1989 ◽  
pp. 117-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Hodgson
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Pastoral Systems ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Alternative Means ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Stocking Rates

Recent assessments of the relative importance of stocking rate. stocking policy and grazing management on the output from pastoral systems are used as a starting point to argue the need for objective pasture assessments to aid control of livestock enterprises to meet production targets. Variations in stocking rates, stocking policy and other management practices all provide alternative means of control of pasture conditions which are the major determinants of pasture and animal performance. Understanding of the influence of pasture conditions on systems performance should provide a better basis for management control and for Communication between farmers, extension officers and researchers. Keywords: Stocking rate, pasture condition, pasture cover

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.

scholarly journals Milk yield and composition, feed intake and stocking rate of crossbread cows in tropical grasses managed in a rotational grazing system

2010 ◽  
Vol 39 (7) ◽  
pp. 1548-1557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nelson Massaru Fukumoto ◽  
Julio Cesar Damasceno ◽  
Fermino Deresz ◽  
Carlos Eugênio Martins ◽  
Antônio Carlos Cóser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
The Body ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Grazing System

The objective of this study was to evaluate milk yield and composition, dry matter intake, and stocking rate in pastures with tanzania grass (Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia), star grass (Cynodon nlemfuensis cv. Estrela-Africana), and marandu grass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu). The grasses were managed in a rotational grazing system with Holstein x Zebu crossbreed cows, with a 30-day resting period and three days of paddock occupation. The pastures were fertilized with 1,000 kg/ha/year using the 20:05:20 (NPK) formula, split in three applications during the rainy season. It was used a complete random block experimental design with three factors being studied and two replications. In the experiment, four cows/paddock were used and, when it was necessary, regulator animals were added in order to obtain a supply of 7% body weight green forage dry matter. The animals were individually fed concentrate at 2 kg/day during the experimental period. Milk yield did not differ among the three grasses, with values of 9.1; 9.1; and 8.7 kg/cow/day for pastures with tanzania grass, star grass and marandu grass, respectively. Similarly, grass did not affect milk chemical composition. Stocking rate was similar among the three grasses, with values of 4.6; 4.5 and 5.0 UA/ha for tanzania grass, star grass and marandu grass, respectively. The highest dry matter intake was observed for tanzania grass with 2.6% of the body weight while stargrass (2.3%) and marandu grass (2.4%) did not differ among each other. The highest dry matter intake on tanzania grass pasture was not reflected on milk yield per animal. Milk yield and composition and stocking rate are similar among the evaluated grasses.

scholarly journals Forage yield in pastures with bermuda grass mixed with different legumes

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Nunes Assis dos Anjos ◽  
Clair Jorge Olivo ◽  
Caroline Paim Sauter ◽  
Aline Rodrigues Silva ◽  
Fabiene Tomazetti dos Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Production Rate ◽  
Accumulation Rate ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Bermuda Grass ◽  
Holstein Cows ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Common Vetch ◽  
Grazing Systems

Three grazing systems with Coastcross-1 bermuda grass (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 were evaluated. Thirteen grazing cycles were performed during the experimental period (313 days), with two, five, four and two cycles respectively in winter, spring, summer and fall. Lactating Holstein cows were used in the evaluation. Daily accumulation rate, forage production, rate of forage disappearance, agronomic intake, grazing efficiency, herbage allowance and stocking rate were evaluated. Mean rates of forage yield and stocking rate were 20.8; 17.6 and 19.7 t DM ha-1 and 7.0; 6.8 to 6.8 animal units ha-1 day-1 for the respective forage systems. The mixture Coastcross-1 plus common vetch, fertilized with 100 kg N ha-1 year-1 and Coastcross-1 fertilized with 200 kg N ha-1 year-1 provided greater productivity and better distribution of forage throughout the seasons. 

Rotational grazing management of forage peanut

2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 495-505
Author(s):  
Lucas da Rocha Carvalho ◽  
Lilian Elgalise Techio Pereira ◽  
Sila Carneiro Da Silva
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Period ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Dry Matter Accumulation ◽  
Adaptation Period ◽  
Forage Grasses ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Grazing Tolerance ◽  
Tropical Forage

AbstractThe perennial forage peanut is a stoloniferous, perennial tropical legume with potential for use in pastures. Based on the hypothesis that under intermittent stocking herbage accumulation would follow a similar pattern to that described for tropical forage grasses, the objective of this study was to evaluate canopy characteristics and herbage accumulation of forage peanut subjected to strategies of rotational grazing management. Treatments corresponded to all possible combinations of two grazing frequencies (regrowth interrupted at 95% and maximum canopy light interception – LI95% and LIMax) and two grazing severities (post-grazing canopy heights (CHs) equivalent to 40 and 60% of the pre-grazing heights). Treatments were imposed to experimental units during an adaptation period (from November 2014 to January 2015) and the subsequent experimental period lasted from February 2015 to April 2016, comprising two consecutive pasture growing seasons with no interruption between them (summer I to summer II). The pre-grazing targets of LI95% and LIMax corresponded to CHs of 13 and 18 cm, respectively. Forage peanut showed high grazing tolerance as pre-grazing leaf area index (except during summer I and autumn/winter), total herbage, and leaflet dry matter accumulation varied only with seasons. Higher rates of herbage production were recorded during summer I and summer II, followed by those during late and early spring and autumn/winter. Since there was no difference in the pattern of herbage accumulation between LI95% and LIMax and stolons predominated at the bottom of the canopies, forage peanut may be rotationally grazed with greater flexibility than most tropical forage grasses. Recommended pre-grazing CHs are within 13 and 18 cm, and post-grazing heights between 40 and 60% of the pre-grazing height.

The inter-relationships of grazing method and stocking rate in the efficiency of pasture utilization by dairy cattle

1963 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. P. McMeekan ◽  
M. J. Walshe
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Vanishing Point ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Stocking Rates

1. A large-scale grazing management study comparing rotational grazing and continuous grazing with dairy cows at two stocking rates over four complete production seasons is described.2. The four treatments were: (i) controlled grazing, light stocking rate; (ii) controlled grazing, heavy stocking rate; (iii) uncontrolled grazing, light stocking rate; (iv) uncontrolled grazing, heavy stocking rate.Each treatment involved 40 cows for a first 2-year phase and 42 cows for the following 2 years. Each herd had a normal age distribution pattern and seven 2-year-old first lactation heifers (17% of total herd) were introduced each year to maintain this pattern.3. Stocking rate was the more important factor affecting the efficiency of pasture utilization as measured by per acre output of milk and butterfat. In general, high stocking was associated with higher outputs per acre despite lower yields per animal.4. Grazing method was of less importance. In general, controlled rotational grazing was superior to uncontrolled continuous grazing, both per animal and per acre, but the average influence even of these extremes of management was only half that of stocking rate.5. Significant interactions between stocking rate and grazing method existed. Under continuous grazing a point was reached where production per acre declined to the vanishing point with increased stocking rate due to excessive depression of per cow yield: this point was not reached under rotational grazing at the same high stocking levels.6. The results suggest that optimum stocking rate under rotational grazing occurs at a level some 5–10% higher than under continuous grazing. A depression of 10–12% in per cow yield, compared with more lenient grazing, corresponds with optimum stocking level irrespective of the grazing system. This estimate is suggested as a guide line in applying the principles involved.

scholarly journals Effects of three whole-farmlet management systems on Merino ewe fat scores and reproduction

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 740 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. N. Hinch ◽  
M. Lollback ◽  
S. Hatcher ◽  
J. Hoad ◽  
R. Marchant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Additive Model ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Emergent Properties ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Generalised Additive Model ◽  
District Management ◽  
Average Proportion ◽  
Fat Score

As part of the Cicerone Project’s whole-farmlet experiment on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, the fat scores and reproductive performance of ewes were measured to assess the effect of different management systems on these important production parameters over time. The three farmlets (each of 53 ha) included one (farmlet B) subjected to ‘typical’ district management consisting of moderate levels of inputs and a target stocking rate of 7.5 dse/ha, with flexible grazing management across eight paddocks. A second farmlet (A) was managed in a similar fashion to farmlet B with respect to number of paddocks and grazing management, but modified by high rates of pasture renovation and higher levels of soil fertility, with a target stocking rate of 15 dse/ha. The third farmlet (C) was managed at the same level of moderate inputs as farmlet B but employed intensive rotational grazing over 37 paddocks and also had a high target stocking rate of 15 dse/ha. The experiment was conducted over 6.5 years from July 2000 to December 2006. In spite of the fact that target levels of stocking rate were chosen at the beginning of the experiment, stocking rate, together with fat scores and reproduction were treated as emergent properties of each farmlet system. Joining took place in April–May and lambing occurred in September–October of each year. Over the first 2 years of the experiment, there were few differences among farmlets in ewe fat scores or reproductive performance. From 2003 onwards, while the percentage of ewes pregnant was similar between farmlets, the average proportion of multiple births (ewes scanned in late July, with twins) was 30%, 16% and 12%, respectively, on farmlets A–C. However, lamb losses were greater on farmlet A, with average lamb mortalities recorded on farmlets A–C of 29%, 10% and 19%, respectively. Over the duration of the experiment, ewes on farmlets A and B were more often above a fat score level of 3, and less often below 2.5, than were ewes from farmlet C. Differences among farmlet ewes in fat score were found to be significant in 7 of the total of 13 assessments over the duration of the experiment. A generalised additive model applied to whole-farmlet data showed that green digestible herbage, legume herbage, stocking rate, the amount of supplement fed and especially the proportion of each farmlet grazed at any one time all influenced fat scores of ewes. While fat scores and conception rates tended to be highest on farmlet A, farmlet B had slightly better reproductive outcomes due to less lambing losses, whereas ewes on farmlet C tended to have somewhat lower fat scores and levels of reproduction. These farmlet-scale findings highlighted the importance for livestock managers to focus not only on grazing management, stocking rate and stock density during lambing, but also on the availability of sufficient green, and especially legume herbage, and the difficulty of overcoming a deficit in quality herbage with supplementation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document