ISSN:
1365-2494
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Herbage characteristics were studied over years 4–6 (1988–90) in three perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) varieties as grass-only (200 kg N ha-1) and grass/clover (Trifolium repens L.) swards which received 75kg N ha-1 in 1988 and 0kg N ha-1 in 1989 and 1990 when continuously stocked with sheep. Mean total annual herbage production of Aurora, a very early flowering variety, was 11% more than that of late-flowering Aberystwyth S23 due to 21% higher growth as grass/clover pasture. The grass/clover sward of Meltra, a tetraploid late-flowering variety, out-yielded S23/clover by 17%. Herbage production of grass/clover was 86% of that of grass only in 1988 but only 54% of the grass-only swards averaged for 1989 and 1990. In vitro organic matter digestibility (OMD) of Meltra was 38g kg-1 OM and 27g kg-1 OM higher than that of S23 and Aurora respectively. OMD of grass/clover was 15g kg-1 OM higher than that of grass only during the post-weaning period. Herbage intake was positively correlated with OMD of herbage.The herbage attributes were related to lamb performance reported previously. Lamb output was positively correlated with intake of digestible organic matter.Differences between the three varieties in herbage characteristics were greater as grass/clover than as grass-only swards, reflecting their compatibility with white clover. In this respect Meltra was the best and S23 the poorest variety.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2494.1993.tb01854.x
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