Nutrition of Halfbred Ewes on Improved Tussock Grassland

E.W. Vartha and P.T.P. Clifford

Grasslands Division, DSIR, Lincoln

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Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1971, 31: 97-104

Performance of two-year-old (two-tooth) and three- to five-year-old ewes grazing part-improved tussock grassland was compared with that of similar ewes grazing unimproved tussock grassland, both at stocking rates of 0.75 to 1 ewe per acre. Improvement was by over-drilled clovers, grasses, and green-feed ryecorn.

Feeding clover pasture from mating in May to early winter enabled significant savings to be made in winter hay ration. Insufficient ryecorn green-feed was grown from over-drilling to warrant its use.

Wool weight was not affected by variation in winter feeding. Percentage of lambs reared to tailing was not consistently affected by autumn clover feeding.

Ewe performance in early spring was markedly superior on part-improved tussock grassland and their advantage in liveweight was retained through to when lambs were weaned. Growth rate of lambs was generally superior on part-improved tussock grassland.

The results suggest it may be advantageous to utilize seasonally-grown herbage when it is of high quality, because value for feeding rapidly deteriorates when conserved as standing crop for cool season use.

Keywords: NZSAPAB;

Last Updated 24-08-2000