Farmers are aware of the increasing amount of information
comparing alternative cultivars in dry
environments in New Zealand. Animal production
data in cool moist environments was unknown. To
compare relative animal performance six different
grasses were sown with Grasslands Tahora white
clover (Trifolium repens L.) in 0.25 ha plots in two
replicates in December 1988 at the Gore Research
Centre in Southland. The six grasses were Grasslands
Nui perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.),
Grasslands Roa tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea
L)., Grasslands Kara cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata
L). Grasslands Matua prairie grass (Bromus
willdenowii Kunth), Grasslands Hakari upland brome
(Bromus sitchensis), and Grasslands Kahu timothy
(Phleum pratense L). These pastures were rotationally
grazed with goats through spring and summer
of the following two years; 2-weekly liveweight
gain of 10 goats was recorded. Stocking rate was
estimated from the addition of extra goats each
week to achieve a residual pasture height of 100
mm. Spring liveweight gains (mid Sept-late Nov)
were greatest on timothy and least on prairie grass.
Stocking rate in spring was highest on the upland
brome and tall fescue pastures and lowest for
prairie grass and timothy pastures. Prairie grass
pastures produced less total liveweight gain per ha
than the other pastures. During summer, goat
liveweight gains were ranked similarly to spring.
Stocking rates were greatest on upland brome, and
lowest on tall fescue. Total liveweight gain per ha
in summer was greatest on the timothy pastures
and least on prairie grass pastures.[Show full abstract]
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