Understanding the role of spring grazing of lucerne in the Central Otago environment
Stevens, D.; Thompson, B.; Carruthers, A.; Wall, A.; Casey, M.; Phiskie, R.; Young, P.; Moot, Derrick J.
Abstract
The Lucerne for Lambs Sustainable Farming Fund
project used on-farm data and whole-farm modelling
to help farmers understand the impact of increasing
the amount of grazing dryland lucerne on Central
Otago farms. On-farm results from 2 years showed that
spring stocking rate on lucerne-based pasture averaged
10 ewes and their lambs per hectare compared with 3
ewes and their lambs on dryland grass-based pasture.
Lamb growth rate was approximately 50 g/day
higher on lucerne-based pastures, resulting in a total
lamb production of 358 kg liveweight/ha at weaning
compared with 108 kg liveweight/ha on grass-based
pastures. Whole-farm modelling showed that increased
profitability could be achieved by the addition of
significant areas of grazing lucerne. Profitability
increased by $119/ha on a 5000 ha traditional merino
property. Profitability of a 522 ha partially irrigated
valley floor property running crossbred ewes was
increased by $249/ha. Using lucerne for spring grazing
also reduced the impacts of both winter and summer
droughts in the variable conditions of Central Otago.... [Show full abstract]
Keywords
whole farm systems; dryland; lamb growth; lucerne; modelling; profitability; stocking rateDate
2012Type
Conference Contribution - Published (Conference Paper)Collections
Copyright © The Authors and New Zealand Grassland Association.