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Animal liveweight gain from lucerne and lucerne/grass mixes

Research Archive

Animal liveweight gain from lucerne and lucerne/grass mixes

Coutts, Emma J.
Type: Dissertation
Permalink: https://hdl.handle.net/10182/5748
Originally published: 2013 by Lincoln University
Keywords: botanical composition; brome; Bromus willdenowii; alfalfa; cocksfoot; Dactylis glomerata; dryland; grazing brome; Medicago sativa; prairie grass; water use
Fields of Research: 070202 Animal Growth and Development; 070304 Crop and Pasture Biomass and Bioproducts; 070303 Crop and Pasture Biochemistry and Physiology

Abstract:

Animal production from lucerne has proved superior to other pastures in dryland situations, however there is interest in lucerne/grass mixes an as alternative to lucerne monocultures. A farmlet study was set up with lucerne monocultures, lucerne/cocksfoot and lucerne/brome mixes. Annual liveweight production was 865 kg/ha for lucerne monocultures and lucerne/cocksfoot, compared with 746 kg/ha for lucerne/brome. During spring, 78% of total liveweight production was from lambs that maintained growth rates of ∼300 g/head/d on all pastures. Accumulated dry matter yields were ∼12 t/ha for all pastures. All pastures used 612 mm of water at an efficiency of 22 kg DM/ha/mm. Temperature did not influence dry matter yield across pastures, all produced 5.5 kg DM/ha/°Cd. Botanical composition was similar for all pastures, but livestock on lucerne monocultures consumed 100 kg DM/ha more weeds than lucerne/grass. Stock grazing lucerne/brome actively selected for legumes, and against brome and dead material, resulting in a decline in pasture quality. Differences in liveweight gain were explained by different stocking rates for each treatment, not by quantity or quality of herbage. Utilizing a ‘leader follower’ system of ewes and lambs followed by cattle could aid to maintain the herbage quality of lucerne/grass mixes by avoiding a built up of reproductive and dead material.

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