Stevens, DThompson, BCarruthers, AWall, ACasey, MPhiskie, RYoung, PMoot, Derrick2013-01-302012Stevens, D. R., Thompson, B. R., Carruthers, A., Wall, A. J.,Casey, M. J., Phiskie, R., Young, P. & Moot, D. J. (2012). Understanding the role of spring grazing of lucerne in the Central Otago environment. In Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association, 74, 69-76.0369-3902BDU91 (isidoc)https://hdl.handle.net/10182/5219The 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.pp.69-75enCopyright © The Authors and New Zealand Grassland Association.whole farm systemsdrylandlamb growthlucernemodellingprofitabilitystocking rateConference Contribution - published