Dry matter production data for pure lucerne, overdrilled lucerne and pasture are presented for 14 sites on pumice soils. On average, the annual dry matter yield of lucerne, harvested at early basal shoot movement, was 50% higher than from pasture, ranging from 128% higher on a drought-prone soil where the pasture was dominant browntop to 33% on a more moisture-retentive soil type where the pasture was ryegrass dominant. From April until late October there was little difference in total dry matter between lucerne and pasture, although pasture had a .more even distribution of usable production than lucerne 'managed for maximum yield. Attempts to fill the winter/spring gap in lucerne production through introducing grasses and cereals have met with variable success. It is suggested that, on the more moisture-retentive soils, pasture production could be improved through grazing management and the use of more drought-resistant cultivars. Such an approach may meet the feed demands of animals more closely than an increasing dependence on lucerne with its specific management requirements.
ALMOST all the discussions on forest farming to date have centred on the tree establishment stage, or at least the very early years of the stand. This being so new a concept, and with few forests planted on farmed grassland, such emphasis is understandable. However, although tree establishment is an important phase, in the end the system must stand or fall agriculturally by the pastoral production obtained among stands for older, say, 4 years plus, trees. The trees will then be beyond browsing damage and the underlying pastures could supply substantial grazing until canopy closure. How much grazing and for how long are major questions to be answered.
A flock of 370 Dorset x Romney ewes with up to 96% autumn lambtng was developed without the aid of hormones. Data from flock and experimental records were used to compare the performance of autumn- and spring-born lambs and their dams. Preliminary findings for three seasons show that ewes lambed in autumn had a greater spread of lambing, lower litter size and fewer perinatal lamb deaths. Growth of suckling lambs was similar in winter and spring. After weaning, autumn-born lambs grew faster than spring~born lambs of the same age (104 v 34 g/hd/day). The proportion of lambs reaching killable weights by January was 90% and 10% for autumn and spring lambs respectively. Keywords: Lambing time, autumn, spring, lambing performance, lamb liveweight gain.
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