A Comparison of Grass‐Legume Mixtures, Legumes, and Grass Under Irrigation as Pasture for Sheep 1

Self Cite

A study was conducted to determine changes in certain characteristics of rotation grazed irrigated orchardgrass‐alfalfa pastures. Samples for botanical composition and selected proximate components were taken from esophageal fistulated animals and by hand collection. Botanical composition at the beginning of each rotation from the esophageal samples was similar to that of the hand samples. However, at the end of the rotations the esophageal samples had a grass‐alfalfa ratio of 6:1 while the hand samples had a ratio of 3:2. Dry matter digestibility was similar each year but first‐day samples were more highly digestible than last‐day samples. for a given date there was no difference between dry matter digestibilities of hand and esophageal samples. First‐day samples had higher protein levels than last‐day samples. There was more protein in the esophageal samples than in the hand samples but it was not as digestible. The net effect was that by both methods the estimate of digestible protein intake per unit weight of dry matter was approximately equal. Crude fiber was higher at the end of a rotation than at the beginning and the esophageal samples contained less crude fiber than the hand samples. Crude fiber digestibility declined in both kinds of samples from the first to last day of grazing a rotation. Total digestible crude fiber intake per unit weight of dry matter intake was not the same for the two methods.

Section: Alfalfa Percentagessupporting

confidence: 81%

Evaluation of Rotation Grazed Pastures from Esophageal and Hand Gathered Forage Samples¹

Heinemann¹,

Russel

1969

Self Cite

“…N ITROGEN fertilization of grass-legume pastures may affect production per animal, production per acre, and seasonal distribution of production, and all of these factors must be considered when the effects of pasture fertilization are evaluated. Average daily gains of sheep (7) and steers (1,13) have been reported as higher with a grass-legume mixture than with grass fertilized with nitrogen, but Campling et al ( 4) noted no difference in average daily milk production of cows on grass and those on grass-legume pastures.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Fertilizer Nitrogen on Yield and Nitrogen Uptake by Grass‐Legume Pastures¹

Doll¹,

Hatfield²,

Todd³

1961

“…Cattle that grazed the grass-legume mixtures also graded higher after slaughter than those grazed on pure grass. The same workers ( 6) reported higher weights of lambs and ewes and higher average daily weight gains from grass-legume mixtures l:han from N-fertilized grass pastures.…”

Section: Review Of Literaturementioning

confidence: 84%

Regression of Milk Production on Forage Production and Forage Consumption¹

Austenson¹,

Murdock²,

Hodgson³

et al. 1959