Effects of pasture species mixture, management, and environment on the productivity and persistence of dairy pastures in south-west Victoria. 1. Herbage accumulation and seasonal growth pattern

Abstract

An experiment was conducted on 2 contrasting soil types for 4 years (1998–2001) to determine the effects of plant species mixture, management inputs, and environment on sown species herbage accumulation (SSHA) and seasonal growth pattern of pastures for dairy production. Five pasture types, combined with 3 management treatments, were established in south-west Victoria. Three of the pasture types were based on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.). One pasture type included short-term, winter- or summer-active species in the perennial ryegrass–white clover mixture. The final pasture type was based on the perennial grasses cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), and phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.). The 3 management treatments involved different levels of fertiliser input and weed/pest control. Pasture type had a significant impact on SSHA in 3 of 4 years. In the first year, the mixture based on cocksfoot, tall fescue, and phalaris had the lowest SSHA, but this pasture matched other types from 1999 onwards and yielded the highest in 2000, the year with the driest summer during the experiment. Ryegrass–white clover mixture based on old cultivars had generally lower SSHA than the other types except in the first year. Higher fertiliser inputs increased SSHA by 16–28% in 1998, 1999, and 2001. There was a significant site × pasture type interaction on SSHA in 2000. The mixture based on cocksfoot, tall fescue, and phalaris produced up to 1–2 t DM/ha.year more than the other types in summer and autumn in dry–normal years. The inclusion of short-term species, or more stoloniferous white clover cultivars, in the ryegrass–white clover mixture, had little effect on SSHA, or on the seasonal distribution of pasture growth. Pastures based on perennial grasses other than perennial ryegrass appear to have potential for altering the seasonality of pasture growth in south-west Victoria, although the benefits resulting from changing pasture type will depend on environment. Overall, increasing management inputs usually had a greater effect on SSHA than changing pasture type, but management responses were also affected by environment, particularly through the effects of a dry season on a sandy soil type.

In situ rumen degradation kinetics as affected by type of pasture and date of harvest

“…In humid-temperate regions, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) pastures are the main source of nutrients for dairy cattle; however alternatives that might improve farm sustainability have been evaluated (Nie et al, 2004). Naturalized fertilized pastures may be suitable for cattle production systems as they have similar herbage mass yield and nutrient content as sown pastures; and lower production costs (Balocchi et al, 2010).…”

Implementing innovative farm management practices on dairy farms:a review of feeding systems

“…This is important in the development and selection of alternative feeding systems that are appropriate for southwestern Victorian climate conditions (15). Pasture-based systems complemented by alternative forages may provide higher total DM/ha compared to solely pasture-based systems only, but higher DM availability in these systems may not always lead to increased profitability.…”

“…The growth rate declines considerably in late summer (January and February) and early autumn (March and April) and winter (June, July, and August) (4,15) (Figure 1) (16). High rates of pasture growth in spring can be attributed to the increased grass content of the sward, while low summer growth rates can manifest increases in dead material (17).…”

“…Pasture-based systems complemented by alternative forages may provide higher total DM/ha compared to solely pasture-based systems only, but higher DM availability in these systems may not always lead to increased profitability. However, if successful, these systems may offer improved nutrient availability and improved N and water-use efficiency (4,15,39,47,48). Jacobs and Woodward (36) suggest that increasing the use of legume forages such as white clover, lucerne, and lotus may supplement the pasture-based systems especially in late lactation due to their high forage quality and increased DM intake.…”

“…To date, the majority of research studying pasturebased systems has modelled growth patterns of pasture and pasture products (15,16,45,46) and studied the yield and nutritive characteristics of different feed types including pasture and pasture products (17,21,27,39,43) throughout a production year. There seems to be few studies reporting pasture surplus and deficit profiles of different pasture-based systems for subsequent lactations.…”