Winter feeding - changing labour requirements and productivity

Stevens, D.R.; Casey, M. J.; Scandrett, J; Baxter, G.S.

doi:10.33584/jnzg.2011.73.2850

Cited by 10 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Ewe body condition score is an important part of maintaining consistent production from season to season (Stevens et al 2011). Flocks grazing lucerne had higher condition scores at weaning, as reported previously by Avery et al (2008).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

Understanding the role of spring grazing of lucerne in the Central Otago environment

Stevens

Thompson²,

Carruthers³

et al. 2012

ProNZG

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The 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. Keywords: dryland, lamb growth, lucerne, modelling, profitability, stocking rate, whole farm systems.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

Understanding the role of spring grazing of lucerne in the Central Otago environment

Stevens

Thompson²,

Carruthers³

et al. 2012

ProNZG

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“…At the other extreme, long-term saturation of soils also poses a problem with damage both to the pasture and the soil, which often take a significant amount of time to recover from (e.g., Stevens et al 2011).…”

Section: Climatic Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Managements like this, which have resulted in higher pasture covers in spring, have been documented to increase overall ewe flock performance and profitability (e.g., Johns et al 2016). Spring productivity may also be significantly increased when winter grazing management is changed from daily to 4-daily shifting, potentially through reduced treading damage and increased post-grazing residuals, without compromising animal intake (Stevens et al 2011). This ability to maintain intake and leave a higher residual after grazing demonstrates the impact of treading losses at high stocking densities.…”

Section: The Potential Of Animal Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using new insights in grazing management to buffer the impacts of climatic variability on pasture resilience

Stevens

Matthew²,

Tozer³

2021

NZGA R&P Series

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Pasture is the main source of nutrition for the New Zealand ruminant livestock industry. Changing climatic conditions and relentless intensification are putting the ability of pastures to provide that nutrition under pressure. Recent understanding of the interactions between grazing management and the life cycle of roots, leaves and seedheads of pasture species creates further opportunities to increase pasture resilience. Root production is directly related to, though lagging, leaf production and turnover. Tiller production is modified by temperature and seedhead production. Matching grazing patterns to maximise the production of each of these features is generally impossible at the farm scale. However, matching some of these characteristics on some of the farm can be achievable, and have long-lasting benefits for pasture resilience. Therefore, grazing management practices such as deferred grazing in late spring, summer and autumn may be used both to provide a boost to root and tiller production, and to transfer feed from one grazing period to another. Changing our winter management practices away from intensive daily allocations towards 4-day shifting may also increase early spring production, while reducing summer grazing pressure in droughts will aid pasture productivity and persistence in the long term. These techniques have the potential to ensure that the future nutritional needs of grazing ruminants will continue to be met by grazed pasture.

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“…Pasture growth in hill country can vary significantly during spring (Li et al 2012). At this time the grazier relies on the energy reserves of the ewe to buffer shortfalls in feed supply (Stevens et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential impacts of different spring grazing strategies on lamb finishing in hill country

Stevens¹,

Wall²,

Tho³

2015

Journal of NZ Grasslands

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How does the pasture cover at the beginning of lambing and the grazing strategy used in early spring influence the ability of a hill country sheep and beef farm to finish lambs? The results from an intensive pasture-mowing trial investigating three defoliation intensities (Lax, Moderate and Intense) starting from two herbage masses (1200 or 1500 kg DM/ha) during early spring were used to provide data on potential pasture consumption and feed quality from lambing to weaning for a breeding ewe flock. Using simulation modelling, this pasture data was used to estimate the potential lamb and ewe liveweight changes from birth to weaning at each of three different stocking rates (4.5, 8 and 10.5 twin-bearing ewes/ha) that closely represented the three defoliation intensities originally studied in a mowing trial. The impacts of these early-spring herbage masses and grazing intensities/ stocking rates on subsequent feed requirements and potential lamb finishing during the later summer and autumn period in four contrasting geo-climatic regions of New Zealand were then further investigated using simulation modelling. Variations in ewe and lamb weaning weights were evident and reflected the amount of pasture available through the different grazing management approaches. For all four geoclimatic regions studied, the Intense grazing, high stocking rate strategy generally produced the greatest gross revenue per ha from lamb sales out of the three grazing strategies investigated, though not significantly greater than the moderate stocking rate in summer dry environments. However, under Intense grazing, a high pasture cover (1500 kg DM/ha), in comparison to a low pasture cover (1200 kg DM/ha) at the start of ewe lactation further improved the gross revenue received from lamb sales, especially in the Canterbury and Waikato environments but less so in the Hawke's Bay and Southland environments. These variations demonstrate how iterations based on the same starting properties impact on weaning weight of lambs and post-weaning pasture growth and/or feed quality. Keywords: emergence, feed supply, geo-climatic regions, iteration, lactation, lamb weaning weight, pasture quality.

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Winter feeding - changing labour requirements and productivity

Cited by 10 publications

References 10 publications

Understanding the role of spring grazing of lucerne in the Central Otago environment

Understanding the role of spring grazing of lucerne in the Central Otago environment

Using new insights in grazing management to buffer the impacts of climatic variability on pasture resilience

Potential impacts of different spring grazing strategies on lamb finishing in hill country

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