Results of grazing trials on ladino clover

Abstract

Ladino white clover grown under irrigation at the Kokstad Research Station exhibits two major periods of growth, the one in the spring when growth rates reach values of 1 100 kg DM/ha/week and the other in autumn, when a maximum growth rate of 530 kg DM/ha/week was recorded. Quality declined and the dry matter content increased as the season advanced.

Lambs performed considerably better in the spring than in summer and at this time (i.e. spring), lamb performance was less sensitive to stocking rate, particularly when continuously grazed. In spring there was a distinct advantage of continuous grazing systems over rotation systems in the seasonally fixed stocking rate treatments but the latter systems allowed for better lamb performance in summer and autumn, so that the average performance for the season was independent of the grazing system adopted. Among the variable stocking rate treatments applied, continuous grazing was superior to rotational grazing.

Uittreksel

Ladino wit klawer wat onderbesproeiing gevestig is te Kokstad Navorsingstasie, het twee hoof groei periodes getoon. Die eerste in die lente, wanneer die groei tempo 1 100 kg/DM/ha/week bereik het en die tweede in die herfs wanneer die maksimum wat gemeet is 530 kg DM/ha/week was. Met die verloop van die seisoen het die kwaliteit gedaal en die droë materiaal inhoud gestyg.

Lammers het veel beter gevaar in die lente, as in die somer en herfs. In die lente is lammergroei minder gevoelig teenoor veelading, veral as aanhoudende beweiding gebruik word. Gedurende die lente het aanhoudende beweiding ‘n besliste voordeel bo die wisselweiding stelsels (vasgestelde drukbeweidings behandelings) getoon. Laasgenoemde stelsels het beter lammergroei getoon gedurende somer en herfs, met die gevolg dat die gemiddelde groei deur die seisoen, onaf‐hanklik van die weiding stelsel was. In soverre dit die veranderlike, veelading behandelings betref was aanhoudende beweiding beter as wisselweiding.

Notes

Extracts from M.Sc. thesis submitted by senior author.