Grazing rotation length on kikuyu grass pastures in autumn and winter

Abstract

The liveweight of beef cattle and the herbage mass and botanical composition of pastures based on kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst, ex Chiov) were monitored in 3 trials which investigated the effects of rotational grazing from April to October at Dargaville, Northland. Rising 2-2year-old steers grazed on 3-or 9-week rotation from March to September did not differ in liveweight gain to October, although hay, at 60 kg dry matter/head, was required to be fed to the animals in the 3-week rotation. For rising yearling bulls grazing on a 3-or 6-week rotation from late March to late August, liveweights in October were higher in the 6-week rotation group. With rising yearling bulls grazing on 2-or 6-week rotations in April and May, liveweight gain to October was lower in the shorter rotation. With longer rotations, increases in the ryegrass content and in pasture growth rates in spring were observed, indicating that pasture and animal productivity may be enhanced in kikuyu grass-based pastures in Northland by grazing on long ( > 3 weeks) rather than short rotations during autumn and winter.

Keywords:

• kikuyu grass
• Pennisetum clandestinum
• beef cattle
• pasture production
• pasture composition
• herbage allowance
• grazing rotation