Performance of mixtures of ryegrass cultivars and prairie grass with red clover cultivars under two grazing frequencies

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Abstract
Seasonal production of 6 grass-legume [Trifolium pratense ''Grasslands [G.] Hamat'' + Bromus catharticus ''G. ''Matua''; T. pratense ''G. Turoa'' + B. catharticus ''G. Matua''; T. pratense ''G. Pawera'' B. catharticus ''G. matua''; T. pratense ''G. Pawera'' + L. multiflorum ''G. Tama''; T. pratense ''G. Pawera'' + L. (multiflorum .times. perenne) ''G. Manawa''; T. pratense ''G. Pawera'' + L. perenne ''G. Nui''] mixtures comparing the ''Grasslands'' red clover cultivars ''Hamua'', ''Turoa'' and ''Pawera'', and the grasses ''Matua'' prairie grass and ''Tama'', ''Manawa'' and ''Nui'' ryegrasses, was measured under 2 frequencies of grazing by sheep. Infrequent grazing increased annual dry matter production by 35% relative to frequent grazing. All mixtures showed a marked shift of dominance from grass in spring to red clover in summer, which gave high herbage growth rates for a large part of the year. The ''Nui''-''Pawera'' mixture yielded most and its grass-legume composition was the most stable at both grazing frequencies. Frequent grazing markedly reduced production and survival of ''Matua'' prairie grass. ''Pawera'' red clover yielded more than ''Turoa'' and ''Hamua'' at both grazing frequencies. ''Hamua'' yielded markedly less under frequent grazing and ''Turoa'' yielded less with infrequent grazing. Where yield of sown cultivars was low, total yield was compensated by increased yield of unsown species.

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