Animal production evaluation of herbage varieties. 1. Comparison of Aurora with Frances, Talbot and Melle perennial ryegrasses when grown alone and with clover

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Abstract
Comparative herbage characteristics and sheep production (ewes and lambs until weaning and lambs thereafter) from swards of Aurora (very early flowering), Frances (early flowering), Talbot (intermediate flowering) and Melle (late flowering) varieties of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) were studied under a continuous variable stocking management based on sward surface height guidelines. The varieties were assessed as grass‐only (215 kg N ha−1 fertilizer) and grass/clover (83 kg N ha−1 fertilizer) pastures.Over 2 years (1985‐86) total annual lamb production per hectare from grass‐only swards of Aurora was 19% more than that from Frances despite similar herbage productivity. Differences between the varieties in lamb output were more pronounced as grass/clover swards, with Aurora producing 29 and 18% more lamb than Melle and Talbot respectively and with Frances also giving 16% more than Melle. Overall lamb production from grass/clover swards was 10% more than that from the grass‐only pastures, mainly due to 69% advantage in individual lamb growth rates after weaning. Herbage organic matter digestibility, during the post‐weaning period, was higher on grass/clover than on grass‐only swards, and similarly with Aurora versus the other varieties. Under a frequent cut simulated grazing regime the relative herbage productivity of the four varieties differed, with Aurora 13% less productive than Frances.The results are discussed in relation to the limitations of assessing performance under cutting, and the significance of the interaction in animal productivity between the two sward types.

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