Effects of summer grazing management on the performance of ‘Grasslands Huia’ and ‘Grasslands 4700’ white clovers in pastures

Abstract

Abstract ‘Grasslands Ariki’ ryegrass-clover (either ‘Grasslands 4700’ or ‘Grasslands Huia’) pastures were grazed at 2- and 4-weekly intervals to a height of 1 cm and 3–4 cm respectively over the dry season (January–April) for 3 years. For the remainder of each year and for the whole of the fourth year all pastures were grazed simultaneously down to 3 cm from 15 cm height. Management had little effect on total yields, but hard grazing (2-week) in the dry season reduced 4700 clover growth to a level similar to that of Huia, whereas longer spelling (4-week) increased 4700 clover growth with a consequent reduction in ryegrass annual yield. Removal of hard grazing in the fourth year increased 4700 clover content in the summer to a level approaching that of the longer-spelled system. Seasonal variation of weather markedly influenced treatment effects.