Mixtures of clovers with plantain and chicory improve lamb production performance compared to a ryegrass–white clover sward in the late spring and early summer period

Abstract

AbstractA research programme was undertaken over two consecutive years with the purpose of studying the effect of herb–clover swards on lamb production performance year‐round. The focus of this study was on two consecutive late spring and early summer periods (2011, 2012). In each year, three sward treatments were compared on grazed paddocks with 40 lambs ha−1: (i) grass–clover mixture (perennial ryegrass [Lolium perenne L.] and white clover [Trifolium repens]); (ii) plantain–clover mixture (plantain [Plantago lanceolata], white clover and red clover [Trifolium pratense]); and (iii) chicory–plantain–clover mixture (plantain, chicory [Cichorium intybus L.] and white and red clovers). Lambs were weighed at 2‐week intervals, and carcass weights and GR tissue depth measurements were obtained at slaughter. In both years, lambs on treatments (ii) and (iii) had greater (P < 0·05) final live weight, liveweight gain, carcass weight, dressing‐out percentage and GR tissue depth measurements, and lower feed conversion ratio compared to lambs on treatment (i). Lamb production was similar in treatments (ii) and (iii) (P > 0·05) in each year. Therefore, during the late spring and early summer period, herb–clover mixture swards were found to be a superior option to perennial ryegrass–white clover for finishing lambs.