Winter grazing and dead material effects on early spring pasture production

Abstract

ABSTRACTImproved performance of the national ewe flock along with the displacement of finishing farms into hill country has increased pressure on spring pasture production. Increasing spring pasture production to cope with this increased demand is considered one of the main areas of improvement needed in hill country farming. A trial was set up in the South Island of New Zealand to determine the response of spring pasture production to two winter grazing intensities across three levels of sward dead material. Total spring pasture production was unaffected by winter grazing intensity. Winter dead material levels significantly affected total spring pasture production. Plots with high dead material levels (>60%) grew 657 kg DM/ha less than plots with low dead material levels (<30%) over the spring period. Reducing the amount of dead material in the sward is recommended as the shading of grass tillers by dead material reduces growth of new pasture.