Ryegrass-white Clover Sward Research Articles

Studies on the cutting management of grass-clover swards:V. The effect of changes in the closeness of cutting at different times in the season on the yield and quality of herbage from a perennial rygrass-white clover sward

1. The effects of changing the closeness of cutting at different times in the season on the yields and quality of herbage were studied for 3 years on a perennial ryegrass-white clover sward.

The influence of stage of growth, closeness of defoliation, and moisture on the growth and productivity of a ryegrass–white clover sward:I. Effect on herbage yields

1. An experiment was conducted in 1959 and 1960 on a rye-grass-white clover sward under a ventilated Dutch light structure to study the influence of the following treatments in all combinations. Cutting to within 1 in. or within 3 in. of ground level, cutting six times per year as for grazing or four times a year as for silage, applying water to restore the soil to field capacity (a) when the soil moisture tension at 1 ft. depth reached 10 cm. Hg, or (6) when the soil moisture tension at 1 ft. reached 50 cm, Hg, or (c) once only in the growing season. Observations were made on the effect of the treatments on the yield and seasonal distribution of herbage dry matter, the clover content, the crude-protein and crude-fibre content, and the root weights.

The feed intake of grazing cattle. II. The influence of size of animal on feed intake

1. Two experiments each with 3 dry cows, 3 heifers and 3 calves were carried out in 1959 and 1960 under uniform continuous grazing conditions on a ryegrass-white clover sward to measure individual feed intake by the chromic oxide-faecal nitrogen method.2. Estimates of digestibility were high (70–82% in organic matter) and there was evidence that calves selected a diet of higher digestibility than cows.3. Mean daily estimates of organic matter intake were for cows (1300 lb. live-weight) 23·5 lb., for heifers (790 lb. live-weight) 20·8 lb. and for calves (450 lb. live-weight) 14·3 lb. Corresponding digestible organic matter intakes were 17·4, 15·3 and 11·0 lb.4. Relationships between digestible organic matter intake and liveweight were calculated and the merits of the exponents 0·62 and 0·73 of liveweight discussed.5. The results were compared with accepted cow equivalent standards and, regardless of the exponent chosen, agreed with the system which adopts higher values for young grazing cattle.