Effects of shrub encroachment on herbage production and nutritive value in semi-arid Mediterranean grasslands

There is limited information on the effects of the increase in the density of shrubs on herbage production and nutritive value of natural grasslands in the Mediterranean region, currently facing major land use changes. Herbage production of drymatter (herbaceous fractions, of plant functional groups and by species), crude protein (CP), neutral‐detergent fibre (NDF), acid‐detergent fibre (ADF), acid‐detergent lignin (ADL) and hemicellulose concentrations and in vitro organic matter digestibility were determined at the time of peak of annual growth across four types of grassland vegetation each characterized by different shrub cover regimes. A sharp reduction in herbage production and a reduction in nutritive value were found as a result of the increase in shrub cover. These changes appeared to be closely related to the shift in plant functional groups detected as shrub density increased. Herbage production from grasses and legumes was found to be more sensitive to shrub cover changes than herbage production from forbs, whereas, as grassland types became denser, annual species were gradually replaced by perennials and C₄ grasses by C₃ ones. The impact of shrub encroachment on Mediterranean grasslands is discussed in relation to their use by livestock.     

Nutritional quality of semi-arid grassland in western Spain over a 10-year period: changes in chemical composition of grasses, legumes and forbs

From 1987 to 1996, the nutritional quality of the main botanical components (grasses, legumes and forbs) in semi-arid grasslands in the dehesa ecosystem in western Spain was analysed. Herbage samples were collected at the end of spring, in 30 locations, at two different topographic positions (upper and lower slope zones). Herbage mass over 2 cm and proportion of botanical components were estimated and samples were analysed for crude protein, neutral-detergent fibre (NDF), hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin and in vitro dry matter digestibility (DMD). Analysis of variance revealed a significant effect of sampling year on the herbage mass, proportion of botanical components and their nutritional quality. The three botanical groups, grasses, legumes and forbs, followed similar year-to-year trends in their crude protein, cellulose and lignin contents and in vitro DMD. Herbage mass was not significantly related to any meteorological variables, suggesting that interannual variation in biomass production of botanically complex pastures cannot be explained by a single factor. However, annual precipitation was significantly related to the proportion of the botanical group that was dominant at each slope zone: grasses in the lower zone and forbs in the upper zone. In the upper zone, spring precipitation explained part of the interannual variation in the NDF, cellulose, lignin contents and in vitro DMD of the botanical components.     

Plant diversity effects on herbage production and compositional changes in New Zealand hill country pastures

A small‐plot field experiment on grazed hill country pastures in the North Island of New Zealand was conducted to examine the productivity and compositional characteristics of swards in response to variation in pasture species diversity. The balanced incomplete factorial design incorporated variation in location, slope, soil fertility and combinations of eight plant functional groups (C₄ grasses, annual grasses, annual legumes, perennial C₃ grasses, perennial legumes, perennial forbs, ryegrass and browntop). Net herbage accumulation and botanical composition were measured at 18 months (spring) and 24 months (autumn) after oversowing following application of a systemic herbicide. Analysis of variance indicated a significant positive relationship between the number of functional groups sown and herbage accumulation of the sown species in spring, but not with total herbage accumulation. Regression analysis showed that herbage accumulation was also affected by the identity of the functional groups. However, the statistical models indicated that pasture productivity was most strongly influenced by site factors. There was a significant negative relationship between both the number and herbage accumulation of unsown species and the number of functional groups sown, indicating a positive relationship between diversity and resistance to invasion by unsown species. A comparison of the vegetation between the plots before and after oversowing showed that those more diverse prior to sowing returned to their initial composition more rapidly, evidence that diverse vegetation was more resilient in the face of disturbance.     

Cattle select against the invasive grass tall fescue in heterogeneous pastures managed with prescribed fire

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is a Eurasian forage grass extensively planted in the United States. However, an endophytic fungus in tall fescue, Epichloë coenophiala, causes health problems in cattle. We predicted that cattle prefer to graze alternative forages when available. We also predicted that cattle use tall fescue more intensively in recently burned areas, as fire can increase forage quality. We tested these predictions in four diverse‐forage pastures in Iowa, comparing use by cattle of tall fescue and four alternative forages (non‐fescue cool‐season grasses, native warm‐season grasses, non‐leguminous forbs and legumes) to their availabilities at the pasture scale. We also examined how tall fescue influences the distribution of grazing at a fine scale (0.1‐m² quadrats). Tall fescue was the most abundant forage (46% of plants), but composed only 26% of grazed vegetation. In contrast, legumes composed 12% of available forage but 25% of grazed vegetation. Other forages were used in proportion to availability. At a fine scale, total grazing frequency (proportion of plants grazed) was lower in quadrats containing abundant tall fescue, and higher in quadrats with abundant warm‐season grasses. Grazing frequency of tall fescue and other cool‐season grasses was greatest in recently burned quadrats, but total grazing frequency did not increase after burning. Our results show that although cattle graze tall fescue, particularly following burns, they limit their use of this grass. Given that tall fescue is underused, creates health risks for cattle, and degrades wildlife habitat quality, it may be advisable to reduce tall fescue in pastures.     

Changes in nutritive value and herbage yield during extended growth intervals in grass–legume mixtures: effects of species,maturity at harvest,and relationships between productivity and components of feed quality

There is a lack of information on the effects of companion species in grass–legume mixtures on herbage yield and quality changes during prolonged growth. Such information is relevant for harvest planning and estimation of consequences for feeding value of conserved feed when harvesting is delayed. Perennial ryegrass was sown with each of four legumes: red clover, white clover, lucerne and birdsfoot trefoil, and white clover was sown with hybrid ryegrass, meadow fescue and timothy. Effects of species composition on herbage yield, contents of N, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and lignin, ash and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) were studied in entire herbage and in component species during 2 years in a small‐plot cutting trial in Denmark. In May and August, the dynamic development of components of feed value and their interrelationships were investigated by sampling at optimum harvest date (i.e., normal practice) ± 1 week (t = ?1 to t = +1). Herbage digestibility and contents of N and ash decreased while those of fibre compounds increased during the 2 weeks from t = ?1 to t = 1 in all species. In May, contents of ADF and lignin increased at a faster rate in legumes than in grasses; in August, NDF and ADF increased most quickly in legumes. Generally, N contents and IVOMD declined at similar rates in grasses and legumes, but, within each group, differences in yield and quality development occurred among species. The relationship between weekly growth rate and change in quality parameters differed among species and functional groups, i.e., grasses and legumes. Results are discussed in the context of quantifying the impact of delaying the harvest date of grass–legume mixtures and relationships between productivity and components of feed quality.     

Adaptability and productivity of some warm-season pasture species in a Mediterranean environment

Warm‐season grasses and legumes have the potential to provide forage throughout the Mediterranean summer when there are high temperatures and low rainfall and when cool‐season grasses become less productive. Twenty‐nine non‐native, warm‐season pasture species (twenty‐three grasses and six legumes) were assessed for their adaptability to the coastal plain of southern Italy in terms of their productivity and nutritional quality. The investigated species were compared with two reference species widely used in a Mediterranean environment: a grass (Festuca arundinacea) and a legume (Medicago sativa). The species differed in their phenological and biological characteristics, i.e. start of vegetative resumption, first flowering and cold resistance, from each other and from the control species. From the second year after establishment, warm‐season perennial grasses had high dry‐matter (DM) yields and, in many cases, a more than adequate nutritional quality. As for legumes, the control, M. sativa gave the best results in all the investigated characters. Among the grasses, seven species (Chloris gayana, Eragrostis curvula, Panicum coloratum, Paspalum dilatatum, Pennisetum clandestinum, Sorghum almum, Sorghum spp. hybrid) had DM yields greater than the control species and had their maximum growth during the hottest period of the year, when F. arundinacea, the control grass species, was dormant. Eragrostis curvula had the highest annual DM yield (21·1 t ha^?1) and P. clandestinum provided the best combination of agronomic and yield characteristics which were similar to those of M. sativa. The seven above‐mentioned species have the potential to supply hay or grazing and contribute to broadening and stabilizing the forage production calendar in Mediterranean‐type environments.     

Changes in the herbage nutritive value and yield associated with threshold responses of vegetation to grazing in Mongolian rangelands

We examined the changes in the nutritive value and yield of herbage along a grazing gradient, where abrupt changes in community composition occurred, at multiple ecological sites in Mongolian rangelands. At grassland sites, changes in the herbage nutritive value could be attributed to rapid replacement of perennial grasses or forbs with weedy annual forbs along a grazing gradient. Crude protein (CP) concentration increased sharply in approaching the source of grazing gradient, whereas neutral detergent fibre and metabolizable energy (ME) concentrations decreased sharply. As ME can be utilized as a main index of herbage nutritive value, these results indicated its overall loss with severe grazing. Consequently, gradual increases in the yields of CP and ME in the direction of the gradient source at the grassland sites did not necessarily indicate the improvement of rangeland condition. In contrast, at shrubland sites, we could not generally detect any significant trends in the herbage nutritive value. The yield of ME gradually decreased in the direction of gradient source, suggesting that grazing affects herbage yield rather than herbage feed value at shrubland sites. Thus, the nutritive value and yield of herbage can be modified greatly in association with nonlinear responses of vegetation to livestock grazing.     

Effects of species richness and functional groups on chemical constituents relevant for methane yields from anaerobic digestion: results from a grassland diversity experiment

Changes in livestock production systems have led to land‐use changes and abandonment, especially of semi‐natural grassland in agriculturally less favoured regions. The generation of energy from biomass of extensive, high‐diversity grasslands can be an alternative to their abandonment, and anaerobic digestion is one possible method for converting grassland biomass into energy. However, little is known about the effects of species richness (SR) and functional groups on chemical constituents relevant for anaerobic digestion and the resulting energy potential. In this study, changes in the herbage chemical constituents that are relevant for forage quality were studied along a well‐defined diversity gradient (one to sixty species) and across different combinations of functional groups (legumes, small herbs, tall herbs and grasses). Substrate‐specific methane yield (CH_4 sub) was estimated through the concentrations of forage‐quality parameters such as crude fibre (CF), crude protein (CP), crude lipid, nitrogen‐free extract and their documented digestibility values, as well as the respective methane yields. Results show that with increasing SR, the CF increased and CP decreased, even though these effects could not be fully disentangled from the presence of grasses. These trends led to a negative effect of SR on CH_4 sub, while the area‐specific methane yield (CH_4 area = CH_4 sub × biomass yield) increased due to a strong increase in biomass with increasing SR. The CH_4 sub was increased when legumes were present, and it declined with the presence of grasses. Generally, CH_4 sub and CH_4 area varied between functional‐group monocultures and all functional‐group mixtures.     

Forage herbs improve mineral composition of grassland herbage

Provision of an adequate mineral supply in the diets of ruminants fed mainly on grassland herbage can present a challenge if mineral concentrations are suboptimal for animal nutrition. Forage herbs may be included in grassland seed mixtures to improve herbage mineral content, although there is limited information about mineral concentrations in forage herbs. To determine whether herbs have greater macro‐ and micromineral concentrations than forage legumes and grasses, we conducted a 2‐year experiment on a loamy‐sand site in Denmark sown with a multi‐species mixture comprised of three functional groups (grasses, legumes and herbs). Herb species included chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.), caraway (Carum carvi L.) and salad burnet (Sanguisorba minor L.). We also investigated the effect of slurry application on the macro‐ and micromineral concentration of grasses, legumes and herbs. In general, herbs had greater concentrations of the macrominerals P, Mg, K and S and the microminerals Zn and B than grasses and legumes. Slurry application indirectly decreased Ca, S, Cu and B concentrations of total herbage because of an increase in the proportion of mineral‐poor grasses. Our study indicates that including herbs in forage mixtures is an effective way of increasing mineral concentrations in herbage.     

Chemical Composition, in vitro digestibility and in vitro VTA concentrations of New Mexico native forages

Comparative chemical composition, in vitro digestibility, and in vitro volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration and molar proportions of current year's growth of twelve important native New Mexico forage species were evaluated. Volatile fatty acid data were collected on forage samples subjected to 12-h in vitro digestion using two different inoculum sources. Forbs and shrubs had higher ( P <0·05) total nitrogen and total available- nitrogen concentrations than grasses; however available nitrogen as a percentage of total nitrogen did not differ ( P >0·05) among grasses forbs and shrubs. in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) was higher (PKOOS) for forbs and shrubs than grasses for all incubation periods (24, 48, 72 hours). Lucerne hay and prairie grass hay inocula gave similar IVOMD results. Based on 24-h IVOMD divided by 72-h IVOMD, forbs were digested more rapidly than grasses ( P <0·05). Total VFA concentration and molar proportion differences among grasses, forbs and shrubs were small     

Defoliation patterns and their implications for the management of vegetative tropical pastures to control intake and diet quality by cattle

This study assessed the use of pasture attributes to control daily intake and diet quality during progressive defoliation on pastures of Axonopus catarinensis. Three consecutive 12‐day grazing treatments of progressive defoliation were conducted with Brahman cross‐steers. Daily forage intake and defoliation dynamics were assessed using a pasture‐based method. The treatments differed in initial sward height (33, 44 and 61 cm) and herbage mass (1030, 1740 and 2240 kg ha^?1). The post‐grazing residual sward height, at which forage intake decreased, appeared to increase with the initial sward height (12·3, 14·6 and 15·5 cm). Steers grazed up to four distinctive grazing strata in all treatments. The depth and herbage mass content of the top grazing stratum were at least five times higher than the lower grazing strata in all treatments. This explains why forage intake decreased when the top grazing stratum was removed in approximately 93% of the pasture area in all treatments, equivalent to approximately 7% of the pasture area remaining ungrazed. We conclude that the residual ungrazed area of the pasture, rather than residual sward height, can be used to develop grazing management strategies to control forage intake and diet quality in a wide range of pasture conditions.     

Herbage dry‐matter production and forage quality of three legumes and four non‐leguminous forbs grown in single‐species stands

Agronomic data on most broad‐leaved species of grasslands are scarce. The aim of this study was to obtain novel information on herbage DM yield and forage quality for several forb species, and on species differences and seasonal patterns across harvests and in successive years. Four non‐leguminous forbs [salad burnet (Sanguisorba minor), caraway (Carum carvi), chicory (Cichorium intybus) and ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata)] and three leguminous forbs [yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis), lucerne (Medicago sativa) and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)] and a perennial ryegrass–white clover mixture were investigated in a small‐plot cutting trial in Denmark during 2009 and 2010. Plots were harvested four times per year. On average, annual herbage yield was highest for lucerne (15·4 t DM) and grass–white clover (12·5 t DM ha^?1), and lowest for salad burnet (4·6 t DM ha^?1) and yellow sweet clover (3·9 t DM ha^?1). Ribwort plantain and lucerne had the highest concentrations of acid detergent fibre (339 and 321 g kg^?1 DM respectively) and lignin (78 and 67 g kg^?1 DM respectively); contents in other species were similar to grass–white clover (275 and 49 g kg^?1 DM respectively). No common feature was found within the functional groups of non‐leguminous forbs and leguminous forbs, other than higher crude protein contents (198–206 g kg^?1 DM) in the legumes. DM yield and fibre content were lowest in October. Digestibility declined with higher temperature and increasing fibre content. Results are discussed in terms of the potential of forbs to contribute to forage resources in farming practice.     

Seasonal changes in herbage mass and nutritive value of a range of grazed legume swards under Mediterranean and cool temperate conditions

Seasonal changes in herbage mass and herbage quality of legume‐based swards under grazing by sheep or cattle were investigated at four locations in climatically different zones of Europe: Sardinia (Italy), southern France, northern Germany and south‐west England (UK). At each location standard treatments were applied to legumes typical of species widely used in each locality: Medicago polymorpha in Italy, Medicago sativa in France, and Trifolium repens in Germany and in UK. At each site comparisons were made of two other legumes: Trifolium subterraneum and Hedysarum coronarium in Italy, Onobrychis sativa and Trifolium incarnatum in France, Trifolium pratense and Lotus corniculatus in Germany, and Trifolium ambiguum and L. corniculatus in UK. Legumes were sown in mixture with locally appropriate companion grasses, and measurements were made over two or three grazing periods. In Italy M. polymorpha swards gave the greatest herbage mass in grazing period 1 but H. coronarium was more persistent. At the French site all legumes established poorly with no significant herbage mass differences between treatments. At both the UK and German sites L. corniculatus maintained a high proportion of legume in the sward; T. repens showed poor persistence under continuous sheep grazing in UK but persisted under cattle grazing in Germany, while T. ambiguum was slow to establish in the UK, and T. pratense proved to be of comparable herbage mass to the standard T. repens‐based sward in the last year of the experiment. The concentration of crude protein and in vitro digestibility of organic matter in the dry matter of herbage showed greater within‐season variation than between treatments at each site. It is concluded that, in addition to currently used species, legume‐based swards containing H. coronarium, O. sativa and L. corniculatus all have potential to contribute to forage production for low‐input grazing and their use merits further consideration in systems of livestock production in Europe.     

Grassland responses to grazing disturbance: plant diversity changes with grazing intensity in a desert steppe

This study quantifies the impact of four different grazing regimes (heavy, moderate, light and ungrazed) on the vegetation dynamics of rangeland ecosystems along the southern boundary area of the Mu Us Desert, China. As the grazing intensities decreased, the soil quality, canopy cover, height, density, above‐ and below‐ground biomass, litter, root/shoot ratio and native plant (Aneurolepidium dasystachys) and grass abundances significantly increased; the above‐ground biomass of grasses increased, but the above‐ground biomass of forbs decreased. Ungrazed grassland has significantly improved from grasslands experiencing three other levels of grazing pressure, especially in the grassland biomass. Species richness increased as the grazing intensity decreased in the grazing grasslands, but peak species richness appeared under moderate and light grazing against lower productivity. Grazing exclusion causes desirable transitions in plant communities of desert steppe rangelands. Therefore, appropriate and efficient grazing exclusion is an available way to counteract local grassland degradation and promote rangeland sustainability.     

Open pasture,silvopasture and sward herbage maturity effects on nutritive value and fermentation characteristics of cool‐season pasture

In Appalachian USA, silvopasture offers promise of increased farm productivity. A synchronized, temporal understanding of open pasture (OP) and silvopasture (SP) nutritive characteristics is essential for grazing system development. We examined pasture‐type nutritive‐value relationships when herbage was harvested based on morphological maturity rather than calendar date. Neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre (ADF and NDF) content were greater in silvopasture, while organic matter (OM) was lower (P < 0·05). Digestibility of SP herbage dry matter (DM) and OM tended (P = 0·10) to be lower (418 vs. 471 and 437 vs. 491 g kg^?1 respectively). Neutral detergent fibre digestibility was greater (P < 0·05) for OP than SP forage (538 vs. 480 g kg^?1), and ADF tended to be greater (P = 0·10; 551 vs. 501). Open‐pasture forage fermentation effluent exhibited slightly higher microbial richness and Shannon diversity than SP. However, overall community composition of both bacteria and archaea did not differ between pasture types or sampling times. Pasture types show proximate analyses differences generally favourable to OP, although both have similar overall nutritive value. In addition, the SP sward exhibited a 4‐ to 6‐days delay in reaching equivalent maturity. Conversion of farm woodlots to SP would increase overall herbage production and improve pasture management flexibility.     

THE DIGESTIBILITY OF STRUCTURAL CARBOHYDRATES OF GRASSES BY RUMEN MICRO-ORGANISMS IN VITRO

In vitro digestion of grass samples has shown that the amount of digestible cellulose, hexosan or pentosan is not greatly affected by species or by stage of maturity. A survey of published data on crude fibre and cellulose digestibility has confirmed these findings. Marked differences between grasses and legumes were observed. The rate of digestion has also been shown to be independent of the total amount of structural material present. The relevance of these observations to the selection of herbage varieties with greater intake by ruminants is discussed.     

The use of conserved forage as a supplement for grazing dairy cows

The difficulty in matching the herbage requirements of grazing dairy cows to herbage production, due mainly to the unpredictability of the latter., causes stocking rates to be too low for maximum per hectare production and, thus, cows to be underfed at certain times in the grazing season. Conserved forage may be used as a supplement for grazing dairy cows in order to reduce variation in forage intake by the cow, to allow pasture stocking rates to be increased and to increase the efficiency of land use. The effect of offering conserved forage with herbage on intakes and production is reviewed in comparison to both ad libitum and restricted herbage. Total nutrient intakes and milk fat + protein yields are reduced for cows offered herbage and supplementary forage compared with cows offered ad libitum herbage, but increased compared with cows offered a restricted herbage level. Increasing pasture stocking rates may allow increases in utilized metabolizable energy levels from grassland but further research is needed in this area. Both grass and maize silage supplements offer potential for increasing the efficiency of land use, but in the case of grass silage this is only achieved in the best management practices.     

The intake and feeding value for young beef cattle of two cultivars of tetraploid Italian ryegrass when grazed or conserved by artificial dehydration or ensilage

Two experiments were carried out to determine whether the differences in intake and feeding value previously shown between two grass cultivars when offered to ruminants as chopped artificially dehydrated (dried) material could also be demonstrated when the grasses were offered in other forms. Two cultivars of tetraploid Italian ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum ), Sabalan and Tetila, were established in the same field in 1975. In 1976 they were grazed and conserved (two cuts of primary growth) as dried material or as silage.
The composition of the herbage selected at pasture and conserved showed higher concentrations of normal detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre in the dry matter for Tetila than for Sabalan, but differences between cultivars in digestibility were small. In both grazing and winter feeding trials differences in voluntary intake between the two cultivars were not significant, but at pasture young beef cattle spent less time grazing and tended to spend more time ruminating on Tetila than Sabalan. There was no measure of animal performance at pasture but liveweight gain was 15% higher for Sabalan than Tetila when both were offered to young beef cattle as the sole feed of dried grass or of silage. The voluntary intakes of the three forms of feed were very similar, which in part reflected a similarity in digestibility. However, gains were lower for calves given silage than those given dried grass. This may have been due to a lower efficiency in the utilization of the nitrogeneous components of silage for tissue growth than those of dried grass.     

Short-term impact of grazing by sheep on vegetation dynamics in a newly created salt-marsh site

The effects of grazing by sheep at a stocking density of c. 1 sheep ha⁻¹ from August to April on total vegetation cover, diversity of plant species, above-ground plant biomass and concentration of crude protein, neutral-detergent fibre and acid-detergent fibre of salt-marsh vegetation was assessed over a 2-year period on a newly created salt-marsh area on the Belgian coast. Assessments were made in both grazed and ungrazed areas in four elevation zones: low, intermediate, high and floodmark zone. The cover of dominant salt-marsh species ( Salicornia europaea , Limonium vulgare and Elymus athericus ), plant diversity, plant biomass and chemical composition of herbage were compared between grazed and ungrazed plots, and between 2005 (initial state) and 2007 (after a 2-year grazing period) using paired t -tests. Grazing by sheep maintained plant diversity in the high zone, whereas diversity decreased in the ungrazed plots. Grazing had no apparent effect on total vegetation cover and composition of the vegetation. Concentration of crude protein in herbage increased and that of neutral-detergent fibre decreased in the high and intermediate zones. Expansion of the dominant species of the high zone, E. athericus , was not affected by the stocking density used in the study.     

Forage availability from a temperate pasture managed with intensive rotational grazing

Successful integration of rotational grazing into livestock production systems requires estimates of pasture growth rates for feed budgeting of daily animal intake. By matching livestock nutrient demand with forage availability, over-feeding of supplements can be minimized, which reduces feed costs and the need lo manage surplus nutrients, A three-year grazing study was carried out on a Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis L.)-dominant pasture to estimate the daily quantity of herbage available to cattle in an intensive, rotational grazing system. Herbage production, species composition, and forage quality were determined in each of the six grazing cycles in a year, from April until September. The average length of a grazing cycle was 28·6 d, with 2·7 d for duration of grazing on a paddock. Pre-grazing and post-grazing sward heights, measured with a plate meter, were 14 and 7 cm, and the corresponding herbage masses were 1955 and 775 kg DM ha⁻¹ respectively. Under adequate soil moisture during 1989, herbage available for daily intake was 53 kg ha⁻¹ from April until mid- August, declining to approximately 32 kg ha⁻¹ d⁻¹ by the end of September. Distribution of this herbage was fairly uniform until the end of August. However, a dry summer in 1991 reduced herbage availability to 15 kg ha⁻¹ d⁻¹. Bluegrass and white clover ( Trifolium repens L.) formed 70% of the herbage yield during the period April–June. Later in the season, dead matter and other species increased, reducing the contribution of bluegrass and clover to approximately 60% of total dry matter. While these pastures have the potential to provide significant amounts of forage for 5–6 months in a year, additional on-farm forage reserves are needed during periods of water stress.