STUDIES ON THE EXTENSION OF THE GRAZING SEASON

In a small plot trial good yields of foggage of satisfactory botanical composition with cocksfoot dominant were produced from a mixed-species pasture after it had been cut for silage in spring and again in summer. Production in the following year was satisfactory. The advantages of using ordinary pastures for winter grazing, especially if this occurs only during their last winter before ploughing, are discussed. From a study of various autumn treatments it is concluded that the optimum management for foggage production in the north-east of Scotland is to close fields on or near 10 August when 3 cwt. nitro-chalk per ac. should be applied; a higher rate (6 cwt. per ac), though it increased yields and percentage crude protein immediately, and also during the subsequent summer, conferred no benefits of practical importance. Effects of K fertilizer applications were negligible. Closing as late as the beginning of September gave smaller but useful yields of a higher protein foggage and the sward was less cocksfoot-dominant. Autumn closing and fertilizer treatments did not affect foggage wastage during winter, which averaged 14 per cent of the initial organic-matter yield; the percentage of crude protein in standing foggage rose.