Effects of season and level of grazing on the utilization of heather by sheep. 3. Longer-term responses and sward recovery

The effects of sheep grazing on the development of and production from heather swards and on intake and diet selection by grazing Scottish Blackface wether sheep were studied in an experiment in which sheep numbers were adjusted to remove 0, 40% or 80% by weight of current season's shoots in summer and in autumn for a period of 5 years. All combinations of season and level of grazing were provided. The plots were divided after 2 years and grazing was continued for a further 3 years on one subplot but discontinued on the other. Sward productivity during the 5 years of grazing was unaffected at the 40% level of shoot removal but at the 80% level was reduced by up to 66%. After a season's uninterrupted growth at the end of the experiment heather cover and herbage mass were lower and current season's shoots as a proportion of total mass were higher on those treatments which received the greatest severity of grazing. Weight of current season's shoots was unaffected on treatments which had received the 40% level of shoot removal but was reduced by 40% and 50% on treatments which had received the 80% level in summer and autumn respectively. On the rested subplots sward recovery was such that no treatment effects remained after 3 years except with respect to 80% shoot removal in autumn where herbage mass was reduced compared with other treatments. Intakes of digestible organic matter per sheep were higher at the 80% than the 40% level of grazing in the fifth year of the experiment. This was ascribed to the ingestion of new shoot growth from the twig bases on the 80% level of removal treatments. Intake and digestibility were higher in the summer on those treatments which had received the 80% level of removal in previous autumns. Over the 5 years of the experiment there was a small decline in intake and digestibility values, with the decline being greatest in the summer and at low levels of grazing. Floristic changes differed on the rested and grazed areas. On the rested subplots in the fourth year after grazing stopped, heather height was lower and cover by grasses, sedges and herbs was greater on treatments which previously had received the highest levels of utilization. On bare areas the rate of recovery of heather was rapid where shoots as well as seedlings contributed to recovery growth. On the grazed subplots, with the exception of the low-growing ruderal Rumex acetosella, cover due to grasses, sedges and herbs remained low as species other than heather were selectively grazed. Relationships among stocking rates, grazing behaviour and heather utilization are discussed and guidelines for the recognition of overgrazing are outlined.     

Effects of season and level of grazing on the utilization of heather by sheep 1. Responses of the sward

The effects of sheep grazing on the development and production of heather swards were studied over a period of 3 years in an experiment in which sheep numbers were adjusted to remove 0, 40% or 80% by weight of the current season's shoots in summer and in autumn. The number of shoots grazed increased with the level of grazing but not in direct proportion. The length of shoot grazed was greater at the 80% level of grazing. Heavy autumn grazing was associated with frequent uprooting and breaking off of shoots and with a high incidence of shoots grazed down to the previous season's wood. The siting of new season's shoots was influenced by the amount of shoot length grazed in the previous season. Grazing behaviour of sheep within a plot was affected by variation in heather cover with the sheep showing a tendency to graze near bare areas. After 3 years of grazing, standing crop was reduced by both levels of grazing whether in summer or autumn. New shoot production was unaffected on plots which had had the 40% level of shoot removal but was reduced by half on plots which had had the 80% level of shoot removal whether in summer or autumn. A clipping experiment was also carried out where 0, 40% or 80% of the length of current shoots was removed in May, early July and Septeinber. Standing crop was unaffected by May clipping but was reduced on plants with a history of 80% shoot removal in July or September. New shoot production was only reduced on clipped plants which had been subjected to 80% removal in September. The role of overwintering green shoots and carbohydrate reserves in the support of new shoot growth was considered. The implications of the results in relation to heather management are discussed.     

STUDIES OF THE GROWTH OF A HYP ARRHENIA-DOMINANT GRASSLAND IN NORTHERN RHODESIA

The results of studies preliminary to management trials on this type of grassland are reported. The annual growth cycle of the community is described in terms of herbage yields and chemical composition. It is shown that repeated cutting at an early growth stage will prevent the rapid deterioration in quality of the herbage which is evident in the uninterrupted growth cycle. Changes in the sward with repeated cutting are described.
The second phase of growth, after the main flush has flowered and set seed, may be enhanced by cutting in the second half of the wet season; it is suggested that this aftermath growth might be used for grazing in the first part of the dry season.
The annual growth cycles cf six component species of the community grown as pure stands are described, together with the yields and chemical composition of the herbage obtained from them with repeated cutting.
The results of fertilizer trials on this type of grassland are given, and it is shown that substantial increases in yield of dry matter and percentage crude protein may be obtained with the application of sulphate of ammonia. Responses to dressings of superphosphate are largely conditional on alleviating the nitrogen deficiency, and there is a significant nitrogen/phosphorus interaction. Both marinate of potash and agricultural lime have little effect on growth and production at the levels tested.
Investigation of the practice of burning the grassland in the late dry season, after resting from grazing in the previous wet season, confirms that this is an effective means of checking the encroachment of woody species, but the flush of new grass growth induced by the fire is of such small bulk as to be of no importance in grazing management.     

THE PRODUCTION AND USE OF COCKSFOOT FOGGAGE FOR WINTER GRAZING IN SOUTH-WEST SCOTLAND

The production and use of cocksfoot foggage for winter grazing at the Hannah Dairy Research Institute in the period 1956–61 is described. Two acres of cocksfoot (S37) were sown broadcast in 1956 and two acres were drilled in rows 28 in apart in 1957. The average annual application of fertilizer nutrients was 118 lb. N, 51 1b. P2O5 and 142 lb. K2O per acre.
The mean yield of the broadcast section was 7450 lb. dry matter/acre/annum compared with 6090 lb. from the rowcrop section. Normally two crops of grass were harvested from the field in the summer, and one grazing was made in the winter. The yield of winter herbage dry matter was 28% and 26% of the total annual yield of the broadcast and the rowcrop sections, respectively.
The field was grazed for four successive winters by 5–10 bulling heifers each weighing 650–850 lb. They received no other feed during the grazing period. Grazing started in December and finished in February, March or April in different years. The mean intake of herbage dry matter was only 6 lb./day, and on average the heifers lost 80 lb. liveweight each winter. This loss was regained after 4–6 weeks when the winter grazing finished. Twenty-nine of the 30 heifers held to the first or second service while grazing the winter herbage.
On average the broadcast section gave 340 heifer-grazing-days per acre during the winter and the rowcrop section 260 days. The cost of a heifer-grazing-day was 3id. and 4id. on the broadcast and rowcrop sections, respectively.
The dry matter of the herbage cut on 19 December 1960 had a digestible crude protein content of 59% and a starch equivalent of 34.
It is concluded that on well-drained land the technique of foggage production and of winter grazing can usefully extend the normal grazing season and hence reduce the costs of winter feeding.     

INTERACTIONS OF GRAZING AND BURNING ON HEATHER MOORS

Standing crops on plots of 5- to 11-year-oId heather subjected to six different grazing regimes ranged from 2400–10,000 kg/ha. Stand development of heather was greatly influenced by grazing management. Distribution of DM among the five fractions, flowers, current season's growth, older green material, wood and dead material, was significantly affected by both age and grazing regime and by the interaction of these two factors. Annual DM production ranged from about 1000 to 2000 kg/ha and there was no evidence of any impairment in the productive capacity of the heather plant with the levels of utilization which resulted from the six grazing regimes used. Factors involved in the evaluation of heather as a source of feed for ruminants are discussed briefly, as also are the problems of relating levels of utilization to grazing management.     

HEATHER REGENERATION FOLLOWING BURNING: A SURVEY

A survey of heather regeneration following muirburn was undertaken over a range of sites and community types covering a wide area. The sites were all spring burned and a small grazing exclosure was erected on each after burning. Botanical analyses, height measurements and observations on grazing effects were made annually thereafter in late summer or early autumn.
Several factors were found to be of importance in influencing heather regeneration, and the data collected are discussed from the standpoint of: the actual firing process, plant characteristics, biotic factors, site characteristics, and climatic factors.
All factors may operate at any one site and may interact one with another. At many sites one factor may be of over–riding importance for a particular year of burning, but the same factor may not be of similar importance in subsequent years.     

INTERACTIONS OF GRAZING AND BURNING ON HEATHER MOORS AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS IN HEATHER MANAGEMENT

In order to study the interaction between burning and grazing on heather areas, an experiment was set up in which six paddocks were subjected to different systems of controlled grazing. One quarter of each paddock was burned at two-yearly intervals. The effects of burning and grazing on the regeneration of the vegetation are described. The chemical composition of heather is known to change with age and season; in this experiment grazing was shown to have an effect also. The amount and earliness of the growth of the current season's shoots of heather were affected by both age of plants and grazing intensity. This result was thought to be related to temperature gradients near the ground. Sheep did not graze the sub-plots of different age within each paddock evenly; more recently burned sub-plots were preferred, the preference being most marked with the grazing regimes of lower intensity. At the highest grazing intensity the older and younger sub-plots were grazed to a similar extent. It is concluded that, in addition to controlled burning, effective management of heather moors must include some measure of grazing control.     

Reseeding in the Falkland Islands: seed rate and fertilizers for establishment

Five experiments were carried out to measure the effects of seed rate and fertilizers on the establishment and early growth of reseeded grass mixtures in the Falkland Islands.
Experiments 1 and 2 compared seed rates within the range 7·5-35kg ha⁻¹. Experiment 3 assessed the effects of three levels of each of nitrogen (N), P₂O₅, K₂O and CaCO₃ applied as seedbed fertilizers. Experiments 4 and 5 were similar in intent to Experiment 3, but treatments consisted of either nil or a very heavy application of the same fertilizer elements. In all experiments, the grass seed mixtures were sown in late summer after rotavation and burning of Cortaderia pilosa dominant indigenous vegetation on peaty soils. Percentage ground cover was estimated in the following spring and dry matter production through the first year was determined by sample harvests.
Initially, heavier seed rates resulted in higher percentage ground cover of sown species, but dry matter production over the season following sowing showed a significant increase only between the 25 and 35 kg ha⁻¹ rates in Experiment 2. The modest levels of seedbed fertilizers applied in Experiment 3 had no significant effect on either percentage ground cover of sown species or dry matter production. Even at the higher levels used in Experiments 4 and 5, only N consistently increased dry matter yields, although a significant positive response was also obtained from CaCO₃ in the final harvests.
The implications of the results to farmers in the Falkland Islands who may be contemplating reseeding are discussed.     

Effects of season and level of grazing on the utilization of heather by sheep. 2. Diet selection and intake

The effect of level of removal of current season's shoots of heather (0,40 and 80% of the dry matter of the shoots) in the summer and autumn on the intake and diet selection by grazing Scottish Blackface wether sheep was examined in an experiment conducted over two years in which all combinations of level and season of grazing were provided. The treatment plots were grazed for 5 weeks at any one time and measurements made of intake and diet selection in weeks 2 and 5. In both the summer and autumn grazing periods level of removal in week 2 had little effect on the quality of the diet selected. In week 5, digestibility of organic matter was higher for the 40% than the 80% level of removal in the summer (0·543 vs 0·508) and particularly in the autumn (0·503 vs 0·449). Digestibility of the diet selected was higher in week 2 than in week 5 in both the summer (0·555 vs 0·525) and in the autumn (0·511 vs 0·476). Mechanisms of diet selection are discussed. In the summer grazing period only small differences existed in intake of organic matter between levels of removal but in the autumn intakes were higher at the 40% than the 80% level of removal. In a clipping experiment in which 0, 40 or 80% of the length of current season's shoots was removed in May, July and September in 3 consecutive years the nitrogen content of clippings in May and July was higher and the cell wall constituent lower at the 40% level in comparison to the 80% level of removal. Higher levels of removal at the previous clipping increased the nitrogen content of the clippings in May, July and September and reduced the cell wall constituent content in September.     

Some effects of herbage composition, as influenced by previous grazing management, on milk production by cows grazing on ryegrass/white clover pastures. 2. Milk production in late spring/summer: effects of grazing intensity during the preceding spring period

Three experiments (2a, 2b and 2c) were carried out to examine the effects of different grazing intensities imposed during spring on subsequent herbage composition and milk production measured in summer.
Increased intensity of grazing imposed during spring (including the period of reproductive development in ryegrasses) produced swards in early summer with lower pre-grazing herbage masses, which contained higher concentrations of green leaf, clover and digestible nutrients, but lower concentrations of grass stem and senescent material.
In the first and second experiment cows were given a common daily allowance of total herbage dry matter (DM). The cows grazing on low-mass swards in early summer produced larger daily yields of milk, fat and protein than those grazing on the high-mass swards.
In the third experiment, cows were given a common daily allowance of green leaf DM from three swards which differed in pre-grazing herbage mass and in herbage composition. The allowances of total DM required differed widely between the treatments. There were no significant differences in milk yields between the swards despite the large differences in herbage composition.
The practical implications of these results are discussed.     

The potential for control of the soft rush (Juncus effusus) in grass pasture by grazing goats

Two experiments were conducted to examine the effect of inter-tussock grass height and stocking rate on the utilization of the rush ( Juncus effusus ) by grazing goats. In the first experiment, on rush-infested Festuca rubralTrifolium repens pasture, the utilization of rushes by goats grazing at a sward height of 3–4cm or 5–6cm was compared with that occurring on plots grazed by sheep at a sward height of 3–4 cm. Sheep grazed minimal amounts of rush. In contrast, it was estimated that 90% and 75% of current seasons growth of rush was grazed by goats at sward heights of 3–4 and 5–6 cm respectively during the first year. With continued goat grazing at 5–6cm there was a dramatic reduction in the cover and vigour of the rushes, and at a sward height of 3–4cm established tussocks were eliminated from the pasture.
The second experiment compared the utilization of rushes invading predominantly Agrostis swards stocked with goals at 10, 20 or 30 ha^-1 and in which inter-tussock sward height was maintained at 4–5cm on all treatments, by adding or subtracting sheep. On one site rush utilization increased with the increase in stocking rate of goats and rush tussocks were eliminated within 3 years at 30 goats ha^-1. On another, there was no difference between plots stocked at 20 or 30 goats ha^-1 and viable tussocks remained. The influence of the composition and productivity of the inter-tussock herbage and the proportion of rush in the biomass are discussed.
Goats can be used lo control rushes in grassland but high stocking levels and low inter-tussock pasture heights are required to promote adequate levels of utilization.     

EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT GRAZING ROTATIONS ON PASTURE PRODUCTION

Different grazing treatments applied to pastures in which perennial ryegrass was dominant had little influence on DM production during the main reproductive growth period in late spring and early summer. Lax and infrequent grazing at this time did, however, reduce tiller density. During the dry summer period lax infrequent grazing increased production by 20%, while in the vegetative growth period in autumn those pastures which were alternately lax- and hard-grazed outyielded those which were hard grazed by 63%. In all treatments, initial recovery growth resulted almost exclusively from the production of leaf tissue. The rate of leaf growth declined three to five weeks after grazing, depending on treatment and season, and subsequent yield increase was dominated by sheath and stem growth.     

Growth and weed suppression ability of common and new cover crops in Germany

Cover crops have a wide-ranging influence on the agroecosystem and create multiple benefits for farmers. A major benefit of cover crops is the suppression of weeds during fall and winter, which can help to reduce soil tillage and herbicide use. However, only a small number of cover crop species are currently grown in Germany. To enlarge this number, four new cover crop species including tartary buckwheat, forage radish, red oat and grain amaranth were tested in comparison with common cover crop species such as white mustard, oilseed radish and phacelia. Emergence, soil coverage, dry matter production and weed suppression ability was assessed for all cover crop species. White mustard emerged faster than all other cover crops and produced the highest amount of shoot dry matter at both locations in southwest Germany twelve weeks after planting (WAP). Oilseed radish was the only cover crop that reduced the weed dry matter in all experiments eight WAP. Phacelia was able to reduce weed density by 77% at Meiereihof twelve WAP. Tartary buckwheat offered the highest soil coverage four WAP, produced the greatest shoot dry matter eight WAP and reduced weed dry matter by more than 96% at Meiereihof and Ihinger Hof twelve WAP. Forage radish produced the highest root dry matter and reduced spring weed density by more than 81% in all experiments. Red oat and grain amaranth emerged slowly, produced less biomass than other cover crops and did not suppress weed growth. The results show that tartary buckwheat and forage radish are well suited as new cover crops in Germany due to their fast growth and good weed suppression ability.     

The nature of the relationship of electronic capacitance meter readings to pastures on offer in short swards

The residual standard deviations and distribution of residuals around five models were used to investigate the relationship between recordings from an electronic pasture probe and dry matter harvested from annual pastures (predominantly subterranean clover) at low levels of green feed on offer. Pasture material harvested was that considered to have the greatest influence on the probe i.e., within 5 cm of it.
The following conclusions were drawn. When measuring short dense green pastures yielding up to 3000 kg dry matter ha^-1 the model best describing the relationship is a split line. Curvilinear models are better than a linear model; however, both single linear and curvilinear models give biased estimates particularly near the middle and at the lower end of the range.
The best fitted model is discussed in terms of the structure of the sward and the probe.     

SOME EFFECTS OF GRAZING MANAGEMENT ON THE YIELD AND ITS COMPONENTS OF SOME PASTURE GRASSES

A study was made to determine the effects of grazing to a height of 1 in. when the swards reached heights of 3 and 9 in. on the dry matter production, LAI, tillering and rate of leaf production of new and old tillers in the spring–summer and autumn–winter seasons of 3 pasture species growing in association with white and red clovers. In both seasons the herbage yield under 9–1 management was higher than that under 3–1 and was significantly greater in the spring-summer season. Differences in DM production between cocksfoot, tall fescue and Ariki ryegrass failed to reach significance.
Light utilization under the 2 management systems was considered to be inefficient. In the autumn-winter period there was a linear relationship between the LAI and DM production in all treatments.
The rate of leaf production per tiller was significantly higher in cocksfoot than in ryegrass and tall fescue in both seasons.
New tillers had a significantly higher rate of leaf production than old tillers in the spring-summer period, but not in autumn-winter. The numbers of grass tillers and rooted nodes of clover were significantly higher under 3–1 than under 9–1 and were influenced by season.     

THE PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION OF WINTER GRASS AT VARIOUS CENTRES IN ENGLAND AND WALES, 1954–60

The performance of livestock, on winter grass was studied at eighteen sites in England and Wales from 1957 to 1960.
Beef cattle generally gained weight while grazing winter grass. They invariably did better than similar animals overwintered on the normal feeding regime of the farms concerned.
At 8 centres winter grass was utilized by dairy cows. Calculations indicated that the grass provided a valuable portion of their feed.
The general condition and health of livestock grazing winter grass were satisfactory at all centres.
Damage caused by poaching was largely prevented by controlled grazing.
The production and utilization of winter grass had no adverse effects on sward recovery in the subsequent spring.     

不同大气湿度与氮肥水平对夏玉米苗期水分利用效率的影响

通过大型智能人工气候箱的盆栽试验,设置4个大气湿度水平(35%RH、55%RH、75%RH、95%RH)及5个氮肥施用水平(0、50、100、150、200mg/kg),研究夏玉米苗期干物质积累及蒸腾耗水量对不同处理的响应。结果表明,施氮量小于100mg/kg时,随大气湿度的增加玉米总干物质量呈增加趋势;施氮量高于150mg/kg时,75%RH最有利于玉米的总干物质积累;不施氮时随大气湿度水平的提高玉米根冠比显著增加,施氮处理夏玉米根冠比随大气湿度水平呈先增加后降低的趋势,在75%RH达最大值;随大气湿度的增加玉米耗水量显著减少,水分利用效率随之增加,表现为95%RH>75%RH>55%RH>35%RH处理,且均达显著水平。     

STUDIES IN CALF MANAGEMENT

Systems of calf grazing were compared in preliminary experiments during 1954 and 1955. Hereford colour-marked beef calves in the post-weaning stage were used, all calves having been reared on the nurse-cow system in loose boxes.
The results indicate that autumn- and winter-bom calves can make good progress at pasture during their first summer, husk-free ground being one of the most important requirements in the production of well-grown calves.     

Effects of an established sward of Lolium perenne L. on the growth and development of Rumex obtusifolius L. seedlings

Seedlings of Rumex obtusifolius L. were grown in gaps (11 cm diameter) in an established sward at Lolium perenne L., Root competition from the surrounding sward was controlled by PVC tubes and shoot competition was controlled by cutting the sward frequently. All combinations, with and without root competition and with and without shoot competition, were used.
Plants received either 40 or 80 kg N ha⁻¹ month⁻¹ and 0 or 300 kg K₂O ha⁻¹ and were harvested 39 d after emergence; a second harvest was made 12 d later, after shading to 20% of full sunlight.
The shoot dry weight per plant of R. obtusifolius was much more affected by root competition than by shoot competition, especially at low nitrogen applications. Potassium supply had no effect.
More dry matter was allocated to the leaf petioles under shaded conditions and the specific leaf area was greater. This morphological plasticity enabled R. obtusifolius to grow well under shading and to be affected only slightly by shoot competition from L. perenne.
The results suggest that competition for nitrogen was the main factor limiting the initial grown of R. obtusifolius in a ryegrass sward and that the morphological characteristics of R. obtusifolius make it less susceptible to competition for light in the early stages of its development.