THE EFFECT OF LEVEL OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER ON BEEF PRODUCTION FROM GRAZED PERENNIAL RYEGRASS/WHITE CLOVER PASTURES

In a 3 × 3 factorial experiment, the effects of three levels of nitrogenous fertilizer (0, 336 and 672 kg/N per ha) and three grazing intensities on live-weight gains and carcass attributes were measured.
The live-weight gains of the animals (per head) over the season were greater at the low and moderate grazing intensities than at the high; this effect occurred mainly from July to October each year. Gains were low on the no-nitrogen swards from July 1962 to the end of the grazing season and throughout 1963: this was related to the very high clover content of the swards.
In all years, as grazing intensities increased, the carcass weights per animal became lower. Carcass balance, carcass length, depth of longissimus dorsi muscle, fat thickness over the longissimus dorsi, weight of kidney suet and channel fat, and weight of the alimentary tract also reflected the effect of treatment on weight gains.
The results are discussed in relation to the botanical composition and consumption of the herbage, presented in Part I.