LIVEWEIGHT GAINS BY SHEEP GRAZING BROWNTOP AND PERENNIAL RYEGRASS

Abstract

The liveweight gain of young sheep set-stocked on browntop and 'Grasslands Ruanui' perennial ryegrass pastures was compared during the main periods of pasture growth over two years. During spring there was no difference between the two species, but in early summer, although flowering was suppressed by grazing, the higher liveweight gains on ryegrass were attributed to greater stem and stolen development and poorer leaf growth in the browntop pasture. In early autumn an outbreak of staggers in the ryegrass sheep apparently reduced liveweight gain relative to browntop where no staggers occurred. These differences are discussed in relation to the closer grazing of ryegrass than browntop at this time of year.