A PRELIMINARY TRIAL ON THE SPRING GRAZING OF LUCERNE

Abstract

In a trial at Wairakei Research Station, the effect of three spring grazing managements on subsequent summer and early autumn hay production of lucerne was assessed relative to hay management over the entire period. Overall the two rotational grazing treatments where the lucerne was grazed at an immature stage of growth (grazed at 12 to 15 cm, and at 25 to 30 cm) reduced subsequent production in two hay cuts by 20% and IS%, respectively. A rapid rotation of 4 days at a stocking rate of 30 hoggets/ha where the stocking rate was in harmony with the lucerne growth had an unexpectedly small effect on subsequent lucerne production. The intermittent grazing treatments allowed greater weed ingress than the rapid rotational or hayed treatments. Spring production was reduced, compared with hay production, by 58% by the two intermittent grazing treatments and while no permanent harm was done to the lucerne stands these systems cannot be recommended because of tht: large losses. Where it is necessary to graze the early spring growth of lucerne, the rapid rotational system at a light rate appears to be a suitable method but this should be changed to rotational grazing of mature lucerne as soon as possible, because of the assumed lower production under the former system.