WINTER GRAZING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS BASED ON INCORRECT PASTURE GROWTH RATES

Abstract

Comparisons were made between three winter grazing management systems based on different pasture growth rate predictions. Management systems were chosen to restrict ewes to their budgeted intakes while at the same time reaching a target of 1500 kg DM/ha average pasture cover at lambing. Two of the three farmlets failed to meet their planned objectives. Changes in average pasture mver were frequently the result of an interaction between pasture growth rate and herbage intake. It was concluded that rotation length alone gave insufficient control over the management system and for a farmer to be able to make appropriate adjustments a minimum level of monitoring would be to estimate animal intake rate and average pasture cover.