Deer production from ryegrass- and tall fescue-based pastures

Abstract

The development of a Appellation Marketing Strategy by the New Zealand Game Industry Board will change the requirements of the venison industry. High deer liveweight gains throughout the year will be required to ensure a consistent supply of high quality venison. The improvement of spring and summer pasture availability and quality are being investigated at the Invermay Agricultural Centre. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and tall fescuelchicory/(Cichoorium intybusL.) red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) pastures were compared with high and low endophyte ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) pastures. Liveweight gain and carrying capacity were measured in spring and summer one year after establishment. Pasture parameters were measured to explain differences in animal perFormance. Liveweight gain was similar on all treatments, though was 21-35% lower in summer than in spring. The tall fescue-based pastures had significantly higher carrying capacities because of a better clover balance throughout the trial. This led to significantly higher per ha production on fust year tall fescue-based pastures. Though ryegrass endophyte had no effect on pasture or animal production, animal behaviour might have been affected. Keywords Acremonium lolii, carrying capacity, Cichorium intybus, deer, Festuca arundinacea, liveweight gain, Loliumperenne, pasture parameters, Trifolium pratense, Trijolium repens