The relative contribution of seven forages to the apparent intake of weaned lambs over 12 days

Abstract

A trial was conducted in Canterbury to determine the relative preference of lambs for seven different specialist forages, each of which was established in a separate plot, replicated three times. Lambs with a history of grazing ryegrass had access to all plots simultaneously and continuously for 12 days. Herbage mass, utilisation and composition were assessed every two days. By day 12 the proportion of the forages utilised ranged from 67 and 65% for red clover and rape respectively to less than 1% for chicory and a new grass sward. In the context of creep grazing the present trial suggests that both red clover and rape might have the potential to motivate lambs to make greater use of creep gates and increase feed intake and consequentially further enhance lamb liveweight performances associated with creep grazing. Keywords: chicory, creep grazing, diet preference, forage species, palatability, pasja, red clover, ryegrass, white clover