Can herb-clover mixes increase lamb liveweight gains in spring?

Abstract

Herb-clover mixes have resulted in faster lamb liveweight gain than perennial ryegrass over summer, but it is not known if this would occur in spring. Lamb liveweight gain in spring was compared on three treatments: Pasture mix: perennial ryegrass and white clover; Plantain mix: plantain, white clover and red clover; and Chicory mix: plantain, chicory, white clover and red clover, over a 28-day period. Average daily liveweight gain (g/day) was higher (P<0.05) on the Chicory mix (360 ± 20.0) than the Pasture mix (322 ± 10.0). Individual carcass weight was higher (P<0.05) on the Plantain and Chicory mixes than on the Pasture mix. Plantain mix produced 162 kg net carcass weight per ha compared to the Pasture mix (141 kg/ha) and Chicory mix (146 kg/ha). Farmers can obtain greater individual carcass weights and net carcass weight per ha by feeding herb-clover mixes rather than ryegrass pasture during the spring. Keywords: herb-clover mixes, lamb growth, carcass weight