Grasslands Kara cocksfoot, Grasslands Nui ryegrass, Grasslands Roa tall fescue, Grasslands Gala grazing brome and Grasslands Maru phalaris were sown as single grass species with either white or Caucasian clover during December 1993, on a Lismore stony silt loam in Canterbury. Plots were irrigated and rotationally grazed by sheep. Total herbage produced during the first measurement period (September 1994 to July 1995) averaged 13.6 t DM/ha. All white clover-based swards produced similar yields, but with Caucasian clover, phalaris-based swards produced the most and ryegrass and grazing brome the least. Production tended to be lower from pastures sown with Caucasian than white clover (12.9 cf. 14.2,kg DM/ha). During the second measurement period (July 1995 to May 1996) total production was similar with both legumes. When evaluated over both measurement periods, phalaris and tall fescue gave the highest and cocksfoot and ryegrass the lowest production when sown with white clover, while cocksfoot and grazing brome were the lowestproducing swards with Caucasian clover. Ten --months-after-sow.ing,-white-cIover-contributed-in excess of40% of the DM in all swards except with ryegrass and grazing brome where it contributed 20%. The proportion of white clover then declined in all pastures over the following 20 months, ryegrass-based swards having the highest (10%) and cocksfoot the lowest (1%). When sown with Caucasian clover the legume content of swards increased during the 12 months from spring 1994 in swards containing phalaris, tall fescue and grazing brome. The proportion of legume in -cocksfoot swardsmdeclined-continuously from 22 to 4% over the 20 months while it increased continuously from 4 to 28% with ryegrass. The legume content in lo-month-old pastures was higher when sown with white than with Caucasian clover but this ratio was reversed by 28 months. This occurred with all pasture types but was most pronounced with ryegrass and cocksfoot pastures. The present experiment shows Caucasian clover can make a major contribution in irrigated pastures in Canterbury. 'Wattie Bush, RD 22, Peel Forest, Geruldine Keywords: Bromus stamineus, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, grazed pastures, herbage production, Lolium perenne, Phalaris aquatica, Trifolium ambiguum, Trifolium repens

The effects of two contrasting forage supply options on forage and sheep production were evaluated on unirrigated farmlet systems at Winchmore, Mid-Canterbury. One option was based on perennial ryegrass pastures (Control), and the other (Improved) on hybrid ryegrass, tall fescue, and chicory pastures. All pasture types grew at similar low rates during winter but chicory grew more rapidly than the grasses during the summer droughts. The Control conserved more but required less conserved feed than the Improved system. Both had a feed deficit which averaged 23 and 42 kg DM/ewe respectively over the 2 years. The lambs on the Improved pastures grew more rapidly than the Controls throughout, exceeding the rate of the Controls by 142 and 165 g/head/day post-weaning in years 1 and 2 respectively. This resulted in considerably more lambs reaching target drafting weights on the Improved system, 92 vs. 53 and 97 vs. 58%, in years 1 and 2 respectively. This increased the income from lambs by $104 and $94/ ha in these years. Ewe liveweights were similar during pregnancy but differed during lactation and post-weaning at the end of which, ewes on Improved pastures were 6 and 4 kg heavier than the Controls in years 1 and 2 respectively. They consequently produced fleeces that were 10 and 12% heavier. The superior animal performance associated with the Improved system reflects higher pasture quality due to less endophyte and dead matter, and an increase in the proportion of the more nutritious components, legumes and chicory. Keywords: dryland, lamb production, pasture production, pasture quality, pasture species

The effect of litter (dead vegetation) on establishment of an autumn-sown grass-legume-herb mix was investigated in non-cultivable hill country in Waikato (2013) and in Canterbury (2013, 2014, 2015). In Waikato, increasing litter height increased establishment of sown species by over 3-fold when comparing establishment from herbicide-treated swards with 7 cm or 0 cm (bare ground) of litter (660 versus 190 seedlings/m2). Only perennial ryegrass and white clover established of the seven oversown species in Waikato and none established in Canterbury. In Canterbury, soil surface temperatures were reduced and soil moisture was greater under 7 cm than 0 cm of litter, resulting in a 20% and 50% increase in average soil moisture content on the north and south aspects, respectively. It was concluded that litter enhanced establishment of perennial ryegrass and white clover in Waikato but the ameliorating effect of litter on the soil micro-climate was insufficient to enhance establishment in Canterbury. Keywords: oversowing, pasture establishment, pasture species

Storage of compact and soft-centred round bales in an exposed position without protection from the weather resulted in total dry matter losses, including inedible waste, of 16 to 27%. Negligible losses occurred in bales stored in a haybarn. Siting bales in the lee of a shelterbelt generally halved losses but was not as effective as covering bales with polythene caps. Elevating bales off the ground by the use of posts failed to substantially reduce storage losses.