A herb and legume sward mix increased ewe milk production and ewe and lamb live weight gain to weaning compared to a ryegrass dominant sward

Hutton, P.G.; Kenyon, P. R.; Bedi, M. K.; Kemp, Peter; Stafford, K. J.; West, D.M.; Morris, S. T.

doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2010.11.014

Cited by 61 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Legumes and forbs have the potential to increase sheep performance, and this could explain the differences found between sward types. For instance, Hutton et al (2011) found increased live weights of ewes and lambs on a sward that contained chicory (Cichorium intybus), plantain (Plantago lanceolata), white (Trifolium repens), and red clover (Trifolium pratense) compared with a sward dominated by perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). In addition, certain forbs contribute positively to animal health and consequently to secondary performance; for instance, in a study by Tariq et al (2008) yarrow (Achillea millefolium) reduced parasitic infections in sheep.…”

Section: Growth Of Livestockmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diverse Swards and Mixed-Grazing of Cattle and Sheep for Improved Productivity

Jerrentrup¹,

Komainda²,

Seither³

et al. 2020

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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Increasing sward phytodiversity has been suggested as having potential to increase primary production of grasslands, but whether any such gains are converted into secondary production, through improved performance of grazing livestock, remains uncertain. Animal production by cattle and sheep can also be enhanced by mixed-grazing. To our knowledge, this effect has never been studied in relation to differences in sward phytodiversity. Therefore, a rotational grazing experiment was conducted over 5 years (2007-2011) on permanent grassland in Germany using sheep and cattle in mono-(single-species) or mixed-grazing of swards differing in plant species richness. Herbicides against dicotyledonous plant species were used to create different sward types: species-poor, grass-dominated swards in contrast to untreated "diverse" control swards. We found no differences in herbage production between the sward types. However, compared to the grass-dominated sward, the diverse sward showed greater concentrations of crude protein and lower contents of acid detergent fiber in the herbage dry-matter. Lamb live weight gains were slightly greater on the diverse-swards (P < 0.05), but calf performance was unaffected by sward type. Mixed-grazing increased daily average live weight gains of suckler cows (g cow −1 d −1) (P < 0.05) as well as area-related daily live weight gains (kg ha −1 d −1) and total live weight gains (kg ha −1) during the complete grazing season (P < 0.001). This indicates advantages of combining livestock species, attributed to complementary pasture use. We suggest that mixed-grazing of cattle and sheep on phytodiverse swards is an effective and sustainable means to enhance ecological and agronomic traits such as livestock production and plant species conservation. Lamb production especially showed benefits under mixed-grazing, with a 17% increase in live weight gain. Compared to the grass-dominated sward, diverse swards resulted in an average 12% increase of live weight gains (across grazing systems and livestock species).

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Section: Growth Of Livestockmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diverse Swards and Mixed-Grazing of Cattle and Sheep for Improved Productivity

Jerrentrup¹,

Komainda²,

Seither³

et al. 2020

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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“…The addition of broadleaf species such as chicory and plantain is thought to provide nutritional benefits to the diet as more rapid rumen fermentation, and rumen outflow rates have been demonstrated (Burke, Waghorn, Brookes, Attwood, & Kolver, 2000;Kusmartono & Barry, 1997). High voluntary intakes have also been reported on forb diets compared with grass-based diets (Hutton et al, 2011;Judson, McAnulty, & Sedcole, 2009). However, those studies have used sheep or deer on either sole-forb diets or forb-legume diets.…”

Section: Milk Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Milk yield and nitrogen excretion of dairy cows grazing binary and multispecies pastures

Bryant

Miller

Greenwood

et al. 2017

Grass and Forage Science

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Three grazing experiments were carried out in late spring (early lactation), summer (mid‐lactation) and autumn (late lactation) to compare the effects of perennial ryegrass cultivar or grass species, sown in binary or multispecies mixtures, on milk yield and nitrogen excretion of dairy cows. Replicated groups of multiparous Holstein Friesian × Jersey cows were offered either a control or high‐sugar perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) or tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) base grass in a binary mixture with white clover (Trifolium repens) or in a multispecies mixture with additional legumes, bromegrass (Bromus willdenowii) and forbs. During each 9‐day experiment, botanical composition, milk production and faecal and urine composition were measured. Milk solid (MS) yield for the control ryegrass, high‐sugar ryegrass and tall fescue grass types averaged, respectively, 1.53, 1.64 and 1.70 kg MS cow−1 day−1 for a binary mixture sward, compared with 1.65, 1.54 and 1.53 kg MS cow−1 day−1 for a multispecies sward. Legume content influenced milk production more than the number of species present in a mixture. There was lower urine N concentration from a multispecies sward compared with a binary mixture. Urine N concentration of cows grazing the control ryegrass, high‐sugar ryegrass and tall fescue grass types averaged, respectively, 4.6, 5.3 and 6.8 g N L−1 for a binary mixture, compared with 4.1, 3.9 and 3.9 g N L−1 for a multispecies mixture. Feeding dairy cows on multispecies swards containing forbs presents an opportunity to reduce N losses without compromising milk yield.

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“…Tribute) than for lambs on ryegrass‐dominant pasture ( Lolium perenne cv. Stirling AR1) (Hutton and others ). Higher crude protein (CP) and ME, as well as lower fiber, were found for the mixed‐pasture treatment, providing better forage quality for the conversion of feed into animal products.…”

Section: The Effect Of Forage‐based Systems On Lamb Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Extensive Feeding Systems on Growth Rate, Carcass Traits, and Meat Quality of Finishing Lambs

Brito

Ponnampalam

Hopkins

2016

Comp Rev Food Sci Food Safe

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This review aims to summarize the relevant published information about the effects of extensive feeding systems on the carcass and meat quality characteristics of lambs. Lambs finished in a feedlot or with supplementation under extensive systems exhibit faster growth rates, achieve target weights quicker, and produce heavier carcass weights when compared to grazing lambs. However, the literature also shows that finishing lambs on high-quality pasture can produce satisfactory growth rates without compromising carcass and meat quality traits. Lately, the consumer demand for products perceived as "healthy" and that are produced where animal welfare is optimal under systems which do not impact negatively on the environment, has heightened the interest in lamb production under extensive systems. Lambs raised on pasture can meet many of these specifications. Also, lambs fed higher quality green pasture can produce meat with greater amounts of health-claimable omega-3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid plus docosahexaenoic acid than feeding systems based on feedlot pellets, grain, or dry pasture/straw. It is apparent that in some previous published research, the number of animals allocated for each treatment, and the lack of replicates, makes it difficult to formulate a correct understanding of the effect of forages on lamb carcass and meat quality. Future research should concentrate on the effect of legume, improved pasture, and specialized forage finishing systems on growth rate, carcass traits, and nutritional value of meat using well-designed experiments with an adequate number of lambs and appropriate paddock replicates per treatment.

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A herb and legume sward mix increased ewe milk production and ewe and lamb live weight gain to weaning compared to a ryegrass dominant sward

Cited by 61 publications

References 20 publications

Diverse Swards and Mixed-Grazing of Cattle and Sheep for Improved Productivity

Diverse Swards and Mixed-Grazing of Cattle and Sheep for Improved Productivity

Milk yield and nitrogen excretion of dairy cows grazing binary and multispecies pastures

The Effect of Extensive Feeding Systems on Growth Rate, Carcass Traits, and Meat Quality of Finishing Lambs

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