Effects of soils, fertilizers and stocking rates on pastures and beef production on the Wallum of south-eastern Queensland. 2. Liveweight change and beef production

Abstract

Animal production was measured over a six-year period from grass-legume pastures receiving different maintenance rates of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, and continuously grazed at stocking rates of 1.23, 1.65 and 2.47 beasts ha-1. The pastures consisted of the grasses Chloris gayana, Digitaria decumbens, Paspalum dilatatum and P. commersonii and the legumes Desmodium intortum, D. uncinatum, L otononis bainesii, Macrop tilium lath yroides and Trifolium repens. Annual applications of 250 kg ha-1 superphosphate (9.6 per cent P) significantly increased animal production above applications of 125 kg ha-1 superphosphate, but there were no significant effects of increase in level of applied potassium (as KCI) beyond 63 kg ha-1. The greatest liveweight gain per hectare was obtained at a stocking rate of 2.47 beasts ha-1 but rate of liveweight change was more variable than at the other stocking rates. Conversely, daily liveweight gains per head and rate of turnoff were greatest at 1.23 beasts ha-1. Both stocking rates and levels of superphosphate affected quality of carcase produced, and there was a significant positive correlation of liveweight gain and legume content of the pastures.

Growth rate and nutritive value of sown tropical perennial grasses in a variable summer‐dominant rainfall environment, Australia

“…ex Chiov. (kikuyu grass) and Chloris gayana Kunth (Rhodes grass), are important species in the high rainfall/irrigated dairy and beef industries on the coast and subtropics of NSW and south‐east Queensland and have been the focus of many studies (Evans and Bryan, ; Jones, ; Jones and Evans, ; Fulkerson et al ., ; Ehrlich et al ., ,b); however, few have been conducted in frost‐prone dryland regions.…”

Association of <i>Aeschynomene histrix</i> with <i>Andropogon gayanus</i> or <i>Panicum maximun</i>: A Comparative Study of Pasture Quality

“…A high livestock load, but not excessive, can initially increase the proportion of the legume. Phosphate fertilization can also contribute to better growth of the legume [8]. But by raising the nitrogen content of the soil, the legume can also cause after a few years a contrary effect and favorable to the recovery of the grass.…”

Avaliação da variabilidade de caracteres morfológicos e agronômicos em populações de >i<Desmodium uncinatum>/i< (Jacq.) D.C. e >i<Desmodium intortum>/i< (Mill.) Urb.

“…Isto se deve, em grande parte, à inadequada distribuição estacional da produção de forragem, fator que pode ser tanto ou mais importante do que o rendimento total durante o ano. BERMUDEZ (1960), HERRERA et alii (1966), EVANS e BRYAN (1973), entre outros autores, concordaram em que, dentro de amplos limites, quanto maior a quantidade de leguminosas nas pasta-6.…”