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Effect of grazing management on the maintenance of white clover
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1998-11-01
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Nolan, T., Grennan, E.J., Effect of grazing management on the maintenance of white clover, End of Project Reports, Teagasc, 1998.
Abstract
The objectives of the project were to compare different cultivar types and
methods to establish and maintain them in reseeded and permanent pastures
as a basis for efficient low cost sheep production. In Ireland only 3% of
pastures are reseeded annually and permanent pastures rarely contain more
than 5% white clover. Improved clover content offers benefits of higher
lamb growth rate and reduced fertiliser N use.
Comparisons under cutting conditions provided no basis for replacement of
Grasslands Huia by the new cultivar Aberherald. Grasslands Huia
established successfully following direct reseeding and rotational grazing by
sheep. It established more quickly than Kentish and gave higher yield only
in the first year. A mixture of small and medium size white clovers should
be sown for sheep grazing. Increasing seeding rate from 2 to 4 kg per ha
increased pasture clover content only in the first year. Grasslands Huia
persisted quite well for up to 5 years under rotational sheep grazing. It also
survived under continuous grazing but leaf size was reduced.
Rotational grazing management with sheep increased the clover content of
permanent pasture from under 2% to 4% over 2 years. Highest clover yields
were achieved with rest intervals of 20 to 28 days. Simulated mixed sheep
and cattle rotational grazing on permanent pasture resulted in intermediate
(10 to 12%) clover dry matter contributions to total dry matter compared
with cattle (15 to 18%) and sheep (5 to 8%). Lamb growth rate was about
35% higher when the clover content of the sward was increased from very
low to about 35%.