Agronomy, Vol. 8, Pages 124: Sensitivity of Winter-Active Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) to Different Grazing Regimes

Publication Date:
2018-07-20
Publisher:
MDPI
Electronic ISSN:
2073-4395
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Economics
Published by:
_version_ 1836399008975683585
autor Vivianne F. Burnett; Jeff R. Hirth; Kym L. Butler; Meredith L. Mitchell; Steve G. Clark; Zhongnan Nie
beschreibung Agronomy, Vol. 8, Pages 124: Sensitivity of Winter-Active Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) to Different Grazing Regimes Agronomy doi: 10.3390/agronomy8070124 Authors: Vivianne F. Burnett Jeff R. Hirth Kym L. Butler Meredith L. Mitchell Steve G. Clark Zhongnan Nie Lucerne (alfalfa; Medicago sativa L.) is the key forage for grazing in dryland temperate regions around the world. While rotational grazing of lucerne is recommended, in southern Australia the intervals between grazing events are often chosen in an opportunistic manner, to meet livestock production targets and utilise excessive spring and summer growth. To assess whether the persistence of lucerne is sensitive to variations in rotational grazing management practice, we report on an experiment with four sheep grazing treatments that was conducted for 2.5 years, including three summers, in southern New South Wales. The grazing management treatments were a crash-grazing control, frequent grazing, feed-based rotational grazing and time-based rotational grazing, replicated four times. The number of grazing events, percentage of time under grazing, lucerne top dry matter (DM) at the beginning and end of grazing periods and plant density were measured. The results relating to number of grazing events, percentage of time grazing and DM removed during grazing indicated that four grazing practices had been achieved. The treatments all had significant periods of rest for at least 73% of time and were empirically different in their approach but resulted in similar grazing pressures, in terms of overall pasture removed during grazing. Nevertheless, there was little difference in lucerne densities between grazing treatments over the life of the experiment. We conclude that there is flexibility in the rotational management of grazed lucerne provided adequate rest periods are part of the management program.
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insertion_date 2018-07-20
journaleissn 2073-4395
publikationsjahr_anzeige 2018
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publikationsjahr_sort 2018
publisher MDPI
quelle Agronomy
relation http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/8/7/124
search_space articles
shingle_author_1 Vivianne F. Burnett; Jeff R. Hirth; Kym L. Butler; Meredith L. Mitchell; Steve G. Clark; Zhongnan Nie
shingle_author_2 Vivianne F. Burnett; Jeff R. Hirth; Kym L. Butler; Meredith L. Mitchell; Steve G. Clark; Zhongnan Nie
shingle_author_3 Vivianne F. Burnett; Jeff R. Hirth; Kym L. Butler; Meredith L. Mitchell; Steve G. Clark; Zhongnan Nie
shingle_author_4 Vivianne F. Burnett; Jeff R. Hirth; Kym L. Butler; Meredith L. Mitchell; Steve G. Clark; Zhongnan Nie
shingle_catch_all_1 Agronomy, Vol. 8, Pages 124: Sensitivity of Winter-Active Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) to Different Grazing Regimes
Agronomy, Vol. 8, Pages 124: Sensitivity of Winter-Active Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) to Different Grazing Regimes Agronomy doi: 10.3390/agronomy8070124 Authors: Vivianne F. Burnett Jeff R. Hirth Kym L. Butler Meredith L. Mitchell Steve G. Clark Zhongnan Nie Lucerne (alfalfa; Medicago sativa L.) is the key forage for grazing in dryland temperate regions around the world. While rotational grazing of lucerne is recommended, in southern Australia the intervals between grazing events are often chosen in an opportunistic manner, to meet livestock production targets and utilise excessive spring and summer growth. To assess whether the persistence of lucerne is sensitive to variations in rotational grazing management practice, we report on an experiment with four sheep grazing treatments that was conducted for 2.5 years, including three summers, in southern New South Wales. The grazing management treatments were a crash-grazing control, frequent grazing, feed-based rotational grazing and time-based rotational grazing, replicated four times. The number of grazing events, percentage of time under grazing, lucerne top dry matter (DM) at the beginning and end of grazing periods and plant density were measured. The results relating to number of grazing events, percentage of time grazing and DM removed during grazing indicated that four grazing practices had been achieved. The treatments all had significant periods of rest for at least 73% of time and were empirically different in their approach but resulted in similar grazing pressures, in terms of overall pasture removed during grazing. Nevertheless, there was little difference in lucerne densities between grazing treatments over the life of the experiment. We conclude that there is flexibility in the rotational management of grazed lucerne provided adequate rest periods are part of the management program.
Vivianne F. Burnett; Jeff R. Hirth; Kym L. Butler; Meredith L. Mitchell; Steve G. Clark; Zhongnan Nie
MDPI
2073-4395
20734395
shingle_catch_all_2 Agronomy, Vol. 8, Pages 124: Sensitivity of Winter-Active Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) to Different Grazing Regimes
Agronomy, Vol. 8, Pages 124: Sensitivity of Winter-Active Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) to Different Grazing Regimes Agronomy doi: 10.3390/agronomy8070124 Authors: Vivianne F. Burnett Jeff R. Hirth Kym L. Butler Meredith L. Mitchell Steve G. Clark Zhongnan Nie Lucerne (alfalfa; Medicago sativa L.) is the key forage for grazing in dryland temperate regions around the world. While rotational grazing of lucerne is recommended, in southern Australia the intervals between grazing events are often chosen in an opportunistic manner, to meet livestock production targets and utilise excessive spring and summer growth. To assess whether the persistence of lucerne is sensitive to variations in rotational grazing management practice, we report on an experiment with four sheep grazing treatments that was conducted for 2.5 years, including three summers, in southern New South Wales. The grazing management treatments were a crash-grazing control, frequent grazing, feed-based rotational grazing and time-based rotational grazing, replicated four times. The number of grazing events, percentage of time under grazing, lucerne top dry matter (DM) at the beginning and end of grazing periods and plant density were measured. The results relating to number of grazing events, percentage of time grazing and DM removed during grazing indicated that four grazing practices had been achieved. The treatments all had significant periods of rest for at least 73% of time and were empirically different in their approach but resulted in similar grazing pressures, in terms of overall pasture removed during grazing. Nevertheless, there was little difference in lucerne densities between grazing treatments over the life of the experiment. We conclude that there is flexibility in the rotational management of grazed lucerne provided adequate rest periods are part of the management program.
Vivianne F. Burnett; Jeff R. Hirth; Kym L. Butler; Meredith L. Mitchell; Steve G. Clark; Zhongnan Nie
MDPI
2073-4395
20734395
shingle_catch_all_3 Agronomy, Vol. 8, Pages 124: Sensitivity of Winter-Active Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) to Different Grazing Regimes
Agronomy, Vol. 8, Pages 124: Sensitivity of Winter-Active Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) to Different Grazing Regimes Agronomy doi: 10.3390/agronomy8070124 Authors: Vivianne F. Burnett Jeff R. Hirth Kym L. Butler Meredith L. Mitchell Steve G. Clark Zhongnan Nie Lucerne (alfalfa; Medicago sativa L.) is the key forage for grazing in dryland temperate regions around the world. While rotational grazing of lucerne is recommended, in southern Australia the intervals between grazing events are often chosen in an opportunistic manner, to meet livestock production targets and utilise excessive spring and summer growth. To assess whether the persistence of lucerne is sensitive to variations in rotational grazing management practice, we report on an experiment with four sheep grazing treatments that was conducted for 2.5 years, including three summers, in southern New South Wales. The grazing management treatments were a crash-grazing control, frequent grazing, feed-based rotational grazing and time-based rotational grazing, replicated four times. The number of grazing events, percentage of time under grazing, lucerne top dry matter (DM) at the beginning and end of grazing periods and plant density were measured. The results relating to number of grazing events, percentage of time grazing and DM removed during grazing indicated that four grazing practices had been achieved. The treatments all had significant periods of rest for at least 73% of time and were empirically different in their approach but resulted in similar grazing pressures, in terms of overall pasture removed during grazing. Nevertheless, there was little difference in lucerne densities between grazing treatments over the life of the experiment. We conclude that there is flexibility in the rotational management of grazed lucerne provided adequate rest periods are part of the management program.
Vivianne F. Burnett; Jeff R. Hirth; Kym L. Butler; Meredith L. Mitchell; Steve G. Clark; Zhongnan Nie
MDPI
2073-4395
20734395
shingle_catch_all_4 Agronomy, Vol. 8, Pages 124: Sensitivity of Winter-Active Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) to Different Grazing Regimes
Agronomy, Vol. 8, Pages 124: Sensitivity of Winter-Active Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) to Different Grazing Regimes Agronomy doi: 10.3390/agronomy8070124 Authors: Vivianne F. Burnett Jeff R. Hirth Kym L. Butler Meredith L. Mitchell Steve G. Clark Zhongnan Nie Lucerne (alfalfa; Medicago sativa L.) is the key forage for grazing in dryland temperate regions around the world. While rotational grazing of lucerne is recommended, in southern Australia the intervals between grazing events are often chosen in an opportunistic manner, to meet livestock production targets and utilise excessive spring and summer growth. To assess whether the persistence of lucerne is sensitive to variations in rotational grazing management practice, we report on an experiment with four sheep grazing treatments that was conducted for 2.5 years, including three summers, in southern New South Wales. The grazing management treatments were a crash-grazing control, frequent grazing, feed-based rotational grazing and time-based rotational grazing, replicated four times. The number of grazing events, percentage of time under grazing, lucerne top dry matter (DM) at the beginning and end of grazing periods and plant density were measured. The results relating to number of grazing events, percentage of time grazing and DM removed during grazing indicated that four grazing practices had been achieved. The treatments all had significant periods of rest for at least 73% of time and were empirically different in their approach but resulted in similar grazing pressures, in terms of overall pasture removed during grazing. Nevertheless, there was little difference in lucerne densities between grazing treatments over the life of the experiment. We conclude that there is flexibility in the rotational management of grazed lucerne provided adequate rest periods are part of the management program.
Vivianne F. Burnett; Jeff R. Hirth; Kym L. Butler; Meredith L. Mitchell; Steve G. Clark; Zhongnan Nie
MDPI
2073-4395
20734395
shingle_title_1 Agronomy, Vol. 8, Pages 124: Sensitivity of Winter-Active Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) to Different Grazing Regimes
shingle_title_2 Agronomy, Vol. 8, Pages 124: Sensitivity of Winter-Active Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) to Different Grazing Regimes
shingle_title_3 Agronomy, Vol. 8, Pages 124: Sensitivity of Winter-Active Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) to Different Grazing Regimes
shingle_title_4 Agronomy, Vol. 8, Pages 124: Sensitivity of Winter-Active Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) to Different Grazing Regimes
timestamp 2025-06-30T23:36:09.227Z
titel Agronomy, Vol. 8, Pages 124: Sensitivity of Winter-Active Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) to Different Grazing Regimes
titel_suche Agronomy, Vol. 8, Pages 124: Sensitivity of Winter-Active Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) to Different Grazing Regimes
topic ZA-ZE
Q
uid ipn_articles_6306548