THE QUANTITY AND FREQUENCY OF REMOVAL OF HERBAGE FROM AN EMERGING ANNUAL GRASS SWARD BY SHEEP IN A SET-STOCKED SYSTEM OF GRAZING
| ISSN: |
1365-2494
|
|---|---|
| Source: |
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
|
| Topics: |
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
|
| Notes: |
A newly sown sward of Lolium rigidum was set-stocked from one week after emergence onwards at 7.4 sheep/ha.The proportion of dry matter removed from the sward by grazing each week fell from 20 to 1%/day over the first 7 weeks after emergence.Time-lapse stereo photography showed that in the immediate post-emergence period sheep tended to graze the elongating, or incremental, component of dry matter rather than the fully expanded butts of previously defoliated mature leaves.Frequency of defoliation decreased with time. 97% of plants were defoliated in the second week after emergence, but only 44% in the eighth week.
|
| Type of Medium: |
Electronic Resource
|
| URL: |