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Grazing multispecies swards improves ewe and lamb performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 December 2018

C. Grace Open the ORCID record for C. Grace [Opens in a new window] ,
M. B. Lynch ,
H. Sheridan ,
S. Lott ,
R. Fritch  and
T. M. Boland
C. Grace
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin-4 D04 V1W8, Ireland University College Dublin Lyons Farm, Lyons Estate, Celbridge, Naas, Co. Kildare W23 ENY2, Ireland
M. B. Lynch*
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin-4 D04 V1W8, Ireland University College Dublin Lyons Farm, Lyons Estate, Celbridge, Naas, Co. Kildare W23 ENY2, Ireland
H. Sheridan
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin-4 D04 V1W8, Ireland University College Dublin Lyons Farm, Lyons Estate, Celbridge, Naas, Co. Kildare W23 ENY2, Ireland
S. Lott
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin-4 D04 V1W8, Ireland University College Dublin Lyons Farm, Lyons Estate, Celbridge, Naas, Co. Kildare W23 ENY2, Ireland
R. Fritch
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin-4 D04 V1W8, Ireland University College Dublin Lyons Farm, Lyons Estate, Celbridge, Naas, Co. Kildare W23 ENY2, Ireland
T. M. Boland
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin-4 D04 V1W8, Ireland University College Dublin Lyons Farm, Lyons Estate, Celbridge, Naas, Co. Kildare W23 ENY2, Ireland
*
†E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

A two-year (2015 and 2016) grazing study was established to compare ewe and lamb performance when grazed on a perennial ryegrass only sward compared to more diverse sward types. In that study four sward types were investigated: a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) only sward receiving 163 kg nitrogen per hectare per year (N/ha/yr) (PRG); a perennial ryegrass and white clover (Trifolium repens) sward receiving 90 kg N/ha/yr (PRGWC); a six species sward (two grasses (perennial ryegrass and timothy (Phleum pratense)), two legumes (white and red clover (Trifolium pratense)) and two herbs (ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata) and chicory (Cichorium intybus)) receiving 90 kg N/ha/yr (6S); and a nine species sward containing cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), greater birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus) and yarrow (Achillea millefolium) in addition to the six species listed above, receiving 90 kg N/ha/yr (9S). Each sward type was managed as a separate farmlet and stocked with 30 twin-rearing ewes at a stocking rate of 12.5 ewes/ha under rotational grazing management from turnout post-lambing until housing. Lamb live weight was recorded fortnightly and lambs were drafted for slaughter at 45 kg. Ewe live weight and body condition score (BCS) were recorded on five occasions annually. Lamb faecal egg count (FEC) was recorded fortnightly and lambs were treated with anthelmintics when mean lamb FEC per sward type was above 400 eggs per gram. Ewes grazing the 6S and 9S swards had heavier (P < 0.01) live weights and BCS throughout the study than the ewes grazing the PRG sward. Lambs grazing the 6S sward were heavier than lambs grazing all other sward types of 14 weeks old (P < 0.05). Lambs grazing the PRG sward required more days to reach slaughter weight than lambs grazing all other sward types (P < 0.001). Lambs grazing the 6S and 9S swards required fewer anthelmintic treatments than lambs grazing the PRG or PRGWC swards. In conclusion, grazing multispecies swards improved ewe and lamb performance and reduced the requirement for chemical anthelmintics.

Keywords

grass legume and herb swardssheepfaecal egg countsperennial ryegrassaverage daily gain
Type
Research Article
Information
animal , Volume 13 , Issue 8 , August 2019 , pp. 1721 - 1729
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2018 

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