Hostname: page-component-6d856f89d9-5pczc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-16T09:00:51.076Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The influence of superphosphate on the legume content of the diet selected by cattle grazing Stylosanthes-native grass pastures

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

R. W. McLean
Affiliation:
C.S.I.R.O. Division of Tropical Crops and Pastures, Cunningham Laboratory, St Lucia, Queensland 4067, Australia
W. H. Winter
Affiliation:
C.S.I.R.O. Division of Tropical Crops and Pastures, Katherine, N.T. 5780, Australia
J. J. Mott
Affiliation:
C.S.I.R.O. Division of Tropical Crops and Pastures, Cunningham Laboratory, St Lucia, Queensland 4067, Australia
D. A. Little
Affiliation:
C.S.I.R.O. Division of Tropical Crops and Pastures, Cunningham Laboratory, St Lucia, Queensland 4067, Australia

Extract

The addition of superphosphate increases the legume content of grass-legume pastures and the growth rate of beef cattle (Shaw, 1978). It has generally been assumed that the increase in beef production following the application of superphosphate is related directly to greater amounts of legume in the pasture consumed (Norman, 1970; Shaw, 1978) but there is no direct evidence on this subject. This paper reports a study of the influence of small quantities of superphosphate on preference for legume by cattle grazing Stylosanthes-native grass pastures.

Type
Short Note
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1981

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Hamilton, B. A. & Hall, D. G. (1975). Estimation of the botanical composition of oesophageal extrusa samples. 1. A modified microscope point technique. Journal of the British Grassland Society 30, 229235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hodgson, J. (1979). Nomenclature and definitions in grazing studies. Grass and Forage Science 34, 1118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mannetje, L. 't & Haydock, K. P. (1963). The dry weight rank method for the botanical analysis of pasture. Journal of the British Grassland Society 18, 268275.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Norman, M. J. T. (1970). Relationships between liveweight gain of grazing beef steers and availability of Townsville lucerne. Proceedings of the XI International Grassland Congress, pp. 829832.Google Scholar
Ozanne, P. G. & Howes, K. M. W. (1971). Preference of grazing sheep for pasture of high phosphate content. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 22, 941950.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rees, M. C. & Minson, D. J. (1977). The influence of supplements on the voluntary intake and digestibility of feed – an alternative to fertilizers? In Prospects for Improving Efficiency of Phosphorus Utilization (ed. Blair, G. J.). Reviews in Rural Science No. III, pp. 165169.Google Scholar
Shaw, N. H. (1978). Superphosphate and stocking rate effects on a native pasture oversown with Stylosanthes humilis in central coastal Queensland. 2. Animal production. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 18, 800807.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stobbs, T. H. (1977). Seasonal changes in the preference by cattle for Macroptilium atropurpureum cv. Sirato. Tropical Grasslands 11, 8791.Google Scholar