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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 March 2009
For three years the persistence of six grasses and one herb sown singly or in combination under poultry grazing was studied. Established swards were regularly mown and either not grazed (control) or grazed every other week or every other month. The results are compared with those from earlier trials and reasons for the differences are discussed. Red fescue, perennial rye-grass and smooth-stalked meadow grass increased in amount, red fescue being particularly unpopular with poultry. Meadow fescue and timothy were slightly, and cocksfoot and yarrow drastically, reduced under poultry grazing.
The preferences of poultry for certain herbage species and varieties are discussed but no reasons adduced owing to lack of data.
One week's and 4 weeks' grazing made no difference to the persistence and palatability of the grasses tested, but these were always in a short leafy condition when grazed.