GROWING PASTURE MIXTURES & THEIR RESEARCH VALUES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22818, 13 December 1948, Page 2

GROWING PASTURE MIXTURES & THEIR RESEARCH VALUES

* MANUTUKE FIELD DAY

The comparative values of various ' pasture mixtures anti their effect on the seven ewes and lambs grazing on the one-acre paddocks of the facial eczema field research station at Manutuke formed the basis of an interesting field day for a gathering of more than 100 farmers on Saturday afternoon.

The officer in charge of the station, Mr. J. E. V. Simpson, was introduced to the attendance by the senior veterinarian of the Gisborne Veterinary Club, Mr. R. Crawford, who drew atention to the fact that Gisborne was indeed fortunate in having one of the four animal research stations located in this district. A similar note was struck by the club president, Mr. Lawson Field, when extending a vote of thanks to Mr. Simpson at the close of the demonstration. He paid a tribute to the efficiency of the officer in charge, adding that Mr. Simpson would be pleased at any time to inform farmers on matters relating to pasture management and mixtures adopted on the station. Fertiliser as Pasture Boost

As the gathering moved down the race inspecting the pastures, Mr. Simpson explained that they had had an application of two and a-half hundredweight of superphosphate a year and no lime. The dressing was given in the autumn to boost the growth in an endeavour to produce eczema .so that controls could be studied. Tile ewes were four-tootbs and the station had come through the season with 100 per cent of lambs.

In the pasture experiment all the lambs had been the same mean weight, of say 291bs„ when put into their respective paddocks. It was .ntended next season to put on eight ewes and lambs to the acre. A beast was grazed here and there from time to time, and he explained that he had lost one on pasture No. 3 an account of bloat. "When the station was first started it ,was found that the lambs were increasing in live-weight by about half a pound daily. It was not at all unusual now to find them putting on three-quarters of a nound daily. The lambs were all ear-tagged and complete records were kept in each case relative to the history of the lambs from birth-weight to dressed weight. Details were:—

Pasture No, I.—Short rotation ryegrass, 401bs; cocksfoot. Gibs: Timothy, 51bs; red clover, 31bs; white clover, 31bs. The pasture was in its fourth season, with volunteer perennial rye coming in. It was not going to seed as the perennial in the Bay. There were two or three weeks more of leaf growth before seeding started. Weights recorded to date: Spring, 1946, 3Gibs dressed; autumn, 1947, 351bs; spiing, 1947, 38.81b5; autumn, 1948, 421bs; spring, 1948, 821bs live-weight. Pasture No. 2. —Short rotation, latest selection, 401bs: certified white clover, 31bs. The pasture was sown in April, 1947. In pasture No. 1 it had been found that the short rotation ryegrass was not as persistent as required, and it was thought that the latest selection would stand up to dry conditions better. Frames in the paddock showed that from July 15 to date the pasture had been producing 66001bs of dry matter per acre, or 15001bs better than the perennial trial area. Weights recorded to date: Autumn, 1948, 36.31b5; spring, 1948, 841bs live-weight. Pasture No, 3.—ltalian ryegrass 401bs; Montgomery red clover, 31bs; broad red clover, 31bs. The pasture was in its third season. While carrying six ewes and lambs to the acre the pasture had got away fom the sheep. Mr. Simpson considered it could have carried 12 to the acre. In the autumn he thought the lambs may do better on the red clover. Weights recorded to date- Spring, 1946, 361bs; autumn, 1947, 35.21b5; Spring, 1947, 37.61b5; autumn, 1948, 45.31b5; spring, 1948, 821bs liveweight. Pasture No. 4.—ltalian ryegrass, 401bs; cocksfoot, 61bs; white clover, 31bs. The pasture was sown in April, 1946, and was still improving. It was giving the best results to date. There had been only six ewes and lambs in the paddock for the past two weeks as the seventh ewe became foot sore and was removed because it was getting cast. Weights recorded to date: Spring, 1946, 341bs; autumn, 1947, 341bs; spring,’ 1947, 371bs; autumn, 1948, 441bs; spring 1948. 891bs live-weight. ■ Pasture No. 5. —Short rotation, second selections 401bs; certified white clover, 31bs. There was more grass than in the first selection paddock. Weights recorded to date: Spring, 1946, 341bs; autumn, 1947, 331bs; spring, 1947, 39.41b5; autumn. 1948, 44.51b5; spring, 1948, 871bs live-weight. Pasture No. 6.—Short rotation, 401bs; cocksfoot. 61bs; Timothy, 51bs; red clover, 31bs: white clover, 31bs. Weights recorded to date: Spring, 1946, 341bs; autumn, 1947, 341bs; spring, 1947, 87.21b5; autumn. 1948, 401bs; spring, 1948, 861bs live-weight. Pasture No. 7.—Perennial ryegrass, 401bs; certified white clover, 31bs. The pasture was not as good as the others, Mr. Simpson said. Frames in the paddock showed that the pasture had produced 48001bs of dry matter in the

period from June 15 to date. The perennial rye was due to Hugh up with the autumn rains and that might give it a chance to make up some oi the leeway. As it had a suppressing effect on the white clover it aid not have the nulk oi ciover to help it through. Mr. Simpson said a normal pasture produced lO.UuUibs of dry matter in a year. A pasture mixture in Palmerston North hau recorded lo.UUUlbs. Weights recorded to date: Spring, 1946, 351bs; autumn, 1947, 331bs; spring, 1947, 33.21b5; autumn, 1948, 43.5id5; spring, 1948, ylibs live-weight. Pasture No. 8. —Perennial ryegrass, 401bs; ordinary white clover, 3ids. As facial eczema experiments were carried out in that paudock there were no spring and autumn weights on a comparative basis. That pasture also had naif a ton of lime to tnc acre in addition to the normal rate oi application of super pnospnate. The lames in the paddock were good, but not as well uone as the others. 'there was prooi, Mr. Simpson said, that it paid to sow good wmte clover. 'The difference was oovious. ’The present live-weight of the iambs were 7Bibs. Pasture No. 9.—ffong rotation ryegrass, 4 (Jibs; certified white clover, Mbs. Long rotation was produced to last for irom seven to nine years, while short rotation had a Iffe of irom lour to live years. Mr. Simpson said he thought long rotation may have a place in tne district. Jb rallies showed that the paddock had produced OSUOlbs of dry matter from June 15. It was an improvement oi a lew hundred pounds over the short rotation. He cud . not think the difference was significant. Weights recorded to date: Autumn, 1948, 36.51b5; spring, 1948, 851os liveweight. i Pasture No. 10.—Short rotation ryegrass, 351bs; perennial ryegrass, lUibs; eerthied white ciover, albs Montgomery red clover. Jibs; broad red clover. 31bs. Mr. Simpson described that as the “Utopian’ mixture designed to carry uie maximum feed throughout the season. The short rotation would give the growth in the winter, the clovers would carry through alter that and the perennial would come away in the autumn. However, he said, the pasture would - require special management to secure the best results. The live-weight of the lambs was 791bs. Before the gathering moved off to see a demonstration ol the overhead irrigation sprinkler system, Mr. Simpson drew attention to his stand of lucerne. He stressed its value as a facial eczema stand-by. In lour cuts last year he had taken lour and a-half tons of hay to the acre. It was used during the period of concentrated grazing last autumn, and he mentioned that the lambing percentage was 100 per cent on the station.

The gathering was interested in the irrigation system, installed to make it possible to produce the conditions likely to favour facial eczema. The plant was capable of covering one-third of an acre at a waterihg.