An evaluation of mixed kikuyu and ryegrass pastures grazed by sheep

Abstract

In one spring and two autumn trials intake and live-weight gain (LWG) of sheep grazing either ryegrass/white clover/kikuyu grass (K) or ryegrass/white clover (R) pasture were measured. In one trial ad libitum and near-maintenance feeding allowances were used and in the other two trials a third, intermediate, feeding allowance was also used. Spring pastures had a similar clover content, and K contained 24% kikuyu. Autumn pastures contained 15% clover and 73% kikuyu in K and 40% clover and 40% ryegrass in R. Digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) was the same at each plane of nutrition between treatments within each trial. Nutritive value (LWG/DOMI) of K was lower than that of R. This was associated with lower intakes of readily fermentable carbohydrate and protein, and a higher intake of structural carbohydrate.