Productivity of S. 59 red fescue with and without S. 184 white clover under hill conditions: 2. Herbage measurements in relation to animal performance

Abstract

SUMMARY: Herbage availability, intake and nutritive value were recorded on swards of S. 59 red fescue (Festuca rvbra L.) and S. 23 perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), with and without S. 184 white clover (Trifolium repens L.), and correlated with animal performance. Intake of dry matter was similar on all treatments. Animal live-weight gains during 1969 were positively correlated with digestible organic matter intake (DOMI).Poor animal performance from red fescue swards in mid-summer was attributed to the rapid fall in digestibility at this time which affected DOMI.Differences between treatments in efficiency of conversion of DOMI into live-weight gains were observed. Superior conversion ratios in swards containing clover could not be related to any of the herbage quality measurements recorded.Better animal productivity from red fescue swards in early spring and in late autumn were related to the longer growing season of this grass.The merits and demerits of red fescue as a grass for hill conditions and the possibility of reducing its limitations by breeding are discussed.