Effect of feeding strategy and area of pasture conserved on the wool production of wethers

Abstract

Two experiments investigated (1 ) the effects of different feeding policies for hay supplementation and (2) the effects of the area conserved when the hay was completely removed from the system, on the performance of wool-growing wethers grazing at various stocking rates. Both experiments showed that at low stocking rates (10 - 15 ha-1) a major advantage from conservation was due to the removal of surplus spring herbage. Wool production increased 4-5 kg ha-1 at these stocking rates when approximately 30% of the area was cut, although none of the conserved hay was fed back. With combinations of high stocking rate and high proportions mown, wool production decreased. This occurred when the rate of stocking on the grazed area in spring exceeded 25-28 sheep ha-1. The use of feeding policies based on liveweight criteria at rates of stocking between 10 - 15 sheep ha-1 dispensed with the need to feed hay in two of three years and gave an economic response in a year of late autumn rains. With high stocking rates (25 sheep ha-1) wool production was depressed by the conservation of 30% of the grazing area, except in a year when a large amount of hay was fed. At high stocking rates these policies greatly reduced the quantity of hay required to be fed relative to earlier studies.