Pasture production and liveweight gain from cocksfoot-subterranean clover pastures grazed at two stocking rates and closed at different times during spring

Abstract

The effect of stocking rate (8.3 (low) and 13.9 (high) ewes + twin lambs/ha) and time of closing in spring on lamb liveweight gain, pasture production and subterranean clover seedling densities was monitored over 2 years for a dryland cocksfoot-subterranean clover pasture in Canterbury. Keywords: cocksfoot, Dactylis glomerata, closing date, liveweight gain, seedling density, sheep grazing, stocking rate, subterranean clover, Trifolium subterraneum