First Year Of Pasture Palatability Studies

Press, Volume C, Issue 29506, 6 May 1961, Page 6

First Year Of Pasture Palatability Studies

Readers will recall that soYne time ago reference was made on these pages to studies of the palatability of a number of pasture species made by Dr. B. R. Watkin, who was formerly in charge of the sub-station of the Grasslands Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research at Lincoln. These studies were made with sheep. Now something similar is being done with dairy cattle on farms from Canterbury to Southland. * One of the features of the first year’s observations is that ryegrasses have gone through a period of apparent unpalatability in summer and autumn. Cows have then given them a wide berth.

In autumn last year four pasture species trials were established in Canterbury, Otago and Southland under the guidance of Mr H. W. Mclntosh, consulting officer of the New Zealand Dairy Board, with Mr D. J. G. Davies, fields instructor of the Department of Agriculture in Christchurch, being associated with the Canterbury trials. These field trials have been established for observation of the performances and palatability of individual species and mixtures of species, together with dry matter production measurements which have been started this autumn. Follow-up This work follows on in the field the contribution made by Dr. Watkin, now working in Australia, who clearly showed that grass species varied in palatability at different times of the year. As this original work was carried out under sheep grazing all the present large scale block grazing trials are being grazed by cows on dairy farms engaged in wholemilk production. The object of this series of experiments has been: (a) to determine the palatable and unpalatable stages of the various grasses in the trial under field conditions; (b) to observe the suppressing effects of ryegrass when sown with other grasses; (c) to ultimately determine a pasture mixture suitable for dairy farm pastures and incorporating a range of palatable species for the whole year; (d) to measure the productivity of the grasses under trial by periodic mowings, and (e) to observe any other effects associated with the performance of individual species in the trial. Four Trials The four trials are sited on the east coast of the South Island from Tai Tapu in the north to Kennington, Southland, a distance of 360 miles and covering an area with wide variations in climatic and soil conditions. This review deals with the establishment and palatability of species in the first year for each trial and is based on visual observations made periodically over that period. A trial was sown on the property of Mr R. G. Humm. Tai Tapu, on Marci} 1, 1960, and included six grass species together with a clover mixture of white, red and alsyke. Each treatment was sown in a one-acre block, 10 chains by 1 chain, half of which was broadcast and half drilled. Pasture species sown were tall fescue Sl7O (Aberystwyth, Wales), timothy S4B.

cocksfoot (New Zealand Grasslands), short rotation ryegrass, prairie grass and phalaris tuberose. Across each block of grass a 10ft strip of short rotation ryegrass was sown at 201 b per acre. It has been interesting to note the difference between methods of sowing during a dry autumn which has been markedly in favour of broadcasting compared with the 7in drills, and even after one year of development the difference still persists for all species. Weed competition was far less obvious in the broadcast strips than where they were drilled. All grass species are now well established along with a good clover base. The most productive species to date have been prairie grass and short rotation ryegrass (for winter) and tall fescue, the latter having developed strongly during the summer. Cocksfoot. timothy and phalaris are beginning to come into their own but did not produce as much feed during the first six months of establishment. Feature The most striking feature of the trial to date has been the unpalatability of short rotation ryegrass in December, January and February. The best of the summer producers to date appear to be cocksfoot, timothy and tall fescue. The strip of ryegrass sown across the other grasses has completely suppressed all except the prairie grass. On Mr R. H. Eggleston and Son’s property at Greenpark a similar trial was sown on March 4, 1960. except that all species were drilled with 3$ in Blackmore coulters and perennial ryegrass was added for a 'further comparison on palatability and productiveness. With the exception of the timothy and cocksfoot blocks, which have had to be resown because of smothering by dense weed growth, all the other grass types have established satisfactorily. Short rotation ryegrass and prairie grass provided useful grazing during the winter while tall fescue has been the most productive grass in the summer and by far the most palatable. Both the ryegrasses have been unpalatable during the Decem-ber-February period. the herd showing a distinct preference for the fescue plot This grass appears to thrive on the weakly saline soil and similar observations were made on salty patches on Mr Humm's trial. A pleasing feature of the trial has been the strong stand of clover that has developed amongst all species other than ryegrass. The clover is not nearly so prominent or vigorous amongst the rye but on the other hand

thistles are more prevalent in the more open lax species while the rye plots are very clean. The cross strip of ryegrass sown at 201 b per acre has again completely suppressed all the other grasses except for a few prairie grass plants. Around the headland of the trial blocks, a mixture of timothy, cocksfoot and prairie grass and a light seeding of short rotation ryegrass at 51b has been sown. Recently the only species showing up strongly was prairie grass. Otago Farm On Mr Les Gillespie’s farm at Henley, Otago, an area of 10 acres was sown in species and mixtures on February 10, 1960. These were sown broadcast, harrowed and rolled. The species were perennial ryegrass, phalaris tuberosa, timothy, short rotation, grasslands cocksfoot, prairie grass, and tall fescue Sl7O. The first species to establish and give most winter feeding were short rotation and prairie. The mixtures included one of cocksfoot, timothy and prairie, and another of short rotation, Italian, cocksfoot and timothy. The latter one, which is the mixture sown in the district, produced most winter feed but the other one outproduced it in the summer. Furthermore, it was highly palatable all the spring and summer, while the two ryes became unpalatable in December and remained so into March, Another interesting feature here is that although there is as much timothy and cocksfoot and clovers with the 201 b of rye as there is in the other section without rye there is no sign of these grasses or clovers, while the prairie, cocksfoot and timothy is too dense to grow upright. A very interesting point showed up while grazing these 10 one-acre plots last winter. It was that the rooting system of all the grasses except the three ryes, carried the dairy herd, while the rye areas pugged severely. Disconcerting Possibly one of the most disconcerting things for Mr Gillespie was that short rotation and Italian were his favourite grasses and tjie farm had it in every paddock. The herd liked this plot until November grazing. When they were put on it during early December, the whole herd walked over it and then went out the gate without taking a bite and some actually ran down the track to the other gate which was the entrance for the species Wondering what they wanted, the farmer opened the gate and every cow went to the tall fescue, then divided between timothy, cocksfoot and prairie.

Laughingly, Mr Gillespie recently said: “I nearly cried when they turned down completely my lovely grass—that is three months ago, and they won’t eat it yet. To force them I fenced them on it with a little other species as extra but the milk dropped 30 gallons a day, so I let them have their own way—you know they must know something, these cows.” Another very Interesting observation was made in November. The perennial ryegrass was obviously out of favour, and the short rotation was still palatable. In an attempt to force the herd to eat the perennial ryegrass inr case they were getting too fussy, the farmer found that they absolutely refused to eat it. With Mr Gillespie, Mr Mclntosh made a very close inspection to see if any of the herd had taken a mouthful to cause their dislike for it. Not one mouthful had been eaten in the whole acre and they made the staggering discovery that there were nine places where cows had parted the perennial ryegrass to enable them to eat out a plant of Yorkshire Fog to the roots. The other farm is Mr W. J. Johnston's at Kennington, Southland. The naddock is of 12 acres and here, too, all the species were sown in strips 1 chain wide and 10 chains long, on October 10. In Southland, like many parts of Canterbury and Otago there are farmers who still persist in sowing 30 to 401 b of rye plus other species and clovers, so the four acres left over after the eight acres reserved for species (no tall fescue seed was available) had been sown were divided into four equal one-acre areas. One was sown with 201 b perennial ryegrass. 101 b

short rotation, 31b cocksfoot. 31b timothy, and 41b clovers. The next acre had only half the rye (151b> and the other species, the next 71b of rye plus the other species, an’d the next 4rt> with one bushel of prairie and the other species. Since sowing the whole area of 12 acres has been grazed a few times with 1000 ewes and lambs and later young dairy stock. Recently the Young Farmers’ Club held a stock judging contest on this farm and in the afternoon a pasture judging competition. The judge was the senior field officer, Department of Agriculture. Invercargill. About 70 per cent, of the members had the first three placings '’orrect. For the rye sections the placings were as follows: 4lb rye plus prairie, etc., 1: 71b rye. 2: 15lb rye, 3; and the lowest points were for the 301 b of rye. In the pure species section, the prairie was at the top but the judge stated that as there was a considerable number of Scotch thistles showing he had to make it either first or last, so it was decided to put it last on that account. His placings were very obvious with the marked difference in growth: cocksfoot, 1; timothy, 2: Phalaris tuberosa, 3; short rotation, 4; perennial ryegrass. 5: and prairie, 6. Highest Points The highest points scored for all the mixtures went to No. 3 prairie, cocksfoot, and timothy. This is of considerable interest because farmers always state' that "you don’t see the cocksfoot or timothy for two or three years in a pasture because it is so slow developing.” This has proved that at four months they were well ahead of the ryes —and what is more they are nutritive and palatable. Across all species, two

drill widths of rye were sown at 301 b per acre. The farmers have proof here of two things—bad management, and suppression by ryes, and one would be lucky to see any of them in two or three years. At present this strip is short and rusty while each side is a beautiful strong vigorous pasture.