PALATABILITY AND PASTURE MIXTURES

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

PALATABILITY AND PASTURE MIXTURES

THE following is a summary of the observations made last winter and summer on the pasture species and palatability trials which have been established on farms in Canterbury, Otago and Southland:— (1) The cow has apparently the same acute sense of smell as the sheep (as observed by Dr Watkin in work at Lincoln). (2) The ryegrass species have almost exactly the same unpalatable period, irrespective of the province or soil type. (3) When the ryes are unpalatable they are only eaten where they are camouflaged with clover. (4) Maximum herd production cannot be obtained unless the pasture is palatable.

(5) In each trial the mixture of cocksfoot, timothy, prairie and clovers gave the highest palatable yield. The most short rotation which can be added to it is 31b an acre. (6) The usefulness of perennial ryegrass as a component of species mixtures or alone for high producing dairy pastures is very doubtful. (7) Short rotation is still a very valuable grass for winter and spring production and up to December, but it is of little, if any, use thereafter until about late March or April. For this reason it is considered important to have a large portion of the farm sown in mixtures of the better summer species and not to allow them to be suppressed by being mixed with the rye pastures. (8) 101 b of short rotation seed of good germination appears to be an ample sowing rate per acre with clovers, and not more than 51b should be used if it is mixed with other species. (9) The Welsh tall fescue warrants a prominent place in the cocksfoot, timothy, prairie mixture when the seed becomes available, or It should even be sown alone. Trials in seven-year-old pasture have proved it as good a winter grower as short rotation. Mr Mclntosh finally expresses the opinion that the Creator has given animals a keen sense of smell and grass the ability to exude an objectionable odour for stock when it is unpalatable for a purpose. By paying attention to these factors in animal and pasture management there was greater likelihood of success. When the palatability chart for sheep was being shown to a meeting close to Christchurch recently, the local club veterinarian had commented: “I wonder if it is a coincidence that during the period that ryegrass is unpalatable I am flat out with ill-thrift worries.” "Is it?” Mr Mclntosh poses the question.