Environmental factors associated with summer-autumn growth rates
of cattle and sheep
J.D.J. Scott, P.V. Rattray and D.C. Smeaton
Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, Hamilton
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Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1976, 36: 103-119
From this review it can seen that there are many factors that
could contribute to the depression in growth rates of young stock
commonly encountered in the summer-autumn period. The fact that the
occurrence and severity of "ill-thrift", are quite variable show the
complex nature of the problem. Such factors as grazing management,
husbandry practices and climate could influence the amount of available
feed, the stage of maturity, the proportion of dead material, the
botanical composition of the sward, the chemical composition of the
herbages and the incidence of disease, fungal or parasite infection.
Because no clinical symptoms of infection or deficiency are common, it
is felt that the major cause if nutritional and that the poor growth
rates stem from inappetance and poor utilization of summer-autumn
pastures. It can be easily envisaged that soil and climatic conditions
vary from year to year sufficiently to affect the composition of the
herbage, and that this in turn influences intake, digestion and
utilization of the feed.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Last Updated 24-08-2000
