The influence of sheep to cattle ratios in live-weight gain on pastures grazed to different levels in late spring-summer

D.G. McCall, D.C. Smeaton, M.L. Gibbison, F.J. McKay and H-U.P. Hockey

Whatawhata Hill Country Research Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hamilton and Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hamilton

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1986, 46: 121-124

Grazing yearling steers with ewes between November and March led to improved ewe and steer live-weight gains compared to grazing them in mobs by themselves. This occurred on both steep and easy land, and on each of 3 grazing pressures; residuals of either 1200, 1700 or 2300 kg DM/ha with pre-grazing masses 1200kg DM/ha greater than residuals.

Ewe live-weight gains were 56, 67 and 82 g/d where sheep/cattle ratios were 100/0, 80/20 and 60/40, on a stock unit basis. Steer live-weight gains were 0.65, 0.55 and 0.51 kg/d for the 80/20, 60/40 and 0/100 sheep/cattle ratio treatments.

Associated with improved ewe and steer performance under mixed grazing on steep country was a decrease in the area of pasture rejected at 40% cattle stock units compared to 0% and 20% cattle (26% v 32%). On easy country, the amount of clover in the pasture increased by 5 and 19 percentage units at 40% and 100% cattle stock units respectively.

The results suggested that between 20% and 40% cattle stock units in a mob may be needed to obtain high levels of ewe and steer live-weight gain in late spring-summer.

Keywords: NZSAPAB; Mixed grazing; sheep/cattle ratio; late spring/summer; pasture control; live-weight gain; hill country; residual; pasture rejection

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Last Updated 18-03-1997