Sheep growth rates under Pinus Radiata

M.F. Hawke, N.S. Percival

AgResearch, New Zealand Pastoral Agriculture Research Institute Ltd, P.O. Box 951, Rotorua, New Zealand

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1992, 52: 229-232

This paper summarises a series of experiments near Rotorua in which the liveweight changes of sheep grazed on pasture under Pinus Radiata was measured. In general terms sheep performance was lower as the tree stocking increased. Long term experiments have shown that under continuous grazing, sheep performance declines with increased tree stocking from as early as tree age 5 years. Feed allowance experiments indicated there may be a general decline in the feed value of pasture growing under Pinus Radiata. The effects were minor at tree stockings up to 100 stems per hectare. The effects would be minimised by offering higher allowances, to provide greater feed selection for the stock.

Keywords: NZSAPAB; Sheep; performance; liveweight; Pinus Radiata; pasture; pine needles; agroforestry.

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Last Updated 25-01-1997