The effects of allowance and frequency of allocation of autumn-saved pasture, when offered to spring lambing ewes in mid pregnancy, on ewe and lamb performance and subsequent herbage yield

The effects of (i) frequency of herbage allocation and (ii) herbage allowance on ewe and subsequent lamb performance, when autumn-saved (extended grazed, deferred grazed) pasture is grazed (between 28 Nov and 30 Jan) by spring lambing ewes during mid gestation, were studied in Experiment 1. This involved 72 crossbred ewes from days 41 to 104 of gestation allocated to one of four treatments; two herbage dry matter (DM) allowances (1.0 and 1.8 kg per ewe) by two frequencies of herbage allocation (daily or twice weekly). From day 105 of gestation to parturition all ewes were housed and offered grass silage (ad libitum) plus a total of 19 kg concentrate. Increasing herbage allowance improved ewe body condition score (P < 0.01) and live weight (P < 0.01) at the end of deferred grazing, and tended to increase herbage intake (P = 0.08) during deferred grazing. Reducing the frequency of herbage allocation increased lamb birth weight (P < 0.05). Otherwise frequency of herbage allocation did not alter (P > 0.05) forage intake or utilization, or ewe or subsequent lamb performance. In Experiment 2, the effects of herbage allowance (1.0 or 1.8 kg DM per ewe), frequency of allocation (daily, twice weekly) and grazing date (28 Nov. to 4 Dec., 12 to 18 Dec., 2 to 8 Jan. and 23 to 29 Jan.) during deferred grazing on herbage yield and composition at four subsequent harvest dates (4, 18 and 25 Apr., and 25 May) were evaluated in a split-plot design consisting of 128 plots. Delaying grazing date reduced herbage yield (P < 0.05) and the concentrations of neutral detergent fibre (NDF; P < 0.01) and acid detergent fibre (ADF; P < 0.01). Delaying harvest date increased herbage yield (P < 0.001) and reduced (P < 0.001) the concentrations of NDF, ADF and metabolisable energy. Increasing herbage allowance at grazing increased (P < 0.05) subsequent herbage yield. Frequency of herbage allocation during deferred grazing did not affect (P > 0.05) subsequent herbage yield. There was a significant interaction (P < 0.001) between grazing date and harvest date for herbage yield. It is concluded that to maximise stock carrying capacity and reduce labour requirement a herbage DM allowance of 1 kg per ewe per day, allocated twice weekly, is sufficient for ewes on deferred grazed pasture in mid pregnancy.