FACTORS AFFECTING ANIMAL PRODUCTION : INTAKE AND UTILIZATION BY EWES GRAZING GRASS/CLOVER AND LUCERNE PASTURES

Abstract

The total productivity from a ewe/lamb system on grass/clover and lucerne pastures stocked at 15 and 20 ewes/ha, respectively, over a 12-month period was compared. Intensive monitoring of yield, botanical, and chemical composition of total available and residual pasture enabled factors associated with production efficiency - i.e., intake and utilization - to be determined and factors critically affecting these identified.