Northern dairy feedbase 2001, 1. Summer pasture and crops [review; Australia]. [Workshop paper]
1993
Minson, D.J. (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Brisbane (Australia). Div. of Tropical Crops and Pastures) | Cowan, T. (Queensland Dept. of Primary Industries, Ipswich (Australia). Mutdapilly Research Station) | Havilah, E. (New South Wales Agriculture, Berry (Australia). Pasture Research Centre)
There is a very high potential for forage growth during summer in the tropics and subtropics, but there are many problems associated with realising this potential in terms of milk production. The tropical grasses are capable of yielding 50t DM per ha per yr, though in practice yield is less than one-third of this, and the high structural fibre and low protein contents of these grasses severely restrict milk production during autumn. Twining tropical pasture legumes are unstable under commercial stocking rates and effort is now directed to species suited to heavy grazing, such as Pinto peanut, lotus, and browse shrubs such as leucaena. Water use efficiency is high priority for research into summer forage crops. In dryland areas forage and grain sorghums are used to maximise dry matter production with limited moisture supply. There is a strong trend towards maize for silage in irrigated areas, and areas requiring further research include delineation of areas suited to the crop, agronomy and integration into farming systems. Legume crops promote higher intakes than grass crops. Efficient methods of using nitrogen fertiliser are required. There will be a greater emphasis on quality of forage, emphasising characteristics such as low structural fibre content, low degradability of protein in the rumen, a favourable amino acid composition of protein, and adequate mineral content.
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