The nutritive value of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.), rose clover (Trifolium hirtum All.) and soft brome grass (Bromus mollis L.).
1986
Ridley P.E.R. | Lloyd Davies H. | Southey I.N.
Merino wethers were fed pastures cut in spring, late spring, and summer. Pasture nitrogen content ranged from 1.89 to 3.13 percent for sub clover, 1.62 to 2.84 percent for rose clover, and 0.42 to 2.86 percent for soft brome grass. Organic matter (OM) intake of soft brome was greatest in spring (865 g per day) and of sub clover and rose clover in late spring (1093 and 805 g per day respectively). Intake of all species was lowest in summer and was 422, 618, and 197 g per day for sub clover, rose clover and soft brome respectively. Digestible energy of intake followed similar trends. Reduction in feed intake was associated with slower passage through the gastro-intestinal tract. There was little difference among species in OM digestibility which declined with time from an average of 0.82 in spring to 0.56 in summer. This was negatively related to fibre content. Soft brome grass was severely deficient in nitrogen in summer and sheep lost 243 g per day compared with 70 and 81 g per day for sub and rose clover respectively.
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