B.Ag.Sci. Honours (2013)
Strategies to improve sheep liveweight gains and dry matter production from dryland tall fescue/clover pastures (PDF unavailable)
Research Overview
Ben studied the effects of tall fescue cultivar (‘Advance’ and ‘Flecha’), clover species (white clover and subterranean clover), soil fertility (Olsen P 8 and 18 mg/L), and their interactions on sheep liveweight gain (LWG) and dry matter production from dryland tall fescue/clover swards at Lincoln University. The grazing trial was in its sixth year. The subterranean clover swards gained 69 kg/ha of LWG compared with 45 kg/ha for white clover swards in the autumn (20 March to 27 May) and 301 kg/ha compared with 209 kg/ha in spring (22 August to 15 October). However LWG per ha was not affected by tall fescue cultivar and soil fertility. Ben was supervised by Dr Alistair Black and Dr Jim Moir.