Effect of fertilizer nitrogen and feeding practices on productivity of Corriedale wethers grazing annual pasture in southern Victoria

Abstract

The effect of conserving hay and feeding it back in a feedlot, during which time grazing was deferred, and the application of nitrogen fertilizer to annual pasture (67 kg N ha-l yr-l) was studied in a factorial experiment. The study was carried out with Corriedale wethers at stocking rates of 10, 12, and 17 sheep a hectare from July, 1963 to December, 1966. There were three replicates of each treatment. There was no significant interaction between stocking rates and management treatments on wool production per head or per hectare. The deferred grazing, but not the nitrogen treatment, resulted in heavier liveweights and heavier fleece weights in 1964, 1965, and 1966. The differences were significant (P < 0.05) in 1964 and 1966. The carrying capacity over the three year period was increased by the deferred grazing treatment in association with nitrogen fertilizer. However, at current wool prices it is unlikely that the use of haymaking, deferment and nitrogen is economic.