%0 Journal Article %A Ridley, PER %A Davies, HL %A Southey, IN %T The nutritive value of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.), rose clover (Trifolium hirtum All.) and soft brome grass (Bromus mollis L.) %J Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture %D 1986/12/01 %V 26 %N 6 %P 665-668 %K %R https://doi.org/10.1071/EA9860665 %U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/EA9860665 %X Medium Peppin Merino wethers were fed, ad libitum, subterranean clover (cv. Woogenellup), rose clover (cv. Kondinin) and soft brome grass cut in September (spring), November (late spring) and January-February (summer). The nitrogen contents of the subterranean clover ranged from 1.89 to 3.13%, of the rose clover from 1.62 to 2.84% and of the soft brome from 0.42 to 2.86%. Mean daily organic matter intakes (kg) in spring, late spring and summer were respectively: for subterranean clover 0.78, 1.09 and 0.42; for rose clover 0.60, 0.87 and 0.62; for soft brome grass 0.87, 0.81 and 0.20. Organic matter digestibilities in spring, late spring and summer were, respectively: for subterranean clover 0.82 ,0.69 and 0.61; for rose lover 0.80, 0.62 and 0.54; for soft brome 0.83, 0.72 and 0.58. There were highly significant differences ( P < 0.001) in nitrogen balance between seasons. The estimated digestible energy intakes (MJ/day) in spring, late spring and summer were, respectively: for subterranean clover 12.7, 14.5 and 4.9; for rose clover, 9.2, 9.9 and 6.9; for soft brome, 13.6, 10.1 and 2.1. Within seasons there were significant (P < 0.05) differences in nitrogen balance between species. There were significant differences between species in mean retention time in the alimentary tract in late spring (P<0.001) and summer (P<0.001) but not in spring. There was a highly significant negative relationship between acid-detergent fibre content and both organic matter and fibre digestibilities. The superior digestible energy intakes of the 2 clovers explain at least some of the superior performance of sheep grazing clover compared with those grazing grass pastures.