Effect of herb-clover mixes of plantain and chicory on yearling lamb production in the early spring period
S. C. Somasiri A B , P. R. Kenyon A C , P. D. Kemp A , P. C. H. Morel A and S. T. Morris A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A International Sheep Research Centre, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
B Coconut Research Institute, Bandirippuwa Estate, Lunuwila, Sri Lanka.
C Corresponding author. Email: P.R.Kenyon@massey.ac.nz
Animal Production Science 56(10) 1662-1668 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN14796
Submitted: 9 September 2014 Accepted: 12 March 2015 Published: 16 June 2015
Abstract
Lamb production was evaluated in three herbage treatments (Pasture mix, Plantain mix and Chicory mix) in two consecutive early spring periods. The hypothesis was that the Plantain and Chicory mixes would produce greater weaned lamb liveweight gains than the Pasture mix. The lambs were rotationally grazed weekly in the herbage treatments and weighed fortnightly and carcass data collected at slaughter. Both Plantain and Chicory mixes produced heavier (P < 0.05) carcasses at slaughter (21.1 ± 0.11, 21.8 ± 0.11 and 22.3 ± 0.38 in Experiment 1 followed by 18.1 ± 0.17, 20.3 ± 0.17 and 19.7 ± 0.17 in Experiment 2 for the Pasture, Plantain and Chicory mixes, respectively). Lambs had greater (P < 0.05) liveweight gains and dressing-out percentages in Experiment 2 (39.5 ± 0.29, 41.4 ± 0.29 and 41.3 ± 0.29 for the Pasture, Plantain and Chicory mixes, respectively), than the Pasture mix in the early spring period. Therefore, these herb-clover mixes could be an alternative feed source in the early spring period compared with ryegrass/white clover pastures for finishing lambs.
Additional keywords: carcass weight, Cichorium intybus, lamb growth, liveweight gain, Plantago lanceolata.
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