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Selective behaviour in cattle grazing pastures of strips of birdsfoot trefoil and red clover. 1. The effects of relative sward area

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 March 2006

C. H. E. C. POLI ,
J. HODGSON ,
G. P. COSGROVE  and
G. C. ARNOLD
C. H. E. C. POLI
Affiliation:
College of Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand Current address: UFRGS, Departamento de Zootecnia, Rua Bento Gonçalves, 7712, Porto Alegre, RS. Brazil.
J. HODGSON
Affiliation:
College of Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
G. P. COSGROVE
Affiliation:
AgResearch Grasslands, PB 11008, Palmerston North, New Zealand
G. C. ARNOLD
Affiliation:
College of Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Abstract

Alternate 2·4 m wide strips of a mixture of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) with white clover (Trifolium repens L.) (BW), and of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) (RC) were offered in the proportions (by area) of 0·80[ratio ]0·20, 0·67[ratio ]0·33, 0·33[ratio ]0·67 and 0·20[ratio ]0·80 to yearling heifers in groups of three for periods of 3 days over four replicates in time, balanced for effects of previous treatments. Observations on the distribution of grazing activity and biting rate were made over 3 h periods each evening, and on the morning of Day 2. Biting rates were consistently higher on BW than RC (52·3 v. 46·3±0·59 bites/min, P<0·001). Initially the animals showed a strong tendency to concentrate grazing on the sward of smaller proportional area, but the selection coefficient (log θ) changed from positive to negative with time as herbage on minority strips was depleted. These results are discussed in the context of concepts of partial grazing preference.

Type
Animals
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 144 , Issue 2 , April 2006 , pp. 165 - 171
Copyright
2006 Cambridge University Press

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