Dietary preference of sheep for grass and clover at contrasting sward surface heights

Extract

To develop sustainable grazing systems based on mixed plant species communities, it is important to know how much and from which species animals eat. Previous studies have shown that sheep have a preference for about 70% clover in their diet, when offered a choice between grass and clover at the same sward surface height, 6cm SSH, (Parsons et al, 1994). The objective of this experiment was to establish whether grazing sheep altered their preference for ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and white clover (Trifolium repens) in response to variation in the relative vertical availability of the grass and clover.