@conference {75883,
	title = {Pasture growth and quality, and lamb growth rates in high stocking rate dryland sheep farming systems},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {71},
	year = {2011},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {103-108},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Invercargill},
	abstract = {Pasture growth and quality, and lamb growth rates were measured on a conventional grass based trial unit of 87.8 ha and a high legume unit of 85.1 ha, established to investigate climate-risk management strategies within high stocking rate dryland sheep farming systems. There was no difference between the units in total pasture production with a pasture utilization of 71.7\% and 74.3\% on the grass and legume units, respectively. Metabolisable energy values remained close to, or above, the target values throughout the growing season. Preweaning lamb growth rates averaged 304 g/day on both units. There were significant differences between singles (342 g/day), twins (300 g/day) and triplets (254 g/day) and between lambs from first cycle (294 g/day) and main mob ewes (315 g/day). There were some differences in lamb growth rates between different pastures types but these were not consistent between years. Post-weaning growth rates averaged 137 g/day with significant differences attributable to litter size, mob and year. Growth from birth to sale averaged 295 g/day, slightly less than the target of 300 g/day. Thus high lamb growth rates are possible on a range of pasture types on dryland at low pasture covers of high quality.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Bywater AC and Logan CM and Edwards GR and Sedcole JR}
}
