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Multispecies swards, comprised of different plant functional groups have comparable production potential to high N input L. perenne swards at reduced N when legumes are included. However, information on the appropriate management of multispecies swards is limited. The effect of differing management practices on the herbage dry‐matter (DM) production and botanical composition of different sward types was investigated using a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial design plot experiment. The experiment consisted of three sward types: L. perenne‐only receiving (LP; 250 kg N ha−1 a−1); L. perenne‐Trifolium repens (LP‐TR); multispecies sward containing L. perenne, Phleum pratense, Trifolium repens, Trifolium pratense, Plantago lanceolata and Cichorium intybus (MSS). LP‐TR and MSS received 90 kg N ha−1 a−1. Harvesting of plot herbage took place every 21 or 28 days to a defoliation height of 4 or 6 cm, over two growing seasons (March to November 2020 and 2021 inclusive). Annual herbage produced by both LP and LP‐TR was not significantly affected by defoliation frequency. However, MSS produced 1923 kg DM ha−1 a−1 more herbage when harvested less frequently. Unsown species contributed significantly less to the herbage DM of MSS compared to LP and LP‐TR and remained similar in 2020 and 2021, whereas the contribution of unsown species to herbage DM increased in LP and LP‐TR from 2020 to 2021, with noxious species more associated with LP and LP‐TR than MSS. Results demonstrate the role of multispecies swards in improving the sustainability of grass‐based agricultural systems in an environment of reduced fertilizer inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment investigated the feasibility of using herb-clover mixes to enable early weaning of lambs at ∼60 days of age. Over two years, twin lambs weighing more than 16 kg were allocated to three treatments: ryegrass pastures until 90 days-of-age, herb-clover mix until 90 days-of-age or weaned at ∼60 days of age onto herb-clover mix. In 2014, lambs offered the herb-clover mix, weaned at 60 or 90 days, were heavier at 90 days than lambs grazing on pasture with their dams. In 2015, lambs that weaned early onto the herb-clover mix were lighter at the same age as lambs that remained with their dam, but they still achieved a commercial weight. Ewes weaned early were heavier at weaning than ewes suckling lambs on ryegrass pasture in both years. Under some conditions, early weaning of lambs onto a herb-clover mix can be an effective alternative to conventional weaning on ryegrass pasture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decreasing reliance on fertiliser Nitrogen (N) is key to enhancing the sustainability of pasture-based agricultural systems. This study assesses the effect of sward type on annual and seasonal herbage dry-matter (DM) production potential, sown species and unsown species contribution to herbage DM under an intensive dairy-calf to beef system. Three sward types were investigated in a farmlet experiment: Lolium perenne (LP; 205 kg N ha-1 a-1); L. perenne-Trifolium repens (LP-TR); multispecies sward consisting of L. perenne, Phleum pratense, T. repens, Trifolium pratense, Cichorium intybus and Plantago lanceolata (MSS). L. perenne-T. repens and MSS each received 92 kg N ha-1 a-1. Herbage samples were collected for DM production and botanical composition determination at each grazing. Further quadrat sampling was undertaken on three occasions per grazing season (early-, mid- and late-season), to enumerate the unsown species composition of swards and changes in bare ground. Over the course of the two-year study, LP, LP-TR and MSS produced annual herbage DM yields of 9950, 10,650 and 12,600 kg DM ha-1 a-1 respectively, despite reducing fertiliser N application to LP-TR and MSS by 55% compared to LP. The average proportional contribution of grass species to MSS' herbage DM remained constant, the clover content of MSS increased, while the herb content decreased from 2020 to 2021. Seasonally, the proportional contribution of L. perenne and P. lanceolata to MSS' herbage DM declined as the grazing season progressed, the contribution of T. repens and T. pratense increased and that of P. pratense and C. intybus remained similar. In LP-TR, T. repens ' proportional contribution to herbage DM increased from 2020 to 2021, while L. perenne 's proportional contribution declined. Seasonally, the proportional contribution of L. perenne to the herbage DM of LP-TR declined as the grazing season progressed, while the proportion of T. repens ' increased. The contribution of dead plant material to herbage DM increased across all swards in the second year but did not differ between sward types. Sward type did not affect the proportional contribution of unsown species by functional group to herbage DM. These results demonstrate that under a relatively-intensive beef grazing system, MSS receiving reduced N compared to LP monocultures, and the same N compared to LP-TR swards, produce more herbage DM, and do not have a greater weed (unsown species) burden. Overall, our findings demonstrate the potential of MSS to 'produce more while using less', a key requirement of sustainable grazing systems. • The performance of a six species multispecies sward (MSS) was tested for two years. • The performance of MSS was compared to that of a perennial ryegrass monoculture (LP) and LP-white clover mixture (LP-TR). • MSS demonstrate potential for higher DM production from lower N inputs compared with LP. • MSS swards did not show signs of increased unsown species to LP despite a lack of herbicide application. • Legumes persist well, however herbs do not under an intensive, rotationally grazed dairy calf to beef system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]