Improved per hectare production in a lamb finishing system using mixtures of red and white clover with plantain and chicory compared to ryegrass and white clover.

Over a three year period the performance of lambs being finished on three sward treatments were compared. The three treatments included (i) ‘Grass-clover mixture’; perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.) and white clover ( Trifolium repens ) (ii) ‘Plantain-clover mixture’; plantain ( Plantago lanceolata ), white clover and red clover ( Trifolium pratense ) (iii) ‘Chicory-plantain-clover mixture’; plantain, chicory ( Cichorium intybus L.), white- and red-clover. Each year was divided into five grazing periods namely; winter, early spring, late-spring, summer and autumn with only the Grass-clover mixture being utilised in the winter due to the growth profile and management requirements of the herb species. Over the three year period, a total of 3353 kg live weight per ha was produced on the Grass-clover mixture, which was less (P < 0.05) than the 3838 kg/ha produced with the Plantain-clover mixture or 3768 kg/ha on the Chicory-plantain-clover mixture. Similarly over the three year period, 1270 kg of carcass weight gain per ha was produced on the Grass-clover mixture, which was less (P < 0.05) than the 1706 kg/ha produced with the Plantain-clover mixture or 1732 kg/ha with the Chicory-plantain-clover. This indicates that farmers aimed at lamb finishing can have some confidence that when utilising these herb-clovers mixtures they can increase lamb and meat productivity for at least three years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]