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| Publication Type | J |
| Authors | Morcombe, PW; Young, GE; Boase, KA |
| Author Full Name | Morcombe, PW; Young, GE; Boase, KA |
| Title | Grazing a saltbush (Atriplex-Maireana) stand by Merino wethers to fill the 'autumn feed-gap' experienced in the Western Australian wheat belt |
| Source | AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL AGRICULTURE |
| Language | English |
| Document Type | Article |
| Keywords Plus | SHEEP; WOOL |
| Abstract | Three-year-old Merino wethers were grazed at 4 stocking densities (15, 20, 25 and 30 sheep/ha) in 3 consecutive autumns on saltbush forage. About 50% of edible material was leaf [70% digestible dry matter (DDM), 8.9% crude protein (CP)] and 50% was small stems <5 mm diameter (40% DDM and 4.5% CP). In 1992, 9-month-old wethers also grazed the saltbush stand at 30 sheep/ha. Liveweight initially increased by 1-3 kg during the first 14 days of grazing, then declined at 60-100 g/day until the diminishing forage reserves became critical, by which time the stand had provided for about 450 grazing-days/ha. The performance of the 9-month-old wethers was comparable with the 3-year-old sheep at equivalent grazing pressure. In 1992, the tensile strength of wool staples from the 3-year-old sheep grazed at the higher density of 30 sheep/ha, 17.2 N/ktex, was weaker (P<0.05) than staples from sheep grazed at 15 and 20 sheep/ha, 27.1 N/ktex, and 25 sheep/ha, 24.9 N/ktex. Saltbush plantations can be used to provide a feed source which could partly fill the 'autumn feed-gap' for greater than or equal to 9-month-old dry sheep. Grazing at less than or equal to 20 sheep/ha, removal of sheep from the saltbush before the mean liveweight declines below that at the start of grazing, and provision of a reliable supply of water will avoid low staple strength wool. More productive stands of saltbush, grown together with winter-active plant species, are needed to improve the economic viability of this grazing resource. |
| Reprint Address | Morcombe, PW (reprint author), WESTERN AUSTRALIA DEPT AGR,3 BARON HAY COURT,S PERTH,WA 6151,AUSTRALIA. |
| Times Cited | 22 |
| Total Times Cited Count (WoS, BCI, and CSCD) | 22 |
| Publisher | C S I R O PUBLICATIONS |
| Publisher City | COLLINGWOOD |
| Publisher Address | 150 OXFORD ST, PO BOX 1139, COLLINGWOOD VICTORIA 3066, AUSTRALIA |
| ISSN | 0816-1089 |
| 29-Character Source Abbreviation | AUST J EXP AGR |
| ISO Source Abbreviation | Aust. J. Exp. Agric. |
| Year Published | 1996 |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Beginning Page | 641 |
| Ending Page | 647 |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | 10.1071/EA9960641 |
| Page Count | 7 |
| Web of Science Category | Agriculture, Multidisciplinary |
| Subject Category | Agriculture |
| Document Delivery Number | VM525 |
| Unique Article Identifier | WOS:A1996VM52500004 |
| Plants associated with this reference |