ABSTRACT Liveweight production, dry matter yield and botanical composition of three lucerne based pastures (lucerne monoculture, lucerne/brome, lucerne/cocksfoot) were quantified for five years from a grazed, dryland experiment at Ashley Dene, Canterbury. The objective was to determine if liveweight production by sheep was enhanced by inclusion of a companion grass species with lucerne. Over five growth seasons (2012/2013–2016/2017) annual liveweight production ranged from 439 kg/ha (lucerne/grass mixes in 2016/2017) to 883 kg/ha (lucerne in 2013/2014). Liveweight produced from the monoculture was greater than, or equal to, that of the mixes every year. Dry matter yields ranged from 6.3 (lucerne and lucerne/cocksfoot in 2016/2017) to 16.2 t/ha/yr (lucerne in 2013/2014) primarily due to differences in in-season rainfall. Annual yield from the monoculture was less than, or equal to, lucerne/grass mixes in most years. The relationship between liveweight production and lucerne yield was strong (R 2 = 0.84). Earlier grazing of the mixes occurred in two of five years. After two years liveweight production from the lucerne/grass mixes was consistently lower than that achieved from the monoculture. However, in commercial situations drilling a runout lucerne stand with grass to extend stand life may be beneficial to provide an introductory feed prior to grazing a lucerne monoculture.

中文翻译：

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五年来旱地苜蓿和苜蓿/草混合的活重产量、干物质产量和季节性成分

摘要 在坎特伯雷 Ashley Dene 的放牧旱地试验中，对三个基于苜蓿的牧场（苜蓿单一栽培、苜蓿/雀麦、苜蓿/鸡脚）的活重生产、干物质产量和植物成分进行了五年的量化。目的是确定羊的活重产量是否通过包含苜蓿的伴生草种而提高。超过五个生长季节（2012/2013-2016/2017）的年活重产量从 439 公斤/公顷（2016/2017 年苜蓿/草混合）到 883 公斤/公顷（2013/2014 年苜蓿）不等。单一养殖生产的活重每年都大于或等于混合养殖的活重。干物质产量从 6.3（2016/2017 年的苜蓿和苜蓿/鸡脚菌）到 16.2 吨/公顷/年（2013/2014 年的苜蓿）不等，这主要是由于季节性降雨的差异。大多数年份单一栽培的年产量低于或等于苜蓿/草混合。活体重生产和苜蓿产量之间的关系很强（R 2 = 0.84）。较早的放牧发生在五年中的两年。两年后，苜蓿/草混合的活重产量始终低于单一栽培的产量。然而，在商业情况下，用草在枯竭的苜蓿林分上钻孔以延长林分寿命可能有益于在放牧苜蓿单一栽培之前提供介绍性饲料。两年后，苜蓿/草混合的活重产量始终低于单一栽培的产量。然而，在商业情况下，用草在枯竭的苜蓿林分上钻孔以延长林分寿命可能有益于在放牧苜蓿单一栽培之前提供介绍性饲料。两年后，苜蓿/草混合的活重产量始终低于单一栽培的产量。然而，在商业情况下，用草在枯竭的苜蓿林分上钻孔以延长林分寿命可能有益于在放牧苜蓿单一栽培之前提供介绍性饲料。