The influence of three herbage types on the liveweight change of twin‐bearing hoggets and their lambs

The use of alternative herbage types such as herb‐clover mixes and lucerne can improve the weaning weight of twin and triplet lambs born to mature ewes and single lambs born to ewe hoggets. The aim of this study was to compare the live weights of twin bearing ewe hoggets and their progeny grazed on either ad libitum permanent pasture (ryegrass white clover), lucerne or plantain‐clover during lactation over two years. In both years of the study, twin bearing hoggets and their lambs grazed on lucerne or plantain‐clover were heavier at weaning than those on pasture. Lambs grazed on lucerne had greater live weights at weaning than plantain‐clover, however, among ewe hoggets differences were seen only in the first year of the study. In conclusion, both lucerne and the plantain‐clover resulted in increased mean live weights of ewe hoggets and their lambs at weaning compared with those on pasture.