Lamb growth rates were measured on "long" (> 5 cm) and "short" (< 5 cm) ryegrass and timothy/cocksfoot pastures sown with clovers. Both before and after weaning in December, the growth rates of lambs were similar on "short" pastures but lower on "long" ryegrass pastures than on "long" timothy/cocksfoot pastures. Before weaning, gains on "short" ryegrass pastures were higher than those on "long" but with timothy!cocksfoot the position was reversed. After weaning, "short" pastures of both types produced higher gains than "long" pastures. The main factor affecting lamb growth rate appeared to be the deterioration of leniently grazed swalrds in late summer and autumn.
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Lewis et al. (1972) studied this question.