Studies on the Extension Oe the Grazing Season I.

Plots were sown broadcast with ryegrass, cocksfoot or timothy and were strip‐grazed at various times during three successive winters by store cattle maintained almost entirely on foggage. In the first winter the plots were rested from 2 September. Each was sampled when required for grazing and the mean organic‐matter yield was 2020 Ib. per acre containing 17.5% crude protein. In the two following years, when rested from 15 July and 10 August, November yields were 4340 Ib. (11.8% crude protein) and 3003 Ib. (16.0% crude protein), respectively. Ryegrass yields were 15–30% higher than timothy and 25–50% higher than cocksfoot. Losses during winter due to rotting were related to botanical characteristics and were 40% for ryegrass, 30% for timothy and 10–20% for cocksfoot. Cocksfoot was the most suitable for winter‐grazing since it had the highest stock‐carrying capacity at all times. This was due mainly to high consumption of ryegrass and timothy, not affecting live‐weights, and increasingly poor utilization of the ryegrass produced. It is emphasized that grazing animals should be used when evaluating pastures. Foggage production is considered as a method of herbage conservation and in relation to whole‐year pasture output.