Lamb Production as Affected by Forage Mixture and Grazing Management of Perennial Pastures

Early-weaned lambs were: (1) pastured on alfalfa-bromegrass pasture and rotationally grazed over either two or three paddocks; (2) pastured on fertilized bromegrass and rotationally grazed over three paddocks; or (3) self-fed grain and grazed over three alfalfa-bromegrass paddocks. Each treatment was replicated three times per year and the experiment was conducted over a 2-year period. Grain feeding significantly (P<0.01) increased average daily gain, carrying capacity and lamb production per acre over the other three treatments. Alfalfa-bromegrass rotationally grazed over three paddocks resulted in significantly (P<0.05) greater lamb production per acre than bromegrass 3X or alfalfa-bromegrass 2X. Daily gain was not significantly affected by plant species or number of rotational paddocks. Bromegrass pasture produced more forage during the second than the first year.