A Preliminary Trial on the Spring Grazing of Lucerne

In a trial at Wairakei Research Station, the effect of three spring grazing managements on subsequent summer and early autumn hay product ion of lucerne was assessed re la t ive to hay management over the entire period. Overall the two rotational grazing treatments where the lucerne was grazed at an immature stage of growth (grazed at 12 to 15 cm, and at 25 to 30 cm) reduced subsequent produc t ion in two hay cu t s by 20% and IS%, respect ive ly . A rapid rotation of 4 days at a stocking rate of 30 hoggets/ha where the stocking rate was in harmony with the lucerne growth had an unexpectedly smal l ef fect on subsequent lucerne product ion. The intermit tent grazing t reatments a l lowed greater weed ingress than the rapid ro ta t ional or hayed t rea tments . Spr ing product ion was reduced, compared wi th hay product ion, by 58% by the two in ter mit tent grazing t reatments and while no permanent harm was done to the lucerne s tands these sys tems cannot be recommended because of tht: large losses. Where it is necessary to graze the early spring growth of lucerne , the rapid ro ta t ional sys tem at a l ight ra te appears to be a suitable method but this should be changed to rotational grazing of mature lucerne as soon as possible , because of the assumed lower production under the former system.