<i>Vicia sativa</i> as a grazed forage for lactating ewes in a temperate grassland production system

Here, we present research to overcome a current limitation of temperate grassland systems provide home-grown, early season protein for lactating ewes—a period high demand in these systems. Traditionally used as forage crop, there is renewed interest common vetch (Vicia sativa) due its ability grow during low temperatures over-winter compared other legumes. We hypothesised that would support the sustainable development lamb production by reducing reliance on purchased typically grass-only A grazing study determined performance lactation ewes and their twin lambs either an Italian ryegrass (IRG) sward or vetch/IRG (V/IRG) mix over six-week period. The experiment comprised replicate plots two treatments, with 8 ewes, each rearing lambs, plot. Plots were divided into sub-plots using electric fencing rotationally grazed. Findings showed i) selectively grazed evidenced drop percentage by, average, 10% units between start end grazing; ii) re-grew when 21– 28-d rest period, increasing units; iii) V/IRG improved combined ewe weights five weeks post-lambing but longer term effects limited availability. Furthermore, was tendency live-weight gains be higher whose dams IRG swards (573 versus 563 g ewe−1 d−1, respectively, p = 0.056). As need alternatives imported feed increases, this demonstrates how vegetative vetch, part mixed sward, has potential home-produced winter-grown grasslands.