Liveweight Gain of Lambs Grazing Six Short-Term Ryegrass Cultivars

Increasing dry matter (DM) production per ha is a key goal in ryegrass (Lolium) breeding programmes (Easton et al., 2002), based on the assumption that increased DM yield will in turn increase profitability per ha, through an increase in animal productivity. However, the performance of animals grazing pasture can also be modified by the quality of the forage on offer, and the presence of toxins within the pasture. The objective of this study was to compare the liveweight gain per hectare of lambs grazing six short-term ryegrasses, which had been selected for various combinations of improved DM production and nutritive value