Evaluation of improved pasture systems for lamb production in Nova Scotia

A study was conducted to determine if late-season grazing is an economical alternative to feedlot finishing of lambs. This study evaluated two pasture treatments (stockpiled pasture improved with sod-seeded red clover ( Trifolium partense L.) versus a stockpiled annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.)) and a control (lambs fed a grain based ration), and was replicated three times at three sites, two of which were on farms. Under reduced input systems, renovating old pasture stands by introducing red clover is a slow process; the contribution from red clover plants gradually increases over successive seasons with greater increases in some fields than others. With incorporation of red clover, the quality of stockpiled material is improved for late-season grazing. Despite the fact that gross margins for all treatments were often negative and differences were not statistically significant, in most cases the highest gross margins were reported in the stockpiled red clover treatment.