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AN INVESTIGATION INTO UTILISED GRASSLAND PRODUCTION ON TEN FARMS IN NORTH COUNTY DUBLIN
Author(s) -
Deeny M. C.
Publication year - 1958
Publication title -
grass and forage science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1365-2494
pISSN - 0142-5242
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2494.1958.tb00139.x
Subject(s) - grassland , grazing , acre , zoology , significant difference , geography , environmental science , forestry , agronomy , mathematics , biology , agroforestry , statistics
Utilised grass production on ten small farms in North County Dublin has been estimated using (A) the method adopted by the British Grassland Society Sub‐Committee on the assessment and recording of the utilised output of grassland, and (B) a live‐weight increase method using Woodman's figures. At the beginning of the grazing season all the grazing animals on each farm were weighed. At the same time the records for method A were begun. Altogether 169 animals and 12 sheep were weighed during March‐April. Animals sold during the period of investigation were weighed, where possible. The results obtained using the two methods have been compared. Average percentage difference on ten observations was 11.3%, with a variation of ± 3.7%. On farms 1–5, where only mature stock were kept, the percentage difference was 9.9%± 2.2%. On farms 6–10, where animals of all categories were grazed, the percentage difference averaged 12.8%± 2.2%. In all cases the live‐weight‐increase method gave the higher estimated yield. The techniques used in the estimation of utilised grassland production are discussed. Total output varied between 26.5 cwt. and 9.0 cwt. of utilised S.E. per acre. The significance of the findings is discussed and the value of the methods used is considered.