Defoliation and productivity of a phalaris‐subterranean clover sward, and the influence of grazing experience on sheep intake

Swards of Phalaris aquatica‐Trifolium subterraneum were subjected to four defoliation treatments—zero, low (11 sheep ha −1 ) and high (22 sheep ha −1 ) stocking rates, and weekly cutting. At high stocking rate the annual grass Hordeum leporinum dominated while clover was dominant at low and zero stocking rates. Weekly cutting suppressed species other than clover and so failed to simulate grazing. There were similarities in net herbage production between zero and lightly grazed swards and between heavily grazed and repeatedly cut swards. Net herbage production decreased in the order undisturbed sward < lightly grazed sward < heavily grazed sward < repeatedly cut sward. When sheep grazed swards where herbage mass was low their daily consumption of herbage, and therefore liveweight change, depended on their recent grazing experience. Sheep accustomed to swards where herbage mass was low ate more because they grazed for much longer each day than unaccustomed sheep, although they selected a diet of similar digestibility.