Grasses for grazing in dry regions

• Published in: Revue suisse d'agriculture Vol. 35; no. 4
• Main Authors: Mosimann, F. (Station federale de recherches en production vegetale de Changins (RAC), Nyon (Switzerland)), Rufer, P, Berner, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: 01.07.2003
• Subjects: BROMUS; CONTENIDO DE MATERIA SECA; CULTIVOS DE PASTO; DACTYLIS GLOMERATA; DIGESTIBILIDAD; DIGESTIBILITY; DIGESTIBILITÉ; DROUGHT STRESS; DRY MATTER CONTENT; ESTRÉS DE SEQUIA; EXPERIMENTACIÓN EN CAMPO; EXPÉRIMENTATION AU CHAMP; FEED INTAKE; FESTUCA; FIELD EXPERIMENTATION; GROWTH RATE; HERBAGE CROPS; INGESTIÓN DE PIENSOS; LOLIUM; LÓLIUM; PASTIZALES; PASTURES; PLANT POPULATION; PLANTE POUR HERBAGE; POBLACIÓN VEGETAL; POPULATION VÉGÉTALE; PRISE ALIMENTAIRE (ANIMAUX); PÂTURAGES; STRESS DÛ À LA SÉCHERESSE; TAUX DE CROISSANCE; TENEUR EN MATIÈRE SÈCHE; ÍNDICE DE CRECIMIENTO
• ISSN: 0375-1325

Two trials have been conducted in the region La Côte characterized by water shortage during summer. Grazing ability has been evaluated in the first trial by sward height measurements before and after the animals presence on the paddock. With the second trial, daily growth, sward density and organic mater digestibility have been determined on mowed plots. The highest forage intake was obtained with hard fescues Elfina and Kora, cocksfoot Pizza and English ryegrass Pastoral. It was lower with cocksfoot Amba, ryegrass Arion and brome Gala. Comparing with the other grasses, hard fescues have been growing more constantly and have produced 30% more dry matter. On the other hand, their digestibility was low. Ryegrasses produced forage of the best quality.