Diet and mineral nutrition of sheep on undeveloped and developed tussock grassland

Abstract

Abstract Plant species present on a developed and undeveloped tussock block were assessed at 2‐monthly intervals by a method which ranked the 10 most abundant species at sample points along set transects. The most abundant species on the undeveloped block, in approximate order of ranking, were: Festuca novae‐zelandiae, Agrostis tenuis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Discaria toumatou, Hypochaeris radicata, Notodanthonia clavata, Hieracium praeallum, Cyathodes fraseri , and Festuca rubra . On the block developed by oversowing and topdressing they were: A. tenuis A. odoratum, Trifolium repens, D. toumatou, F. novae‐zelandiae, F. rubra, Dactylis glomerata, N. clavata, Achillea millefolium , and H. radicata . The main differences between blocks were the greater production and abundance of T. repens, D. glomerata , and A. millefolium on the developed block. Vegetation on areas with abundant sheep faeces differed only in the proportions of the common species, the relative importance of N. clavata and A. millefolium being higher on the developed block. Seasonal availability maxima were: T. repens and D. glomerata , spring; A. odoratum and F. rubra , spring and summer; and A. tenuis, autumn, winter , and early spring.