Performance of Three Grass Species Grown Alone and with Alfalfa under Intensive Pasture Management: Animal and Plant Response¹

Abstract

Abstract Animal and plant responses of three grass species: smooth bromegrass ( Bromus inermis Leyss.), timothy ( Phleum pratense L.), and orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L.), grown alone and fertilized with nitrogen (112, 146 and 168 kg N/ha in 1962, 1963, and 1964, respectively) and each grass in two‐component mixtures with ‘Vernal’ alfalfa, ( Medicago sativa L.), were measured at Arlington, Wis. Animal response, measured by average daily lamb gains and total weight gains per hectare did not differ between grass species, although alfalfa‐dominant swards showed a trend towards higher total weight gains in comparison to the grass species grown alone with nitrogen fertilizer. Although no differences occurred between varieties within species, species did differ in total forage dry weight yields, aggressiveness in mixtures, seasonal distribution of dry matter production, winter hardiness and persistence.