A study was conducted to evaluate the use of chemically cured pasture as a flushing feed for ewes in western Oregon. In 1976 paraquat (0.28 kg/ha) was used to chemically cure hill pasture forage when perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) were in early anthesis. Crossbred ewes grazed the pastures from 17 days after the start of mating. Forage available during the breeding season had a higher protein content (P<.50) on paraquat-treated than on untreated pasture. Paraquat treatment had no effect, however on forage dry matter digestibility (P<.05). Chemical curing greatly reduced herbage yield, probably due to increased shattering and decomposition losses. Summer rainfall may have intensified the latter problem. Using chemically cured forage as flushing feed did not improve ewe live weight gains or lambing performance over untreated forage. Therefore, flushing ewes on chemically cured pasture appears to have little potential in areas, such as western Oregon, where summer rainfall is likely to occur. This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020
Scholarly peer-reviewed articles published by the Society for Range Management. Access articles on a rolling-window basis from vol. 1, 1948 up to 5 years from the current year. Formerly Journal of Range Management (JRM). More recent content is available by subscription from SRM.