Evaluation of Annual Crops as Pasture for Early-Weaned Lambs

Average total gain in pounds of lamb per acre for three combinations of annual crops were: oats-rape, 313; peas followed by corn, 286; oats-peas followed by Sudangrass, 291. Oats-rape provided the most suitable summer pasture for the longest period; oats for early grazing while the less palatable rape was available later. Sudangrass also performed well under grazing while oats-peas, peas and corn were satisfactory for short periods. Solid-seeded corn supported very high stocking rates. Yields from clipped plots of annual crops should not be used to estimate the grazing periods, stocking rates or total gains which might be obtained under grazing.