Abstract 438

Ford,-BD

Technote. 1981, No. 19, 4pp.; 3 ref., mimeographed.

Trials in the Northern Territory of Australia were with the introduced pangola grass (Digitaria decumbens) sown in 1969/70 with volunteer Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis). Pasture was mown to 10 cm and paddocks of 0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 ha were each stocked with 3 Brahman X Shorthorn yearling cattle, females in the year December 1970-71 and castrates in 1971-72. Pasture production and N in faeces were noted. At those stocking rates of 5, 2.5 or 1.25/ha the bodyweight gain of females was 56, 86 or 132 kg/head or 280, 215 or 165 kg/ha. In the 2nd year, grazing at the highest stocking rate failed; at the medium and low rates the gain was 50 or 102 kg/head, or 125 or 128 kg/ha. All paddocks produced less pasture in the 2nd year than in the 1st, and the paddock of medium stocking rate produced the least. Increased stocking rate delayed the start of the gain of bodyweight, decreased rate of gain in the wet season and increased loss of weight in the dry season. The trial was limited in duration and size but it indicated the increase in animal production per head or per ha that could be achieved by improving pasture in coastal areas of the Territory. Introduced perennial grasses with perennial legumes and fertilizer, and dry-season feed supplements for the grazing cattle, could give further significant improvements in cattle performance.