Abstract:
Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) is a highly productive pasture species that supports high stocking rates and milk
production per hectare, but production per cow is low due to low nutritive value. The aim of this study was to determine the
grazing capacity, milk production and milk composition of dairy cows grazing irrigated kikuyu over-sown with Italian
(Lolium multiflorum var. italicum), Westerwolds (L. multiflorum var. westerwoldicum) or perennial ryegrass (L. perenne)
during autumn. The grazing capacity of the kikuyu–ryegrass systems was lower during winter and autumn than during
spring and summer, with the seasonal grazing capacity of the perennial ryegrass treatment more evenly distributed than
that of the Italian and Westerwolds ryegrass treatments. The perennial ryegrass treatment had a lower butterfat and
milk production per lactation than the Italian and Westerwolds ryegrass treatments, but had the highest milk solids and fat
corrected milk production per hectare. The latter was a result of the higher annual grazing capacity achieved by the perennial
ryegrass treatment. It was concluded that because kikuyu over-sown with perennial ryegrass supported a higher number of
animals and had a more evenly distributed fodder-flow, it achieved higher animal production per hectare than kikuyu over-sown
with annual ryegrass varieties.
