Is plantain (Plantago lanceolate L.), chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) and clover mixtures effective on weaned lamb growth?

The research was undertaken to assess the lamb production performance over two consecutive years (2011/2012 and 2012/2013) on three sward mixtures; Pasture mixture, Plantain mixture and Chicory mixture in early spring, late spring, summer and autumn. The Pasture mixture consisted of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) whereas the Plantain mixture was included with plantain (Pla ntago lanceolata L.), white clover and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.). The Chicory mixture contained plantain, chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), white- and red-clover. It was hypothesised that the highest lamb live weight gain (LWG) and carcass weights would be obtained by feeding Plantain and Chicory mixtures in all four periods. In each period weaned lambs were reared on the three herbage treatments for a maximum of two months. The lambs were weighed fortnightly throughout the experimental period and slaughtered at the end. Both Plantain and Chicory mixtures produced higher (P<0.05) LWG and carcass weights compared to the Pasture mixture in all periods. Both Plantain and Chicory mixtures had lower (P<0.05) feed conversion ratios (FCR) and higher (P<0.05) herbage utilization efficiencies compared to the Pasture mixture. This research has shown that sheep farmers in New Zealand can finish lambs at a faster rate for heavier carcasses from spring to autumn using herb-clover mixtures than using ryegrass/white clover pastures.