• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 1989

This experiment was carried out to determine the seasonal herbage production and utilization during the growing season of pasture on the forest (shading 30%). Plant height, leaf area index(LAl), dry matter(DM) production and distribution, chemical composition, in vitro dry matter digestibility(IVDMD), herbage utilization percentage and chewing efficiency were investigated using the Corridale sheep. Experimental field was treated by one plot design(3 rep.) and performed from 1987 to 1988 at Chungnam National University, Daejon. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The highest plant height and LA1 were observed in May(35.0 cm, 4.89), followed by April(28.0 cm, 4.23), while the plant height and LA1 in October (13.0 cm, 0.49) showed very low. 2. During the growing season, about 58.3 % of annual DM production (7240 kg/ha) was produced during the spring (April, May and June) and the highest DM production was obtained in May (2040 kg/ha), which was more than 28.2 % of total DM production. However, DM production in July and August was about 24.2 % and those in September and October (17.5 %) was very low, but the difference of DM production from June to September was small. 3. The maximum DM production per day (65.8 kg/ha) was observed in May, followed by June (28.7 kglha), while DM production per day in October (16.5 kg/ha) showed very low (p <0.01). 4. Crude protein content and IVDMD of herbage samples during the spring (April, May and June) were higher, while crude fiber, ADF, and NDF content were lower in an summer growth herbage samples (July and August), but autumn growth herbage samples was intermediate. Crude ash content and IVDMD of collected herbage samples were slightly more, while crude fiber, ADF and NDF content were slightly less than offered and residued herbage samples during the growing season. 5. The maximum DM intake per metabolic body size was observed in May(68.9 g), followed by October (66.7 g), while very low in August (52.5 g). Significant positive correlation (p <0.05) was found between DM intake and IVDMD. 6. Herbage utilization percentage was very high in April (83.4 %), while very low in August (64.0 %). The percentage of annual herbage utilization was about 75.5 %. 7. The maximum ruminating and chewing efficiency of herbage samples were observed in May, followed by October, while very low in August.