BARLEY GRASS SEED AND SHEARING EFFECTS ON SUMMER LAMB GROWTH AND PELTQUALITY

The effects of mature barley grass (Hordeum spp.) pasture on lamb grow th rates, carcass weights and tanned pelt quality were examined for 18 0 crossbred lambs finished on summer pastures. The effect of shearing at weaning, using 2 types of combs (traditional or cover) was compared with a 'no shearing' treatment.Exposure to barley grass pasture over November and December produced growth rates of 82 +/- 5 g/day for lamb s slaughtered in January compared with growth rates of 141 +/- 5 g/day on lucerne pasture over the same period. On the barley grass pasture, shearing gave an immediate and sustained advantage (P<0.05) in growth rate but no difference between cover or traditional comb. Carcass wei ghts were 21.4 +/- 0.3 and 19.0 +/- 0.4 kg for lambs grazing lucerne p asture and barley grass pasture, respectively. Shearing reduced pelt d amage from barley grass seed to the extent that 85% of unshorn pelts h ad >5 scars per pelt compared with 13% in pelts from shorn lambs. Type of shearing comb did not influence the result. The results suggest th at maturing barley grass pastures must be avoided if adequate growth r ates are to be achieved in weaner lambs.