EFFECT OF CATTLE DUNG PATCHES ON PASTURE GROWTH BOTANICAL COMPOSITION AND PASTURE UTILISATION

The effect of cattle dung patches on pasture growth, botanical composition, and pasture utilisation was studied over a period of five years. The rate of disappearance of the dung varied with the seasons. The bulk of the dung disappeared in one-two months in autumn and four-six months in late spring and summer, although extremes ranged from half a month to 17 months. The effect of dung patches on pasture growth was generally fairly small. White clover (Trifolium repens) was more prevalent on dung patches than in the remainder of the trial area and often remained so for one to one-and-a-half years. Grazing was most uneven in spring, when herbage around dung patches was left 2-3 in. higher than unaffected pasture. Chain-harrowing after each grazing depressed pasture growth but improved pasture utilisation in spring by grazing steers.