Abstract

During the autumn and spring of 1998 and 1999, a study was carried out under dryland conditions in the IXth Region to determine beef production, yield and quality of DM, and degree of symbiotic N fixation of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) and yellow serradella (Ornithopus compressus L.) pasture. A completely randomized block experimental design was used. The DM yield of the subterranean clover was 4700 kg ha-1 for both seasons, and 5900 and 7100 kg ha-1 on serradella for the first and the second seasons, respectively (P <= 0.05). The chemical composition and symbiotic fixation were similar in both pastures (P > or = 0.05). During the first season the animal load in both pastures was 2.03 animals ha-1 and the increase in liveweight was higher with serradella (P <= 0.05) with 1.410 kg d-1 than with subterranean clover 1.324 kg d-1. In the second season the animal load was 2.26 and 2.51 ha-1 for subterranean clover and serradella pastures, respectively, and the liveweight gains were similar (P > or = 0.05) with 1.326 and 1.309 kg d-1, for the same pastures, respectively. It was concluded that the serradella pasture produced 27% and 17% higher DM and liveweight gain than subterranean clover, with chemical composition and N fixation being similar.