Task 6 of Multi4More aims to investigate the impact of multispecies swards on animal performance and sward productivity in mid-season sheep production systems. (UCD)
As part of an ongoing systems-scale sheep study, two main vegetation types are being compared: a perennial ryegrass based system, and a multispecies system. A range of animal and sward performance metrics will be assessed. Preliminary results are described on p.343 of the EGF 2025 conference proceedings.
Led by UCD, a second task includes a highly innovative indoor feeding experiment in which individual sheep will be fed with a specific diet of grass:legume:herb. The proportions of grass:legume:herb will be systematically varied (in a simplex design) across different individuals of sheep. We will quantify the effect of plant diversity (perennial ryegrass, white clover, plantain) on animal intake, growth, digestibility, rumen function, enteric methane emissions and nitrogen excretion, and identify the optimal mixture composition. The ultimate goal is to provide evidence to guide on the role of multispecies swards in environmentally sustainable and profitable sheep production.
In a third task, we will conduct a literature review of animal feeding experiments with multispecies swards.
