Fjölrit RALA - 15.08.1980, Page 35

The results from the grazing experiments from the summer of 1979 can
be found in the tables in chapter VI. As in the previous progress reports
there is some data missing as the results have not been processed. Also there
are several items published that have not been in the previous reports
such as meat and carcass measurements from an autumn grazing experiment at
Hestur and from the calf grazing experiment in Sölvaholt. In addition now the
in vitro digestibility from 1978, that was not available for the last progress
report, is published.
Livestock weight
The data on the growth of the livestock is shown in tables 1-58. It
is important to keep in mind that these are one year preliminary results
with simple means and no statistical adjustments or evaluation. It is also
important to remember that the summer was exceptionally cold and vegetation
growth poor, in addition to a rery cool autumn, especially in the north and
east part of the country.
In Alftaver the ewe gain was satisfactory during the summer. The
ewes gained weight on all the fertilized pastures until the end of August,
after which they did not gain. On the unfertilized paddocks the ewes did
not not gain any weight until late July, but then the ewes on the light
grazed paddock started to gain weight, whereas on the other paddocks the
ewes did not gain. For the lambs the gain was relatively good during the
early summer, but in the laté summer and autumn the gain decreased. There
was a considerable difference between grazing pressures. The carcass weight
and dressing percentage was poor.
The ewes grazing the fertilized land on Auókuluheiöi gained weight until
early Septeraber whereas the ewes grazing the unfertilized pastures gained
less. The ewes lost weight in early September until the end of the experi-
ment (12. September). The live weight gain of the lambs was considerable
until early September, when the gain almost stopped. The carcass weight
was considerably lower than in the previous years.
On Eyvindardalur the ewes gained considerable weight. The liveweight
gain of the lambs decreased after the middle of the summer cind the carcass
weight was considerably lower than the year before.
The experiment at Hestur was much more complicated than before. The
results will not be discussed here as they are very difficult to interpret
without statistical analysis. However, in the autumn grazing experiment
the lambs grazing the uncultivated bog on the afterraath that had been grazed