The effects of different mowers and cutting techniques on pasture yield and composition

Abstract Two trials were run at Winchmore Irrigation Research Station to determine the effects of 2 different reel mowers set at the same or different cutting heights on measured pasture yield. When the mowers were set to cut at 2 cm Mower A recovered 1280 kg DM/ha and Mower B 1560 kg DM/ha in 1 harvest. In the trial covering 5 consecutive harvests, Mower A was set to cut at 3 cm and recovered 4390 kg DM/ha while Mower B set at 2 cm recovered 6470 kg DM/ha. Despite these differences in total DM there was no significant difference between mowers in the proportion of ryegrass, other grasses, clover, or weeds recovered. In a third trial the “trim” technique (Mower B set to cut at 2 cm) was compared with the “difference” technique (cutting to ground level with a shearing handpiece) over 5 consecutive harvests. The latter technique recovered 13% more pasture DM consisting of a lower percentage of rye‐grass, and a higher percentage of “other grasses”.