In three nutritive evaluation trials sheep grazing pastures of a #x201C;Low Cellulose#x201D; selection from #x2018;Grasslands Ariki#x2019; hybrid perennial ryegrass showed consistent but non-significant increases in live-weight gain of 3-7 over the higher cellulose Ariki ryegrass. In two trials live-weight gains of sheep grazed on Ariki showed non-significant increases of 7-11 over the generally higher cellulose #x2018;Grasslands 4708#x2019; tetraploid hybrid ryegrass, and in one trial live-weight gains on the Low Cellulose selection were significantly higher (14) than 4708. The results are discussed in relation to the use of cellulose content and leaf tensile strength as selection criteria for improving feeding value of ryegrass.
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