THE INFLUENCE OF CATTLE ON PASTURE COMPOSITION AND SECOND GROWTH CONTROL

Abstract

The observations, over some years, relate to two steep hill country stations where cultivation could not be undertaken and no topdressing had been done. By reducing sheep and increasing cattle, beneficial changes in pasture composition were achieved. In one case cattle were rotationally grazed; in the other they were set stocked. One property is on the East Coast toward Cape Runaway and is bounded by the sea on one side; the hills rise to about 1,000 ft. The other station is inland toward Raetihi and lies between 1,500 and 2,500 ft; the hills are very steep and valleys very narrow. Climatic conditions at the two places are quite different. Mild and fairly equable conditions prevail on the coastal station and there is only a short period of winter dormancy. Cold winters and a longer period of winter dormancy are characteristic of the inland station. Both places have a fairly well distributed rainfall of over 60 in.; short summer droughts occur.