Three systems of winter stocking of pasture were compared with winter spelling for subsequent herbage production and botanical composition on a fertile alluvial silt loam soil from 1970 to 1973. Although initial production deficits occurred in spring, increasing intensity and duration of winter stocking in 2 out of 3 experimental years did not depress subsequent total pasture production. In 2 years out of 3, high winter stocking rates resulted in significant increases in subsequent pasture production but in the third year the heaviest rate of winter stocking gave lower yields than an intermediate rate after an exceptionally wet winter. No major longterm changes in botanical composition were recorded.
