PASTURE MANAGEMENT AND ANIMAL PRODUCTION

Abstract

I have had the privilege of attending this Conference for 30 years. I treasure the Association as it has enabled me to be associated with many of New Zealand's pastoral farmers, researchers and extension workers. The soil/plant/animal complex of pastoral farming is not an easy topic to cover under the heading of "Pasture Management and Animal Froduction", especially when I have been asked to cover developments and progress since the formation of the Association. For convenience, a review of this large topic for New Zealand may best be dealt with in three sections - first, a look at farming 50 years ago, then at the present situation with a discussion of some of the developments that have occurred over the past 50 years, and lastly a brief look ahead.