Pasture growth limitations in hill country and choice of species

Abstract

There is undoubted potential for large increases in farm production from steep hill country. Estimates suggest stock numbers could more than doubie through both land development and intensification of current enterprises to top farmer levels. Many factors, economic, physical and social, influence current output, land development and intensification. Our intention is to review the physical and biological limitations to pasture production. These are of considerable concern to the farmer. In a recent survey, winter-early spring and summer feed shortages were the first and third most important reasons nominated by farmers for not carrying more stock.