Reflection os some aspects of pasture development in Australia and New Zealand

A survey is made of some pasture developments in Australia and New Zealand with particular reference to sod-seeding techniques, lucerne grazing management, aerial oversowing and overdrilling of natural veld, and pastures of African grasses associated with tropical legumes. Pasture development with special reference to increased butterfat production per acre with high stocking rates also surveyed.Keywords: grazing|production|legumes|African grasses|grasses|ammonia|sowing|stocking rates|lucerne|techniques|seeding techniques|surveys|pasture development|pastures|veld|grazing managemen

The role of cultivated pastures in milk production in South Africa

A brief survey of existing methods of milk production by the Republic of South Africa is made, together with an appreciation of the role and importance of established pastures in relation to these. The cost of milk is discussed in relation to two roughage plans: the one being based on ordinarily accepted methods of roughage provision, and the other on roughage produced under intensive methods of grass farming where a high fertilizer regime is employed. High-producing cows are more economic than low-producing cows. So too, is a high-level pasture fertilizing regime, except where cows have a very low inherent production.Keywords: roughage|dairy farming|cows|fertilisation|farming|grasses|management|costs|milk yields|surveys|milk productions|pastures|cultivated fields|method

The influence of pasture fertilization on animal health

The health of animals grazing on pastures is affected by mineral content of fodder plants. The mineral content of any pasture species may vary within very wide limits and is profoundly influenced by fertilization. Some of the known facts about animal health in relation to the supply of mineral nutrients in pasture dry matter are presented, together with a discussion of how the uptake of minerals by animals may be influenced by fertilization of pastures.Keywords: dry matter yields|phosphorus|magnesium|nitrogen|sulphur|cows|palatabilities|calcium|trace elements|animal health|potassium|Natal|fertilisation|grazing|mineral contents|influences|plant species|nutrients|minerals|pasture

Use of annual production curves of pasture species in pasture planning

A method is suggested whereby the annual production curves of pasture species can be used to assist in choosing species best suited to a particular farming enterprise, and to determine the area to be planted to each species. This approach is suitable for use where the final choice of each species, and the allocation of areas to each, is carried out with the aid of a computer.Keywords: plants|livestock|growth patterns|management|farming types|planning|plant species|pastures|production|method

Pasture-use patterns on dairy and beef farms in the Natal Midlands.

Pasture sites for each of the species grown are classified for both dryland and irrigated pastures in the Natal Midlands. Only six species viz. Kikuyu, Italian ryegrass, Eragrostis curvula, Festuca arundinacea (tall fescue), Dactylis glomerata (cocksfoot) and Trifolium repens (white clover) are widely used. Italian ryegrass pastures are grown almost exclusively under irrigation; clover is more widely used than is generally appreciated; a reasonably large portion of E. curvula, cocksfoot and tall fescue pastures have a longevity in excess of 10 years; and the siting of pastures appears to be primarily a function of availability of suitable land and is largely independent of soil type and aspect. Pastures are largely sited on high potential arable land, with little apparent trend towards intensification of steep non-arable sites. The survey suggests that research should be directed at a small number of species rather than dissipated over many species which are unlikely to make any major contribution to pasture production.Keywords: Beef farms; dactylis glomerata; Dairy farms; dryland; eragrostis curvula; fescue; festuca arundinacea; irrigation; italian ryegrass; kikuyu; KwaZulu/Natal Midlands; Land use patterns; longevity; natal midlands; pasture longevity; pasture planning dates; pasture potential rating; pasture production; pasture site selection; pasture survey; Pasture-use patterns; pastures; Planting dates; production; ryegrass; Site selection; south africa; tall fescue; trifolium repens; white cloverJournal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa

A comparison of five methods for assessing veld condition in the Natal Midlands.

Reports the results of a study conducted to assess the precision with which five selected veld condition assessment methods are able to estimate the degree ofchange of a range site in relation to some agreed standard of excellence; Site rankings obtained from five methods of scoring veld condition in the Highland Sourveld and the moist tall grassveld of the Natal Midlands were correlated with rankings from methods of multivariate analysis. With few exceptions, all methods gave rankings which were strongly correlated with ranking from detrended correspondence analysis, thus indicating that they all provide a practical means of indexing the relative veld condition of sites with reasonable precision. The weighted quantitative climax and key species methods were superior to the other three methods in this respect. They key species method has the advantage of simplicity and speed, and should stimulate farmers to undertake routine monitoring of their veld in these two regions.Keywords: Benchmark method; botany; detrended correspondence analysis; grassveld; Grazing capacity; highland sourveld; key species; Key species method; KwaZulu/Natal Midlands; monitoring; multivariate analysis; Multivariate ordination; natal; natal midlands; Palatability method; precision; Productivity method; Site rankings; south africa; Veld condition assessments; Veld Condition Index; Veld conditions; Weighted qualitative climax methodJournal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa