SOME EFFECTS OF GRAZING DURATION AND SUB- DIVISION ON PASTURE UTILIZATION IN HILL COUNTRY

In hill country, imbalance in feed supply and demand, and animal preference for favoured pastured types and localities result in variable utilization of pasture by grazing animals. The effects of grazing duration (3,6,9, 12, 15 days), and easy/ steep land area ratio, on utilization patterns of pasture grazed by sheep were assessed in two experiments (late summer, mid-winter) at Whatawhata Hill Country Research Station. Where feed allowance was equal and post-grazing residuals of ( 1.0 t DM/ha were achieved, greater pasture utilization (DM per ewe grazing day) occurred with longer duration/ lower stock density combinations. Consequently, for these combinations, low pasture mass was achieved relatively earlier and final utilization was more uniform. In both experiments there was a preference by stock to graze pasture on easy rather than steep land. This preference was greater during early stages of the grazing period, with longer grazing durations, and when the paddock was dominantly steep. The implications of the results to farming practice are discussed.