Evolution in Configuration and Productivity of New Zealand Hill Country Sheep and Beef Cattle Systems

Metabolic energy budgeting (MEB) was used to evaluate evolution over 30 years (1980–1981 2010–2011) in New Zealand southern North Island ‘hill country’ sheep and beef cattle systems. MEB calculates required by animals for body weight maintenance, gain or loss, pregnancy, lactation estimate the system feed demand thereby provide a basis calculating conversion efficiency. Historic production systems were reconstructed modeled using averaged data from industry surveys owners’ diaries of three case-study farms reviewed patterns change time. The modeling indicated that pasture productivity 11% lower herbage harvested 14% 2010–2011 than early 1980s. This decline is attributable warmer, drier summer weather recent years. However, primarily through increased lambing percentage, efficiency based on improved study period 25 19 kg consumed per lamb weaned, while meat rose 137 147 ha year. Similar improvements observed case farms. model found effective analysis tropical Sabah, Malaysia.