Present and Future Trends in Grassland Research in New Zealand

PASTURE PRODUCTION is logically measured in terms of grazing animals supported by that pasture. A simple calculation based on stock numbers and area in grassland in New Zealand shows that over the last forty years carrying capacity has increased from 1.4 to 3.2 “sheep units” per acre, or 130% (N.Z. Official Year Book). Obviously many factors have contributed to this increase, including improved stock and stock management practices, as well as improved pasture plants, pasture nutrition, and pasture management. Present carrying capacity, however, is well below that of which pastures are capable. Brougham and Glenday (1959) have reported an annual yield of 22,000 lb dry matter per acre from a ryegrass/clover pasture without high fertilizer application, irrigation, or applied nitrogen. On unploughable hill country pastures, Suckling (1959) has obtained yields of 9,000 lb per acre, with more than double that production on stock camps. If fully utilized, these pastures would be capable of carrying from 8 to 19 ewe equivalents per acre (Hutton, 1963). Obviously the average production of both lowland and hill country farms is well below the potential of which they are capable. There are, of course, many reasons for this, both technical and economic. The fact that practice is not keeping pace with technical knowledge may be a good reason for increasing farm advisory services and improving the economic climate for the ‘farmer, but it is no excuse for the grassland scientist to reduce his research effort. I propose to review briefly some of’ the fields in which grassland research is at present being carried out, and the direction it may follow in the future. My comments will be restricted to considerat,ion of grassland research aimed only at increasing the yield, quality and utilization of feed for the grazing animal. This research is concerned with pasture plant improvement, plant nutrition, pasture management and pasture utilization. Obviously, I shall be dealing with grassland research in a narrow sense, for it does not