Animal Research in a Tussock Environment at Tara Hills

J.D.J. Scott, T.E. Ludecke, K.H.C. Lewis, and A.R. Diack

Department of Agriculture, Wellington

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Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1963, 23: 131-143

A brief description is given of the tussock grasslands of the South Island. Included are accounts of the vegetative cover and the changes which have taken place in it, the results of two surveys of livestock production conducted by the New Zealand Meat and Wool Board's Economic Service, and a review of past experimental studies in animal production on tussock country. Experimental work in progress at Tara Hills, a high country run administered by the Department of Agriculture, is described. Interim results show that the growth of early weaned Merino lambs is at least as good as that of late weaned lambs; that the level of performance of ewes wintered on a ration of 1½ lb hay/head/day is only slightly inferior to that of ewes receiving twice this ration; that pre-tupping shearing of two-tooths has no effect on lambing percentage but that it markedly increases wool production. Other work in progress, including a comparison of the performance of Merino and Corriedale ewes, and observations of grazing habits, is outlined.

Keywords: NZSAPAB;

Last Updated 24-08-2000