Page 102 - 2020 NZ Hereford Magazine

Industry Focus

Grazing hill and high

country grasslands:

do they need to be hungry?

WORDS CRISTIAN MORENO GARCIA
PHOTOGRAPHS SUPPLIED
PASTORAL LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION LAB, DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, LINCOLN UNIVERSITY PICTURED: Grazing cows high on Orari Gorge Station.

THOROUGH GRAZING OF HILL and others, for example, sunny north-facing Zealand Hereford herds. We are searching
high country grasslands over winter hillsides, areas near waterways and for animals that are genetically predisposed
is key for any farmer aiming to foster rivers, or places with gentle slopes. It is to explore and utilise the whole hill/high
grasslands productivity and diversity – only when their feed starts to run out on country landscape. We want animals
as well as forage quality – to ensure high those preferred grazing sites that they that graze the best, combining it with the
performance of sheep flocks in spring graze steeper country, south-facing rest, rather than animals grazing the best
and summer. hillsides or unpalatable forage matter. and leaving the rest of the forage matter.
Typically, cattle do pasture grooming. Do they really need to be hungry to do Also, we want animals that spend less
Farmers are aware of this, and soon the job we want them to do? time near the waterways or waiting to be
after weaning, beef cows are moved Differences in grazing patterns fed hay. Cattle with such distinctive and
up to graze the forage accumulated in and distribution of grazing cattle were consistent patterns of grazing distribution
the hill country. Cows graze and tramp observed and documented in USA (known as ‘grazing personality’) not only
the remaining crops left over summer, ranches in the 90s. However, it was produce wealth for farmers, but also
incorporating dung and litter into the not until recent years that a handful provide ecosystem services to New
soil, building up soil organic matter, and of research works indicated that Zealand grasslands and reduce livestock’s
increasing retention of water and nutrients such behaviours might be genetically environmental impact.
in grasslands. All of this leads to quality determined and therefore heritable.
pasture regrowth early in spring. Ongoing research at the Pastoral BELOW, THIS PAGE, LEFT TO RIGHT:
Cows tend to be sociable, and work in Livestock Production Lab at Lincoln A Hereford cow wears a GPS collar
as part of the ongoing research;
groups. Most of them tend to congregate University aims to identify distinct Researcher Cristian Moreno García with
and graze certain places more than ‘grazing personalities’ within New his observation telescope.

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