New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts

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A simulation model of the effects of cattle treading on pasture production on North Island, New Zealand, hill land

J. D. Finlayson¹
K. Betteridge²
A. MacKay²
B. Thorrold¹
P. Singleton³
D. A. Costall²

¹AgResearch
 Ruakura Research Centre
 Private Bag 3123
 Hamilton, New Zealand
 email: john.finlayson@agresearch.co.nz

²AgResearch
 Grasslands Research Centre
 Private Bag 11 008
 Palmerston North, New Zealand

³Environment Waikato
 Waikato Regional Council
 401 Grey Street
 Hamilton, New Zealand

Abstract   Because treading damage is difficult to measure, the ability to predict the impact of grazing animals on soil and pasture condition has value for determining appropriate grazing strategies. In this paper a model that predicts the effects of grazing on pasture production is presented. The model uses gravimetric soil water content, pasture mass, stock number, animal liveweight and the duration of grazing to predict the effect of treading on pasture damage and its subsequent recovery. The parameters in the model were estimated from a 5-year experiment that considered the effects of repeated treading by cattle at differing stocking intensities and soil water contents. The model was validated and provided accurate predictions of pasture growth. The model provides a relatively simple and easily used decision-support tool for assisting grazing management during periods when pastures are sensitive to damage.

Keywords   mathematical model; treading; trampling; grazing damage

A02014 Received 22 February 2002; accepted 25 September 2002; published 9 December 2002
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 2002, Vol. 45: 255-272
0028-8233/02/4504-0255 $7.00/0 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2002

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