Beef cattle on tussock country

Abstract

In general, high country and hard hill country properties share a number of common characteristics. They have long severe winters, and often steep slopes, high average altitude, small ploughable area, and high proportions of unimproved grasslands. Their soils are usually of low fertility. These factors have produced a farming system based on extensive grazing of native vegetation. Surplus stock are usually cast-for-age and sold in store condition. In general the lowest-rainfall runs carry only sheep (usually Merinos). The maps in the appendix show that cattle tend to be found more in the higher-rainfall areas. The biggest herds are mostly on the high-rainfall “gorge" runs.