The goal of this Diploma thesis was an analysis of the chosen factors and their influence on meat performance of sumava sheep. This factors were presented trough the lamb sex, change of the nutrition dose and change of the surroundings. For this purpose it was chosen the sumava sheep farming in herd Michlova Hut. At first this herd was introduced, than statistically described in terms of meat performance and in the next part there was analysis of the chosen factors. Based on these results the conclusions and the basic breeder recommendation to breeder community were deduced. The main reason for choice this topic was a growing number of sheep farming focused on meat performance and factors trough them this performance is influenced.

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No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_Eduardo_Garcia_Souza.pdf: 1865610 bytes, checksum: 59021c39c2c6ae8fb4c9480736c2badc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-04-12 / Sem bolsa / Esta dissertação analisa as atividades produtivas relacionadas à cultura da lã no município de Jaguarão - RS, direcionando a investigação para duas organizações locais: a Associação dos Artesãos de Jaguarão-RS e a Cooperativa de lãs Mauá. A pesquisa teve como objetivo identificar as estratégias de comercialização e de agregação de valor utilizadas pelos atores sociais que compõem essa cadeia produtiva, bem como a maneira como as relações sociais são estabelecidas nesse contexto. Além disso, a investigação aborda os efeitos da renda, gerada com esses trabalhos, na vida dos atores sociais e suas expectativas em relação ao futuro dessas atividades. Esta pesquisa é um estudo de caso único, com três unidades de análise (Associação dos Artesãos, Cooperativa de lãs e Centro de Economia Solidária). Para isso, foram realizadas 16 entrevistas semiestruturadas com atores sociais envolvidos na produção de lã ovina e no artesanato, as quais foram sistematizadas e analisadas por meio de análise de conteúdo. As informações coletadas a campo revelam dificuldades de organização e cooperação no setor como um todo, o que reflete também nos grupos analisados. Práticas individualistas prevalecem sobre o interesse coletivo, dificultando a delimitação e o alcance de objetivos em comum. Do ponto de vista da cooperativa, uma das principais dificuldades é a falta de confiança e de participação dos sócios. A ação imediatista dos cooperados, os quais entregam a sua produção de lã para os "barraqueiros", em detrimento da organização da qual são sócios, enfraquece sua ação tanto em termos de volume de comercialização quanto em aspectos colaborativos e de união entre os produtores. A Associação dos Artesãos também vivencia problemas. Desentendimentos entre os membros ocasionaram a saída de algumas artesãs e a formação de outro grupo. Problemas de diálogo e colaboração entre os dois grupos que possuem habilidades distintas, mas complementares, cria obstáculos para o artesanato em lã no município se desenvolver. Ademais, o cenário atual da ovinocultura está diante de uma delicada situação, onde as monoculturas (especialmente a soja) tem avançado, tomando o espaço da pecuária na região. Outro fator crítico é o abigeato, que tem acometido frequentemente os ovinocultores locais. Nesse contexto, os atores locais buscam estratégias de distinção para valorizar seus produtos. Os ovinocultores têm o desafio de reaproximar os associados da cooperativa e incentivar sua participação. Há também a intenção de implementar um novo método de enfardamento da lã, o que possibilitaria atestar a pureza da fibra e assim valorizá-la. Já as artesãs locais vivem a expectativa da implementação de alguma forma de certificação de seus produtos com a ajuda do Estado, como é o caso da tentativa recente de reconhecimento pelo IPHAN como patrimônio cultural imaterial. Apesar da conjuntura pouco favorável, a renda gerada com essas atividades ainda é de grande importância para a vida dos atores sociais que encontram nela um instrumento para expandir suas capacidades, promovendo as liberdades individuais. / This dissertation analyzes the productive activities related to the wool culture in the county of Jaguarão - RS, directing the research to two local organizations: the Association of Artisans of Jaguarão - RS and the Cooperative of wool Mauá. The objective of this research was to identify the comercialization strategies and value aggregation used by the social actors who are part of this supply chain, as well the way as the social relations are maintained in this context. In addition, the research approaches the effects of the income, generated with these labors, on the lives of social actors and their expectations related to the future of these activities. This research is a case study, with three units of analysis (Association of Artisans, Cooperative of Wool and Center of Solidarity Economy). For this, 16 semi-structured interviews were accomplished with the social actors involved in the production of sheep wool and in the handcrafts, which were systematized and analyzed through content analysis. The information collected in the field reveals difficulties of organization and cooperation in the sector as a whole, which also reflects in the analyzed groups. Individualistic practices prevail over collective interest, making difficult to delimit and to achieve common goals. From the point of view of the cooperative, one of the main difficulties is the lack of trust and participation of the partners. The immediatist acting of the cooperative members, who deliver their wool production to the "barraqueiros", on detriment of the organization which they are partners, weakens the action both in terms of commercialization volume as well as in collaborative aspects and union between producers.The Association of Artisans also experiences problems. Disagreements between the members led to the departure of some artisans and the foundation of another group. Dialogue problems and collaboration between the two groups, that have different, but complementary skills, create obstacles for developing the wool handcraft in the city. In addition, the current scenario of sheep production is dealing with a complicated situation, where the monocultures (especially soybeans) have been progressed, taking the space of the livestock farming in the region. Another critical factor is the cattle steal, which has frequently affected local sheep producers.In this context, local ators seek for strategies of distinction to increase value to their products.The sheep producers has the challenge of bringing the members of the cooperative back together and encouraging their participation. Also there is the intention to implement a new method of packing the wool, which would make it possible attest the fiber purity and thus valorize it. The local artisans, on the other hand, are expecting to implement some certification method for their products with help of the State, as the recent case when they tried the recognition of IPHAN as immaterial patrimony.Despite this conjucture unfavorable, the income generated by these activities has great importance for the social actors lives who find in it an tool to expand their capabilities, promoting individual freedoms.

Ce travail de thèse explore les aspects organisationnels de l’accompagnement local de la transition agroécologique. Cet accompagnement nécessite d’articuler différents processus individuels et collectifs de transformation des activités de la production et du développement agricole. En construisant un dispositif de recherche-action au sein d’un projet de transition agroécologique porté par une association d’éleveurs et conseillers dans le rayon de Roquefort, nous mettons en oeuvre avec eux une forme d’expérimentation sociale qui nous permet de comprendre le problème de l’accompagnement de la transition à la fois sur le plan théorique et pratique. Dans notre cas, l’articulation des transformations individuelles et collectives a été permise par un travail de co-conception entre éleveurs et conseillers des outils de l’accompagnement des changements dans les fermes. Ce processus a permis de débattre de la diversité des modèles agricoles et des représentations des acteurs de la transition agroécologique au sein du groupe, ainsi que d’engager conjointement éleveurs et conseillers dans la transformation de leurs pratiques. Ces transformations ont été d'autant plus facilitées que la coconception a été envisagée comme un processus dialogique entre conception et expérimentation dans différentes situations réelles d’usage dans les fermes. A l’issue de ce travail, nous proposons une approche pragmatiste pour accompagner localement la transition agroécologique / We explore in this research the organizational dimensions of agroecological transition and the ways to support it locally. The support of agroecological transition requires connecting differentprocesses of individual and collective transformations of agricultural development and production activities. We design a device for action reseach within an agroecological transition project, carriedby a farmers and advisers association in the Roquefort area. We implement with them a social experiment to explore this problem both from theoretical and practical point of view. In our casethe connection between individual and collective transformation of participant activities required farmers and advisers to design together tools to accompany the agroecological transition on farms. This process allowed the debate about the diversity of agricultural models and representations that actors have regarding agroecological transition. It as well allows engaging advisers and farmers jointly in the agroecological transition. These transformations have been enhanced by the fact that the co-design process was organized as a dialogical process between design and experimentation of the tools in diverse real situations of use on farms. At the end of this journey, we propose to develop a pragmatist approach to accompany locally the agroecological transition

Thesis (Ph.D. Agriculture (Plant Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Livestock has evolved to serve as the foundation and backbone of human well-being, and it is an important component of South Africa's agricultural sector. The small stock such as sheep (Ovis aries) in Limpopo province has remained a significant and multifunctional livelihood strategy for the majority of the rural and resource-poor people. Factors such as population growth, urbanization, rising per capita income and changes in consumer tastes and preferences are all contributing to gradual increases in livestock product consumption and demand. According to the 2019 Abstract of Agricultural Statistics, South Africa is an importer of sheep and sheep products. If the sheep production industry in the province could pursue this opportunity and realize its full production potential then increased production could stimulate economic growth and development, particularly from the communal and smallholder sector. Objective one of the study seeks to describe the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of communal and smallholder sheep farmers, identify sheep feeding practices and describe the constraints that hinder the sustainable productive growth of communal and smallholder sheep systems. Data were collected from one hundred and twenty (120) sheep farmers using a structured questionnaire across three agro-ecological zones of Limpopo province. Results revealed that overall, the majority of sheep farmers were males (78%) and farmers were above 60 years old (48%). Mean sheep flock size differed significantly between communal (24.74) and smallholder (62.36) farmers. Indigenous crossbreeds were the dominant breed kept by communal (86%) and smallholder (77%) farmers. The majority of communal and smallholder farmers (90% and 96%, respectively) reared their sheep under an extensive system with rangelands as the main source of feed. As a result, they experience a critical feed gap during June and September, the mid-winter to early spring until the first rains. The findings of the study revealed that feed shortages and diseases were ranked as the first and second production constraints by sheep farmers in both the production systems. In rangeland-dependent feeding systems, insufficient feed to meet animal demands create a feed gap, which is a critical factor that limits sheep productivity and causes xxi land degradation through overgrazing. Improved forages have been widely advocated as a critical step toward resolving this challenge. However, the adoption and utilization of improved technologies such as on-farm forage legume production by these farmers have been very low, contributing to the province's low sheep productivity. An extension of objective one of this study used primary data which was collected from a sample of 120 sheep farmers to determine the factors that influence the adoption of on-farm forage legume production and the perceived barriers to adoption by communal and smallholder sheep farmers in the Limpopo province. A Probit regression model and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were used to analyze the data. The study revealed that the adoption of on-farm forage production by communal and smallholder sheep farmers is influenced by several factors, including gender, farming experience, knowledge of forage legume production, source of income, membership in farmer associations, access to extension services and farm size. Farmer perceived barriers to adoption of on-farm forage legume production identified by this study were low institutional support, lack of resources, lack of knowledge, shortage of water and objectives of the farmer. It is therefore recommended that intensive and high-quality extension support in partnership with industry associations and stakeholders is required for communal and smallholder farmers to improve forage technology awareness, training and promote on-farm forage production to transform communal and smallholder sheep feeding practices. In the face of climate change, identifying forage species with a high potential to mitigate winter feed gap challenges under more variable climatic conditions is critical. Trifolium and Vicia species are forage legumes well known for producing high-quality forage, particularly protein, which is deficient in the majority of feed resources used for sheep feeding during the winter season. Climate change-induced stresses from rising temperatures, which these winter annual forage legumes are likely to face, necessitate agronomic and breeding approaches to improve their adaptability. Lack of knowledge on how these climate change mitigation approaches influence the productivity of winter annual forage legumes in the Pietersburg Plateau of Limpopo province prompted objective two of this study. A three-year field experiment laid in a split-split plot design with four replications was conducted to measure the effects of planting date, cultivar and harvest stage on the physiological traits associated with biomass production, forage quality, nodulation activity and xxii nutritive value of annual clover and vetch species. The results showed that the planting date and harvest stage had a significant effect on leaf gaseous exchange and biomass production. A non-significant effect of planting date on nutritive value was observed. Intercellular CO2 concentration, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, instantaneous water use efficiency and intrinsic water use efficiency in cultivars increased with delayed planting, while a decrease in photosynthetic rate, shoot DM, root DM and nodule DM was observed. Overall among the cultivars, Resal, Alex, Elite, Laser and Dr Baumans showed more consistency in terms of leaf gaseous exchange, biomass production and quality traits under planting date 1 and varying harvest stages. Investment in the year-round fodder flow establishment with high-quality forages is important in supporting sustainable sheep production. Forage legume-grass rotation systems are important not only for green fodder production of high crude protein, mineral and vitamin content throughout the year but also for enhanced soil fertility to reduce the nitrogen (N) fertilizer requirements. Accurate estimates of forage yields on the farm are required for fodder flow planning to ensure the seasonal distribution of fodder throughout the year. Objective three of the study was a no-tillage, short-term rotation experiment conducted to determine the growth and nutritive value of forage sorghum, planted after the winter annual forage legumes in combination with nitrogen application and to validate the performance of the APSIM-grain sorghum crop model in simulating forage sorghum growth and biomass production under different N rates. The treatments were planting date (January and February) and N source from inorganic N fertilizer (0 kg N ha-1, 60 kg N ha-1, 120 kg N ha-1, 180 kg N ha-1) and forage legume N residues (Alex, Capello, Dr Baumans, Elite, Hanka, Laser, Linkarus, Opolska, Resal and Timok) arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The findings of this study showed a significant response of forage sorghum growth and nutritive value to planting date. Delayed planting reduced plant height (11%), stem diameter (18%), LAI (6.7%), chlorophyll content (18%), NDVI (2.5%), photosynthetic rate (38%) and biomass production (8%). Delayed planting further reduced crude protein, acid detergent fiber and N yield. Nitrogen source from inorganic N at 60 kg N ha-1, 120 kg N ha-1, 180 kg N ha-1 and residual N from annual clover and vetch cultivars had a significant effect on morphological, physiological, yield and nutritive value parameters of forage sorghum. xxiii Generally, legume N residue effects on all the studied parameters of forage sorghum were similar to the inorganic N fertilizer of 60 kg N ha-1. However, the effects differed widely according to the species and cultivar of the legume. Resal, Laser, Elite Capello and Dr Baumans N residue consistently showed greater effects than other legume residues. They consistently outperformed inorganic 60 kg N ha-1 on the most measured parameters. The results confirm that annual clover-forage sorghum and vetch-forage sorghum rotation have huge potential to reduce the cost and negative environmental effects associated with inorganic N use in forage prediction systems. Regarding the evaluation of the potential of the APSIM grain legume model to simulate forage legume DM and plant height, in general, the model performed well and accurately in predicting the shoot dry matter accumulation and plant height under 0 kg N ha-1, 60 kg N ha-1 and 120 kg N ha-1. However, it underestimated both these parameters at 180 kg N ha-1 implying that the application of N up to 180 kg N ha-1 is not necessary. APSIM-grain module was able to accurately predict forage biomass production under N rates up to 120 kg N ha-1 and it is therefore considered reliable to support the N nutrition in the forage sorghum fodder production systems. / University of Limpopo, research office under the UCDP program and National Research Foundation-Thuthuka

This study focused on the impact of climate change and adaptation on small-scale cattle and sheep farming in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Using information from 500 livestock farmers between 2005 and 2009 farming season, three methods of analysis were used to determine impacts of climate change and adaptation. They were Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Binary Logistic Regression Model (BLRM) and Heckman Probit Model (HPM). Findings revealed that cattle production decreased during the study period 2005 to 2009. Preliminary descriptive statistics results indicated that farmers had different perceptions on climate change and adaptation measures between the periods 2005 and 2009. Further analysis using PCA showed that the different perceptions could be grouped into: (i) drought and windy weather patterns; (ii) information and adaptation; (iii) climate change extension services; (iv) intensive cattle and sheep production; and (v) temperatures. The results of the BLRM indicated that the most significant factors that affected climate change and adaptation were: (i) non-farm income per annum; (ii) type of weather perceived from 2005 to 2009; (iii) livestock production and ownership; (iv) distance to weather stations; (v) distance to input markets; (vi) adaptation strategies and (vii) annual average temperature. From the HPM the results indicated that marital status, level of education, formal extension, temperatures and the way in which land was acquired, significantly affected awareness on climate change. Variables that significantly affected adaptation selections were gender, formal extension, information received on climate change, temperatures and the way in which land was acquired.It was concluded that in the area of study, change in climate was already perceived by small-scale cattle and sheep farmers. Households that perceived differences in seasonal temperatures during the survey period were less likely to adapt to climate change. Having access to extension services increased the likelihood of adaptation to climate change. Information on climate change to improve livestock production appeared to play a significant role in the selection of adaptation measures. The recommendation was that government should consider cattle and sheep farmers’ perceptions on climate change when deciding on programmes for cattle and sheep production. It further suggested that the most significant factors that affected climate change, adaptation, and awareness and adaptation selections be considered when adaptation programmes are planned. / Agriculture Animal Health and Human Ecology / D.Phil. (Environmental Management)

This study focused on the impact of climate change and adaptation on small-scale cattle and sheep farming in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Using information from 500 livestock farmers between 2005 and 2009 farming season, three methods of analysis were used to determine impacts of climate change and adaptation. They were Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Binary Logistic Regression Model (BLRM) and Heckman Probit Model (HPM). Findings revealed that cattle production decreased during the study period 2005 to 2009. Preliminary descriptive statistics results indicated that farmers had different perceptions on climate change and adaptation measures between the periods 2005 and 2009. Further analysis using PCA showed that the different perceptions could be grouped into: (i) drought and windy weather patterns; (ii) information and adaptation; (iii) climate change extension services; (iv) intensive cattle and sheep production; and (v) temperatures. The results of the BLRM indicated that the most significant factors that affected climate change and adaptation were: (i) non-farm income per annum; (ii) type of weather perceived from 2005 to 2009; (iii) livestock production and ownership; (iv) distance to weather stations; (v) distance to input markets; (vi) adaptation strategies and (vii) annual average temperature. From the HPM the results indicated that marital status, level of education, formal extension, temperatures and the way in which land was acquired, significantly affected awareness on climate change. Variables that significantly affected adaptation selections were gender, formal extension, information received on climate change, temperatures and the way in which land was acquired.It was concluded that in the area of study, change in climate was already perceived by small-scale cattle and sheep farmers. Households that perceived differences in seasonal temperatures during the survey period were less likely to adapt to climate change. Having access to extension services increased the likelihood of adaptation to climate change. Information on climate change to improve livestock production appeared to play a significant role in the selection of adaptation measures. The recommendation was that government should consider cattle and sheep farmers’ perceptions on climate change when deciding on programmes for cattle and sheep production. It further suggested that the most significant factors that affected climate change, adaptation, and awareness and adaptation selections be considered when adaptation programmes are planned. / Agriculture Animal Health and Human Ecology / D.Phil. (Environmental Management)

The aim of thesis was to analyze the South Bohemian organic dairy production and distribution of organic milk. The thesis focuses on farm production, distribution channels and the application of the regional market. Through the processing of data from the database of the Institute of Agriculture Economics and Information and a questionnaire survey conducted at the level of organic farmers farming in the South Bohemian Region with a valid certificate for the milk production was assessed the development and the current market situation of organic milk production in the South Bohemian Region.

By far the greatest proportion of the 1,150,000 acres of light land in Canterbury is found on the Canterbury Plain. This plain, originally covered by "low tussock" and of easy contour, was enticing to the early pioneers and became one of the earliest areas in New Zealand to be settled and farmed. Over the years it has developed into one of the most intensively farmed and productive areas of New Zealand. The dominant characteristic of the light land of Canterbury is undoubtedly the climate. The rainfall is reasonably evenly distributed over the year, but because of the low humidity, high temperatures and warm winds experienced over the summer in association with a free draining soil, the effectiveness of the rainfall over this period is drastically reduced. Consequently active plant growth is severely restricted for several months over the summer, and occasionally extends into the spring and/or autumn periods. The uncertainty as to the length and severity of this restricted growth period and the associated problem of equating the variable feed supply to the stock requirements, both within and between years, is the basic problem confronting the light land farmer. In spite of the environmental difficulties the productivity of the light land has increased several fold since early settlement. The original holdings on the Canterbury Plain were large with their boundaries on the rivers so as to provide access to water. Fine wool sheep were extensively grazed. However the introduction of refrigerated shipping and the extension of the water race system in the 1880's brought about a reduction in the size of holdings and a change in the pattern of farming. Dual purpose sheep were run and by the 1930's in response to favourable crop prices the system of diversified farming was firmly established. Unfortunately this system placed excessive emphasis on cash cropping, particularly on the light soils. Soil fertility was drained, structure severely damaged and subsequent pasture establishment and survival poor. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, with declining crop yields and with more favourable prices being obtained for fat lambs and particularly wool, the emphasis shifted from cropping to livestock farming. The carrying capacity however, was restricted by the reduced soil fertility and poor quality pastures and an environment in which climatic uncertainty tended to inhibit the rapid expansion of stock numbers. The results of research work carried out at the various institutions in Canterbury over the years have undoubtedly promoted a greater understanding and appreciation of the problems confronting the farmer and the limitations of the particular environment in which he must operate. For example, pasture species more suited to the low fertility conditions and climate were introduced with spectacular results. The most significant of these was subterranean clover (introduced in the 1930s), noted for its ability to withstand the summer droughts, to regenerate in the autumn, and to provide an increased bulk of feed in the spring. Research work had shown that both lime and phosphate were necessary on the light land soils, if high pasture production and persistency was to be expected. Soil fertility increased subsequent to a reduction in the emphasis on cropping and with the higher levels of fertiliser application. High fertility pasture species (e.g. white clover and lucerne), were introduced and not only gave higher and more reliable total production but exhibited improved seasonal spread of production. Investigations into pasture diseases and stock health provided answers to specific problems. Research into flock management generally and in comparisons between the productivity of various sheep breeds indicated the most suitable type of flock and breed for the light land farmer. From this and other research work (in conjunction with the observations of leading farmers in the area), an efficient system of light land farming has gradually evolved in which many of the basic problems have been overcome and which has resulted in a raising of the carrying capacity of the light land from ¾ stock unit per acre in the 1930's to 3½-4 stock units per acre at present. A central feature of this system (particularly at high stocking rates), is the high degree of flexibility incorporated in both the stock policies and feed supplies. Where the objective function is to maximise productivity over a period of years, it is essential to utilise the available spring feed efficiently while maintaining the ability to destock when confronted with feed shortages in the spring and early summer. Because of the fluctuating feed supply, which is characteristic of light land, the need to maintain feed reserves and to incorporate a high degree of flexibility in the stock policy is evident if the feed supply and demand are to be equated. In summary, the increased productivity can be attributed to two factors: (1) The ability to grow a greatly increased quantity of herbage per acre with an improved seasonal pattern of production. (2) A more efficient utilisation of the herbage produced. Unlike his counterpart in more reliable farming districts, the light land farmer operates in an environment of uncertainty. Yield uncertainty, particularly at high stocking rates, is the major problem to be overcome and this dictates very largely the system of farming adopted. Price uncertainty is also a significant aspect of light land farming because of the reliance on a limited range of products and the inability to diversify. In an analysis of physical and financial data collected from a sample of light land farms in Canterbury (1) there was no evidence to suggest that any one particular pattern of output was superior to all others. This result was surprising, but may reflect the uncertainty inherent in the environment. (1) For a full discussion on this, see Section 3.3.2(a). Alternatively it may infer that the actual patterns of production are less important than the managerial skill with which they are implemented. These results pointed to the need to explore more fully the following facets of light land management: (1) Given a developed farm, is there any one optimal pattern of production which (a) generates increased profit under average seasonal and price conditions, and (b) is subject to only small variations in profit under changing seasonal and price conditions? (2) Given the potential for the development and expansion of light land farming, how profitable is this from the individual farmer's viewpoint? If, in an evaluation of the first problem, high levels of productivity are shown to be profitable on existing well developed farms, then a reallocation of resources to obtain the desired combination should be recommended. An optimum combination of enterprises shown by such an analysis might well serve as the goal where an undeveloped potential still exists on a farm and where a reallocation and intensification in the use of resources is necessary if productivity is to be increased. In this study of light land farming two case farms have been used and although the results refer specifically to these particular farms, some conclusions of a general nature are possible. In Chapter II the physical characteristics of the area are described. In Chapter III a review of the research into specific problems relating to the management of light land is presented. This is followed in Chapter IV by an explanation of the technical principles of light land farming which have evolved. Chapter V is devoted to the comparison of some of the production possibilities open to the light land farmer using linear programming. An analysis of light land development 1s presented in Chapter VI, while Chapter VII presents the conclusions and summary of the study.

By far the greatest proportion of the 1,150,000 acres of light land in Canterbury is found on the Canterbury Plain. This plain, originally covered by "low tussock" and of easy contour, was enticing to the early pioneers and became one of the earliest areas in New Zealand to be settled and farmed. Over the years it has developed into one of the most intensively farmed and productive areas of New Zealand. The dominant characteristic of the light land of Canterbury is undoubtedly the climate. The rainfall is reasonably evenly distributed over the year, but because of the low humidity, high temperatures and warm winds experienced over the summer in association with a free draining soil, the effectiveness of the rainfall over this period is drastically reduced. Consequently active plant growth is severely restricted for several months over the summer, and occasionally extends into the spring and/or autumn periods. The uncertainty as to the length and severity of this restricted growth period and the associated problem of equating the variable feed supply to the stock requirements, both within and between years, is the basic problem confronting the light land farmer. In spite of the environmental difficulties the productivity of the light land has increased several fold since early settlement. The original holdings on the Canterbury Plain were large with their boundaries on the rivers so as to provide access to water. Fine wool sheep were extensively grazed. However the introduction of refrigerated shipping and the extension of the water race system in the 1880's brought about a reduction in the size of holdings and a change in the pattern of farming. Dual purpose sheep were run and by the 1930's in response to favourable crop prices the system of diversified farming was firmly established. Unfortunately this system placed excessive emphasis on cash cropping, particularly on the light soils. Soil fertility was drained, structure severely damaged and subsequent pasture establishment and survival poor. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, with declining crop yields and with more favourable prices being obtained for fat lambs and particularly wool, the emphasis shifted from cropping to livestock farming. The carrying capacity however, was restricted by the reduced soil fertility and poor quality pastures and an environment in which climatic uncertainty tended to inhibit the rapid expansion of stock numbers. The results of research work carried out at the various institutions in Canterbury over the years have undoubtedly promoted a greater understanding and appreciation of the problems confronting the farmer and the limitations of the particular environment in which he must operate. For example, pasture species more suited to the low fertility conditions and climate were introduced with spectacular results. The most significant of these was subterranean clover (introduced in the 1930s), noted for its ability to withstand the summer droughts, to regenerate in the autumn, and to provide an increased bulk of feed in the spring. Research work had shown that both lime and phosphate were necessary on the light land soils, if high pasture production and persistency was to be expected. Soil fertility increased subsequent to a reduction in the emphasis on cropping and with the higher levels of fertiliser application. High fertility pasture species (e.g. white clover and lucerne), were introduced and not only gave higher and more reliable total production but exhibited improved seasonal spread of production. Investigations into pasture diseases and stock health provided answers to specific problems. Research into flock management generally and in comparisons between the productivity of various sheep breeds indicated the most suitable type of flock and breed for the light land farmer. From this and other research work (in conjunction with the observations of leading farmers in the area), an efficient system of light land farming has gradually evolved in which many of the basic problems have been overcome and which has resulted in a raising of the carrying capacity of the light land from ¾ stock unit per acre in the 1930's to 3½-4 stock units per acre at present. A central feature of this system (particularly at high stocking rates), is the high degree of flexibility incorporated in both the stock policies and feed supplies. Where the objective function is to maximise productivity over a period of years, it is essential to utilise the available spring feed efficiently while maintaining the ability to destock when confronted with feed shortages in the spring and early summer. Because of the fluctuating feed supply, which is characteristic of light land, the need to maintain feed reserves and to incorporate a high degree of flexibility in the stock policy is evident if the feed supply and demand are to be equated. In summary, the increased productivity can be attributed to two factors: (1) The ability to grow a greatly increased quantity of herbage per acre with an improved seasonal pattern of production. (2) A more efficient utilisation of the herbage produced. Unlike his counterpart in more reliable farming districts, the light land farmer operates in an environment of uncertainty. Yield uncertainty, particularly at high stocking rates, is the major problem to be overcome and this dictates very largely the system of farming adopted. Price uncertainty is also a significant aspect of light land farming because of the reliance on a limited range of products and the inability to diversify. In an analysis of physical and financial data collected from a sample of light land farms in Canterbury (1) there was no evidence to suggest that any one particular pattern of output was superior to all others. This result was surprising, but may reflect the uncertainty inherent in the environment. (1) For a full discussion on this, see Section 3.3.2(a). Alternatively it may infer that the actual patterns of production are less important than the managerial skill with which they are implemented. These results pointed to the need to explore more fully the following facets of light land management: (1) Given a developed farm, is there any one optimal pattern of production which (a) generates increased profit under average seasonal and price conditions, and (b) is subject to only small variations in profit under changing seasonal and price conditions? (2) Given the potential for the development and expansion of light land farming, how profitable is this from the individual farmer's viewpoint? If, in an evaluation of the first problem, high levels of productivity are shown to be profitable on existing well developed farms, then a reallocation of resources to obtain the desired combination should be recommended. An optimum combination of enterprises shown by such an analysis might well serve as the goal where an undeveloped potential still exists on a farm and where a reallocation and intensification in the use of resources is necessary if productivity is to be increased. In this study of light land farming two case farms have been used and although the results refer specifically to these particular farms, some conclusions of a general nature are possible. In Chapter II the physical characteristics of the area are described. In Chapter III a review of the research into specific problems relating to the management of light land is presented. This is followed in Chapter IV by an explanation of the technical principles of light land farming which have evolved. Chapter V is devoted to the comparison of some of the production possibilities open to the light land farmer using linear programming. An analysis of light land development 1s presented in Chapter VI, while Chapter VII presents the conclusions and summary of the study.