Botanical sampling as a means of identifying the components of sheep's diet in tussock grassland

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Abstract
Several features of the environment and management of tussock grassland add to the difficulties of using simple observation to determine the diet of sheep. The flora is a large one, and in response to variations in soil, aspect, altitude and management the vegetation on any grazing block consists of a mosaic of plant communities. Grazing intensities are low and grazing periods long, and the sheep are nomadic and easily disturbed. A century of occupation has led to some conclusions as to the relative palatabilities of a few of the more abundant species but the picture is far from clear and there are several apparent contradictions. This article describes a method of botanical sampling to identify what sheep eat in tussock grassland. The technique involves sampling the area concerned with a 1 ft diameter ring, all species inside the ring being recorded and each rated according to its degree of defoliation.

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