W.J. FULKERSON

Wollongbar Agricultural Research Institute, Wollongbar, New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

Climatic limitations to developing high quality and high yielding pastures for dairying in the subtropics are discussed. Priorities identified by farmers were canvassed by the Dairy Research and Development Corporation, responsible for allocating R & D funding, and objectives and priorities of the regional program for the tropics and subtropics are listed. Priorities include: improved yield, quality and grazing persistence of tropical grasses and legumes; and improved persistence of temperate grasses and legumes. Overall goals are to reduce cost of milk production and improve farm gross margins by 20% by the year 2000. This is to be achieved, inter alia, by developing improved winter and summer forages as well as improved livestock and pasture management.