Different grazing treatments applied to pastures in which perennial ryegrass was dominant had little influence on DM production during the main reproductive growth period in late spring and early summer. Lax and infrequent grazing at this time did, however, reduce tiller density. During the dry summer period lax infrequent grazing increased production hy 20%, while in the vegetative growth period in autumn those pastures which were alternately lax-and hardgrazed outyielded those which were hard grazed by 63%.In all treatments, initial recovery growth resulted almost exclusively from the production of leaf tissue. The rate of leaf growth declined three to five weeks after grazing, depending on treatment and season, and subsequent yield increase was dominated hy sheath and stem growth.

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Veld burning treatments applied annually, biennially or triennially during the first week of August or after the first substantial spring rains considerably reduced herbage yields during the season which followed the burn, but had no long term effect on the productivity of the veld. Long term effects did, however, result from differences in summer utilization. Where veld was not cut for hay in summer, it developed a potential to produce higher yields than veld which was cut during the summer season. This increased production potential is, however, accompanied by changes in the nature of the sward which in many respects are undesirable. UITTREKSELVeldbrandbehandelings wat jaarliks, tweejaarliks of driejaarliks gedurende die eerste week van Augustus, of net na die eerste substansiële lentereëns, toegepas is, het opbrengs van die veld gedurende die seisoen wat op die hand volg, aansienlik verminder. Daar is egter geen langtermyn uitwerking op die produktiwiteit van die veld nie. Verskeie somerbenutting het egter 'n langtermyn uitwerking opgelewer. Veld wat nie in die somer vir hooi gesny is nie het 'n potensiaal ontwikkel om hoër opbrengs te lewer as die wat gedurende die somer gesny is. Die verbeterde produksie potensiaal word egter deur veranderings in die aard van die grasveld wat in baie opsigte nie wenslik is nie, vergesel.

Confucius once said that there are three methods we learn wisdom: firstly, by reflection, which is the noblest; secondly, by imitation, which is the easiest; and thirdly, by experience, which is the bitterest. The purpose of this review is to highlight how research priorities in pasture and forage sciences have evolved in southern Africa from the early 20th century into the second decade of the 21st century. Peer-reviewed scientific publications of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa form the basis of the review, which (1) identifies the main fields of pasture and forage science research, (2) evaluates and prioritises the main findings and progress within each of these research fields, and (3) makes recommendations regarding future research priorities. The history of southern African pasture and forage sciences has created a steady foundation for the further growth and development of this discipline in the 21st century. This science, together with rangeland science (which is not discussed in this paper), will remain and become a more important component of a sustainable solution in ensuring food security in the world, by means of animal production and degraded land rehabilitation. A reflection on the 20th century In 1888 F Blersch, the principal of the Agricultural School at the Victoria College, in Stellenbosch, identified the need for improved pasture plants. In the early 1900s research on pasture species escalated. Cooperative trials were initiated with farmers and much attention was given to subtropical grasses (Hall 1934). Towards the end of the decade in 1907-1908, the increased need for winter pastures was identified. Many reports concluded that imported grasses were performing better than natural species. The year 1908 saw the introduction of some of our well-known exotic species, with no further

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