The future role of improved pastures for beef cattle

The development of improved profit equarions for beef production in the Republic has become a matter of vital importance. Not only is the country faced with a projected furure deficit in beef supplies, but the proftt margtn for beef producrion has dwindled markedly in recent yearc. A recent investigation revealed that the production costs of the "overage " beef famter in Natal increased by 35 percent duing the peiod Jonuary 1974 to January 1976. Duing this period the average pice of beef over all grades on the Durban and Hetermaitzburg markets increased by only 9 percent. The combined effect of thae facton on the profit margin hos been dmmatic.