Problems in measuring pasture composition in the field

Summary The effect of pasture height on point analysis recordings has been examined in a series of studies. Results show surprisingly large effects—increases up to 20 “cover” hits on Trifolium repens per 100 points, for an additional inch of sward height. Little consistency in the size of this effect was found between the studies on different pasture associations. The consequences of this relationship on the interpretation of comparisons are discussed, and these consequences are shown to be especially serious where changes over a period of time are being examined.