Data from the household interviews were complemented by the separate collection of primary biophysical data relating to forage availability (composition, quantity, quality), feed management (grazing, cut and carry, supplements), cattle breeding cycles (times of mating, calving and weaning), cattle performance (liveweight gain, condition score, disease, girth, height), soil characteristics (key physical and chemical attributes) and climate (long and short term records of temperature, rainfall and radiation). Forage availability and cattle performance data for each household were collected at critical times (e.g. change of seasons) over a period of 1–2 years to cover at least one complete set of seasons.