Annual stocking rate (S) per paddock over the whole measurement period (1983-1985) was low in plantations 3-4yr (0.85-0.88), increased in plan- tations 5-6 yr old (1.09), and then declined in older plantations (0.52-0.90 (Table 1). Data from 1984 show the same pattern (Fig. 1). In 1984, S for pine stands 3-8 yr old was 0.93 AU/ha/yr; a maximum of 1.38 AU/ha/yr was reached at plantation age 5 yr.