WAR ON BLACKBERRIES

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1926, Page 4

WAR ON BLACKBERRIES

V.-iLUH OF ANGORA GOATS,

Goats have been farmed in Waimea County, Nelson, for use in the control of the blackberry since 1906. The results obtained by their owners have clearly demonstrated that at present these animals are the most economical agents known for combating the pest. The farm of Air L. Higgins, Belgrove, provides an excellent, example of their efficiency. Prior to 1906 the late Mr P. Higgins, who then owned this farm, employed every year two men for about i six weeks to cut blackberry on a 550 i acre block. He tnen purchased a liunI tire:! goats, and this Hock lias boon | maintained ever since on the area. | Since 1096 the blackberry lias never been cut, and. in fuel, is no longer a. ! menace. The same excellent results I have been obtained by oilier owners : throughout the country. I The goats used in Waimeu County • are us near pure-bred Angora as can j lie obtained. The advantages of this breed may be stated as follows: (I) Til? average Angora will clip about 51b of wool, which brings approximately the same price as crossbred sheep wool ; ■2) ii is, if anything, u> more herbne- ! eon- feeding aninvil Ilian the crossbred. Disadvantages of the Angora are: (I) The hoggets, owing to their long wool ami thin frame, are liable to get entangled, resulting in a. higher death rate. Lli The nannies are more sensitive, and if disturbed immediately alter kidding will leave tho kid and seldom return. The latter observation applies to all nannies, and owners should lie careful not to disturb them until Ibe kids are at least a week old.

I Angoras begin to shod their wool early in spring, and therefore must he shorn j to save loss. On this account they ! cannot ho .shorn in cold countries. One of the first essentials is to have J the property well fenced. The best I results from the use of goats are lin- • doubtedly obtained on farms sufficienti !y subdivided to enable goats to be ro-

tilted urn! hold on any desired area, flood work may ho done, however, by allowing the animals greater freedom in eases where the blackberry is in isolated patches. An excellent example of this is to he seen on the farm of ATr I!. Griffiths, Wai-iti, where, on one block of 100 acres, thirty goats are completely controlling jsloated jiatches. ft is not necessary that special fences be provided for goats. A well-constructed seven-wire sheepproof fence is .sufficient if care be taken to see that there are no holders under the bottom wire. The fence line should be cleared so that no stumps or logs are left as jumping off places for the animals. It is impossible to prevent kids from straying, but they will always return if their mothers are confined. It would appear that goats prefer the secondary shoots and growing tips of old runners, rather than the young juicy shoots such as make their appearance after the old blackberry is burnt. It has been noticed that when the whole area has been burnt tmo young growth especially in spring, will get away from the goats. As the season advances, and the shoots harden up, the goats will return to the attack and get the plant under control again. Having observed this characteristic of the animal, some farmers refrain from

burning, relying wholly on goats to crush tlie blackberry even on newly acquired country over-run with the post.

- j The best method is to'burn, thus re- • ducing the feed available to the goats. : ’ Even though the young growth is not so palatable, it will he found that- the ■ j blackberry can he kept under control ■ by a comparatively small flock under i these' conditions. At the same time

the flock being treated should he stocked fairly heavily with sheep in order to keep down the grass, in this way preventing the goats from feeding on what might otherwise he the more easily procured fodder.

1 It is idle to suggest that goats never 1 eat grass, but they undoubtedly prefer i fibrous- matter, and by controlling the I growth of grass with sheep the goats 1 have not the same opportunity of cultivating a taste for grass, and are there- ; fore compelled to eat blackberry and other rubbish, with greater avidity.. Although never definitely tested, it is the firm conviction of goat owners that the sheep carrying capacity of their land is increased by the judicious use of these animals.—New Zealand Journal of Agriculture.