THE MODERN SHEEP FARM.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 313, 7 November 1929, Page 6

THE MODERN SHEEP FARM.

HOPE OF THE FUTURE. Rotational Grazing a Feature. (Specially written by “ Super. ”) During the sitting of the recentlyheld Taupo railway commission, a very great deal of evidence was given regarding closer settlement, and anyone in touch with' the farming position in New Zealand, could not but gain the impression that the hope of the future lay in better utilising our broken-in land, rather than in opening up large areas of poorer quality country. Experts differ considerably as to the value of Taupo country for closer settlement; some maintain that it is suitable only for farmers with ample capital available, to be handled in large blocks, while others assert that it can be cut into small areas and would then be suitable for dairy-farms.

Just as top-dressing has revolutionised the dairying industry in New Zealand, so will rotational grazing alter the whole system of sheep-farming in time. Where there is handy access to railway or steamer the process of grazing will, no doubt, be assisted by top dressing, but this is not essential to improved carrying capacity on hill country rightly grazed. That is a very big statement to make, especially as

rotational grazing has so far received little support from sheepfarmers. Time alone will prove its truth. One thing is certain from experimental and practical work already achieved. Production on much of oifr hill country can be doubled at little cost through, better grazing methods. The Small Sheep Farm. Little work on these lines can be carried out on the big sheep station unless sub-divisional fencing is first erected, but on the small farm the method can be adopted with success. Farmers in the Manawatu, in Taranaki, and in Hawke’s Bay have all adopted it with success, but as yet it is certainly in its infancy. It is not necessary to have very small paddocks, but better results would doubtless be achieved where tin area of each paddock was not too great.

The experiments carried out in England—and our own practical experience in dairying in New Zealand—have demonstrated the exceptional value of young gras s which has a feeding value equal to that of concentrates such as linseed meal. Dairyfarmcrs have been quick to seize advantage of this new knowledge and their grazing methods are based on rotating their cows over the pastures, keeping the grass as short as possible and thus feeding a highquality herbage all the time. Sheepfarmers are now only beginning to apply it. In the Waikato last winter a farmer wintered eight sheep to the acre and did them well; in Canterbury on comparatively poor land from five to seven sheep per acre have been carried right through the season. In both those instances top-dressing formed a part of tho programme, but increased carrying capacity would have followed from the methods adopted, even had no fertiliser been used. More work is involved certainly, but on the small sheep farm, the moving of stock f:ora one paddock to another is not difficult, especially where the paddocks are reasonably small. On the big sheep station where 500 acre paddocks are found, the additional work involved would be too great, and lesser benefits would accrue because of the impossibility of closely grazing the whole surface of a very large paddock. Move Stock About. Every sheep-farmer knows the advantage of having some * 1 sweet picking” for the lambs that are to be topped off, and he very often crushes out

a paddock by heavy grazing, and then lets the feed come away. While it is still young and sweet, the lambs are turned in, and they very soon fatten. H e should apply similar treatment to the whole of the farm —or rather to the greater part of it —and he would have all his stock in good condition. Something must, of course, bo kept in reserve against a dry summer spell, btft if most of the paddocks are kept short and one or two allowed to get a little longer, there will be sufficient provision.

Rotational grazing is not a difficult matter on a small farm and where a percentage of ewes is carried it is made easier. The lambs and wethers are given the pick of the grazing all the j time, and the ewes are used as followers, being put into the paddocks when they have been fairly well eaten down by the young sheep. This is really advantageous because on mauy farms the ewes are allowed to get much too fat during the summer.' They should not be poor, but should be kept in average condition, and this can easily be done, where rotational grazing is practiced. It may be contended that in the busy time there is too much work to do, and that it is impossible to rotate the stock about the farm. This is not So, as the writer has had experience himself ii* this direction. Rotational grazing can be worked in with other jobs, and when stock are mustered for drafting they cap be moved off to a fresh paddock, instead of being put back where they were. It is merely a matter of altering existing practices, and as the alteration will undoubtedly lead to great profits, it should be carried out.

With better utilisation of the land already held in small areas, arid with steady sub division of the largei estates which are suitable, provision would bo made for many new settlers, and the land hunger which now exists would be satisfied. Much of the !an-l at present held in large areas in all oil? farming districts, would under this now system, yield reasonable livings in small holdings.