Sheep Prefer Gorse

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 711, 11 December 1933, Page 6

Sheep Prefer Gorse

iGorse as feed for stock was a subject discussed hy the Wanganui and District Development League at its monthly meeting recently. A letter was received from a farmer who stated that when cut up as chaff, gorse proved good feed for horses, cattle and sheep. He also stated that throughout one winter 26 sheep had been, kept on four acres, chiefly overgrown by gorse. They had done very well, and wete a souree of wonderment to the drover when he started on a journey with them. According to the drover's version, stated the letter, they were the funniest mob of sheep he had ever seen. They took little interest in a good growth of grass hy the roadside, and "all of a sudden the whole mob bolted as if the devil was after them. They pulled up at a gorse bush on the roadside and fought to get to it, some standing on their hind legs to reach over the others." The writer did not advocate sowing gorse on good land, but considered where it was prolific the stock could: he induced to become used to it.