MIXED FARMING

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 291, 21 November 1936, Page 4 (Supplement)

MIXED FARMING

A Small Man’s Experience SHEEP In dairying Can sr.eep bo profitably utilised or tho dairy farm, and, if so, what is the most suitable class of animal io run—ewes for tat lamb production, I wethers or hoggets? is a question interestingly di-cussed in the New Zealand Fanner by a writer who describes ! himself as a small farmer. First of all, h t us examine the present trend of farming practi<es, par- . tieularly in the Waikato. Tins year 'railin' more than 10'.),(JOO breeding | ewes were brought into the north I rum j cast coast districts, and the bulk ol i these ewes were eagerly sought for at prices that more than paid lor their long and expensive trek. What is the reason for this evergrowing stock migration? Have dairy farmers decided to increase the carrying capacity of their farms by topdressing and the use of the plough to such an extent that they will be able to carry sheep without doing away with some of their dairy stock? lr so, they must run a big risk from climatic conditions alone. It seems to the writer that the real reason for the influx of breeding owes is a bitter lesson taught by the late slump—that the old s< heme of having all one’s eggs in one basket is altogether too risky. But is not the problem being approached from the wrong angle? Breeding ewes are not the only solution to the problem. For many years dairy farmers in Hawke’s Bay and other districts have been running dry sheep on their iaims, and have been able to show amazing profits Hom this side line to their butter-fat production. Note the emphasis on “side-line,”’ lor there is all the diflkrente in the world between grazing dry and wet sheep on one's farm. FEED COMPETITIONS. Take the case of the breeding ewe first. They have this great disadvantage compared with other classes of sheep. They are definite feed competitors with one’s cows just at the time of the year when the latter need the most careful feeding and attention. Moreover, when carrying breeding ewes, they must be retained on the farm from early autumn until possibly the following December or even January, during which period they will have to be dipped am! shorn is well. During all that period they must receive the very best of treatment or they cannot possibly rear a fat lamb. There is this advantage, however—provided that they are well lone, they will give a better return per head than dry sheep. On the other hand, a drought such as o< enrred last j year might easily knock all the profit j off the sheep and the cows as well, . I’his will be more marked in the ease of old ewes. Two-tooths always have | a resale value, but it is impos-ilifl. t« fattrn, ewes that arc commencing to go in tlie mouth unless feid is abundant and of good qual.ty. The farmer, therefore, who invests in ewes for fat lamb raising on a small dairy farm is j no longer a straightout Imtter-fat producer and dealer. He has crossed the line into the class commonly known as “mixed farming.”

CASE FOR DRY SHEEP. Now take the case for the dry slmc-p Here the choice is threefold —ewe hoggets, wether hoggets, and wethers. Both ewe and wether hoggets have this great advantage in common, tliej ar e nearly always available at icasonable rates in the autumn, and they car be turned off the farm in September Short feed, well-drained paddocks, and tight fences are essential in order to get the best results, for all young sheej want plenty of changing from paddock to paddock. So long as lambs arc bright in the eye and reasonably active when they are bought, it does not greatly matter it' they are on the smal -ide. Provided that their constitutior is good they will thrive amazingly dining the winter months. Ewe hogget. l have a very great adjutage over wethers in that they have a great potential Value as breeding ewes. True one pays more for a ewe lamb than £

wether, but the difference in profit will be much more marked when the animal is sold as a. hogget the following spring. This difference in prices is ' especially noticeable just now owing j to the shortage of good breeding stock and the increasing wool and lamb prices. HALF-BREEDS NOT SUITABLE. Wether lambs are a sound investment, provided they are not “lelt over” rape lambs, i.e., lambs, with a strong infusion bf the Southdown in their make-up. These half-breeds are definitely not .suitable for stores owing to the difficulty of quitting them in the spring. They have little wool value as two-tooths, and are much more difficult to fatten than their cousins the Rom- I neys. Romney wether lambs are nearly always good buying in the late summer. So far as wethers are concerned, there will always b e a place for them on the hill fauns, especially on hard i country, hut. on present-day prices they , are dear buying. This article has been written by a small farmer, and is primarily intended to strike a note of warning to all those small holders who intend running a few sheep with their herds. To sum up, the writer’s experience has been that of the. two classes of ■ sheep, the dry is infinitely preferable j to the wet, lor the reasons already: given. Add to this the fact that hoggets will return up to 100 per cent. . profit in from six to seven months, mid, are off' the farm when the spring flush is on. Moreover, the small iaimcr| (locs not wish, to be troubled with] shearing when costs are rising all the time, and shearing sheds are few and far between in dairying districts. Leave ; those worries to the man with, breeding ewes on the bigger farms. i here, ■a a certain profit, even though it. be! but ff moderate one, in dry sheep There is a certain loss on a’ tmall ' heavily-stoked dairy farm in bollcows and sheep il the ow nor is not, lucky with weather conditions.