FARM AND STATION.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20711, 23 November 1932, Page 4

FARM AND STATION.

THE SHEEP FLOCKS. .MOVEMENT IN NEW ZEALAND, | 1929-1932. J i . r.;;.- U-sJU W. Buglcy.,, j \.r-out 4000 new Hocks, each averag'oj; 1.30 sheep, have come into existence from between 1029 and 1932, despite ■ho rultDg low prices for mutton, lamb or wool. There arc no less than 3073 new flocks in the class under 200 sheep, mid these flocks have increased 55.4 per cent, in" thrco years. There is at 'bo same time a steady increase- in tho number of milch cows over these years, *o dairying is not necessarily being replaced by sheep farming. Perhaps tho tendency is more- the other way. Temporary or Permanent. If thia were but a temporary movement towards smaller flocks, and more of "hem, it would bo only of passing interest, but tlmro aro other permanent ;afluences which should receive consideration. With sheep and lambs at unprofitable prices and wool selling at prices ire!! below the cost of production, >.hero is no inducement for new flocks to bo established; yet total flocks have increased by 3737 daring the course of three years, an increase of 11 per cent. over this period. Whilo tho numbers of iheep in flocks over .1000 sheep each havo decreased to the extent of 957,471 (nearly one million), tho sheep totals nt the small flocks (under 1000) have increased by nearly 000,000 (598,777). Tn tho first year of the slump 1929-30, rJbe sheop figures rose by 1,800,000 and reached tho high peak of 30,841,287 ineep. Since then, although there has been a decrease of about one million rtheep per vear, this year's total is only 359,504 less than in 1D29. Under these •circumstances a very definite change it taking place in the ownership of flocks in New Zealand. The movements both in tho sizes and numbers of flocks, also in tho numbers nt «neep in the various sheep districts in New Zealand, need to be carefully analysed, as their effect on markets, and marketing aro always felt in due eonrsfl. Email Piocka Increase. Tao number of small flocks, comprisiag under 500 sheep each, has in--4rreßßed by 29.6 por cent., or 3646 flocks,

«rer this period under review, i.e., 1929 to 1932. The number of comparatively amaß flocks under 1000 sheep has ln«ea»«d by 22.125 per cent., or 3995, while the number of flocks over 1000 I aheap each has decreased by 248 or 2.93 per cent. Thero was a steady in- ' treaso in the total number o£ flocks up \ wntil 1931, the peak year, but 1932 J totals have receded by 340 flocks. In 1 *»ite of this decrease the small flocks \ under 500 sheep still show a gain of I' 123 for 1932. ' Intensive Grazing. » It l«as been proved conclusively that H, «k>so grazing improves the productivity || of the dairy herd, and smaller paddocks ; , «ad rotational grazing are some of the If, main pasture developments of recent ■lff \> years. It has been found profitable from 1' a, dairying viewpoint to close graze the »*i paddocks with sheep after the cows .1, ftavo been removed, and before grass is ~lf allowed to como away again. Another |*l reason for grazing sheep on cow pas--5 ? twos is to check the growth of ragwort. , J Sheep aro no trouble and are suitable !'• \ to the new and improved ideas of cow li , pastures. Seeing that this innovation 1* I; has been introduced when the returns ; • to be expected from sheep are at the * » lowest point, it might be expected to ;, * prove a permanent practice when imli I proved returns aro received from this #l , new sideline. The low prices of stock |jn j havo considerably aided the speedy in- ,,', i traduction of this practice, and there is ,* | flo indication that it has been yet fully > * developed.

By " Straggler."

Dairy Tanners Kesponsible. That dairy farmers are more or leas responsible for this trend is proved by analysis of the returns for tho various sheep districts. Auckland sheep district shows tho largest increase of 1491 flocks, 80.2 per cent, of which are in tho class under 500 sheep. Otago sheep | district has tho next place of honour, j with an increase of 989 flocks, 83.2 I per cent, of which aro under 500 sheep ! each. As Otago and Southland are m j this district, further analysis shows that Southland accounts for 77 per cent, of 1 the inereaso in the total number ot , ! flocks in Otago sheep district and GS.-l j i per cent, of the increase in sheep, j ! Wellington and West Coast sheep , I district shows that the West Coast j (Wanganui, Taranaki, etc.) increased j her small flocks of under 500 sheep by j 307, and thi3 figure exceeds the total i increase for the districts by 29 flocks. These are tho main dairying districts in New Zealand, and in flocks under 500 sheep, these districts, by themselves can account for 76.5 per cent, of the total increase of these small flocks in New Zealand. Had this new practice of grazing small flocks on dairy farms not been introduced, the decrease from the 1929 sheep totals would have been very much heavier than it is to-day. Fresh Influences on Markets . Ono of tho first effects of the trend are the recent paper reports from dairying districts that a demand has sot in° for fencing wire and materials. These dairy farmers are further subdividing their paddocks to get the full advantage of close grazing and make them also more suitable for sheep. Freezing Companies. The Freezing Company interests arc finding that the demand for space in Auckland and other parts is likely to bo earlier than usual, because of small owners wanting to get rid of the progeny of their few ewes, when these are ready for the market. This recent development could mean that buyers of freezing stock will have to make 4000 more calls than in 1929 in order to purchase theso prime lambs in smaller lots. It indicates the growing need of either selling this produce r n the hooks, in saleyards, or else tho elimination of wasteful competition among tho different buyers of freezing stock, travelling around the country over the same ground and buying stock on the farms. What effect this new practico will havo on the quality of lamb or mutton is hard to foretell, but it is obvious that tho choice of good owes and suitable rams will be more varied than in the past. This ia probably one point which both the Meat Board and the Department of Agriculturo will keep in view, when looking to the improvement of quality/ in our meat produce.

I "Wool. Perhaps one of the most important products which this development could influence is wool. The breeding, character and uniformity in the wool will be reflected in the choice of, and in culling the flocks and further in the choice of the ram. In a number of cases it is doubtful if these small owners will raise their own flocks, in which case they will probably buy a small line of ewes, hold them for a season, take a crop of lambs, and sell the ewes when fat and after shearing. i The trend towards these small flocks is not likely to be reflected in better wool, as more attention than over will , be paid to the carcase at the expense ; of the wool. This may ultimately lead i to the need for greater regulation in , the sale of rarms, by giving greater , regard to their fleeces. ! Higher Classing Standard. As it is not considered practicable to . class wool from flocks under 2500 sheep i to the greatest point of efficiency on ' the farms, the effective classing of l wool from these small flocks on the 3 farms is impossible. Although it will i be hard enough to improve the wool ) grown by these small flocks, the class- ■ ing of this wool can be highly efficient i by utilising the bulk classing services : in the various selling centres. This ■ will mean the development of the i present re-classing services along pror gressive lines and towards the establishment of a national standard of

classing. Tho rapid growth of those smaller flock owners emphasises the need for a standard of classing, and the reduction of the costs of this service, if New Zealand is to compete successfully for its proper share of the crossbred wool trade. Although reforms in tho marketing of New Zealand wool have been advocated for somo time past, this definite tendency towards small flocks makes progressive action all the more imperative. j ! I GOOD PASTURE. j j COW TO THE ACRE. ! ___ ! The "Napier Daily Telegraph•' provides an instance of high carrying capacity. The Hcrctaunga Plains, tho writer states, are well named "tho garden of New Zealand," since it is doubtful whether any other district in tho Dominion can produce such wonderful yields per aero, either from pastoral farming or from cropping, where sound practices are brought into use. Much of this fertile area is capable of higher production than is being achieved at present, and a good illustration of the remarkable result that may bo achieved off a small area of our Hawke's Day flat land is to be found on a Pakowhai property, where, ot the total area of 30 acres, seven acres aro at present shut up for ryegrass harvesting, and the'remaining 23 acres aro sujiporting a herd of 21 milking cows, seven yearling heifers, a dry two-year-old heifer, six brood sows, and a boar. In spite of this heavy stocking — nearly a cow to the acre —the grass growth, with dominant perennial ryei grj'ss and white clover swards that have been down for many years, is, from appearances, getting right away , from the stock and is actually too high , in tho main paddeck at the present [ time. E espouse from Top-dressing. While there aro those who aro ot tho opinion that top-dressing is not 1 necessary for results on tho Hawke's Bay fiats, they havo here a line example of tho excellent results of a generous programme of artificial fertilisation. The property is at present split up into three main paddocks, and each of theso paddocks receives a gencious dressing of fertiliser each i season. Believing, however, in tho value of variation in feeding grassland as in any other ration, the owner utiiiso9 ' dressings of super, ammoniated super, ' and sulphate of ammonia, in rotation. 1 The result is a wonderful thick, verd- » ant, and eminently palatable lush growth of grass.

| ENSILAGE. | A FEW POINTS. The practice of turning green oats into ensilage is becoming more general m dairying districts. Oats make a cheap and useful ensilage stack, and a few points in the work may bo useful now that the oat crop is near the cutting stage. The system adopted generally is stacked ensilage, the crop being cut with the binder, making small sheaves for easy forking. Any farmers who are contemplating following this system for the first time this season should note the following points: Height should be aimed at, thereby giving more weight for compressing the silage. During the first day of stacking not more than Bft should bo completed, and the temperature of this Bft should bo allowed to rise before any further building is attempted. On examination the following morning, if the stack has settled down, and is giving off a fair amount of heat from the top, stacking can be continued. As soon as the stack is finished it should be covored with an earth top about 2ft thick, for the purpose of assisting further in compressing the stack and excluding the air. The making of ensilage in this manner is a very simple matter. A record wool clip for weight of fleeco is predicted in Hawke's Bay this season by the "Tribune." A lino of 600 wethers shorn at the end of October yielded 22 bales of wool, the average weight of fleece per sheep being 13 Jib. Another sheep farmer's flock of ewes, wethers, and hoggots yielded an averago of 121b of wool. These are not isolated instances. Professor John Percival, who has held the position of Professor of Agricultural Botany at the University of Reading, has reached tho retiring age. Ho is a mau with a world-wide reputation in his own particular line, and his advice has been sought by representatives of' practically all nations. He is the author of a number of standard agricultural works. It is Professor Percival 's intention to continue his plant investigation work, which he has carried oil with wonderful success and enthusiasm over a. period of thirty years.

J some kinds of wheat that we should enj courage or avoid:— i Aver, baking Number score, 40= ! Varietv. of trials. Very good. Jumbuck .. 7 39.1 White Fife .. 4 34.0 Eed Fife .. 10 33.7 Victor .. 8 22.8 The excellent score of Jumbuck is most promising, and indicates that this variety should receive further trials for spring sowing, while the very low score of Victor explains why this variety, which yields so well on good land, has largely gone out of cultivation. OAT CROPS. HARVESTING NEXT WEEK. Tho few warm days last week have brought oats along with a rush, and unless the weather breaks harvesting of early crops will commence within a week or ten days in the Rakaia district. This is one of the earliest parts of the province for oats. Over the last few days many crops on the light-medium land have come into ear, and it is safe to say that tho yield per acre will double that of last season. Visitors to the Kirwee Show on Saturday were surprised at the heaviness and even character of the "shot" oats. They make a very pleasing sight at the momeut. A less pleasing reflection is the probable price, but the greater number of horses now in ■use should mean more consumption on tho farm. In making comparisons with last season good crop? even at a bedrock price are preferable to none at all at a fair pricey which was the experience on many light land districts last season. There are many lields to be seon at present that should thresh well over 30 bushels unless something untoward happens. iSture cattle prices in the Uawke's Bay province are depressing. At the Hastings sale last week three-year Hereford heifers sold at up to £3, and two and threc-year-oids £1 16s. A draft of two-year P.A. steers in fairly forward order sold at £1 19s Gd, and a" pen of empty Hereford station cows 80s.