Worth Of Pre-Lamb Shearing Argued

Press, Volume C, Issue 29588, 10 August 1961, Page 19

Worth Of Pre-Lamb Shearing Argued

The pros and cons of pre- is lamb shearing in relation to m light-land farming in Can- ni terbury, were argued by n members of the board of governors of Canterbury ol Agricultural College at its w meeting on Tuesday. The subject arose from a lr report on the work at Ashley vi Dene, a college farm, for “ July. Rainfall for that month was 4.10 in on 11 days, with « the weather generally wet “ and cold, particularly about u the middle of the month. 1 Pre-lamb shearing began on 1S July 3 and was completed on w July 13. the weather being c< reasonably good except for some hard frosts at the beginning of the period, the re- si port said. At the end of n shearing, very severe conditions were experienced, and s j in spite of all efforts made by the management 23 of the t,. older and thinner sheep died, y The college principal (Dr. c . M M. Bums) said that the s ] total loss of ewes now 21 totalled 40. t< The farm report said that t< pre-lamb shearing of 2589 r ewes had shown that a por- fl tion of the flock was in poorer condition than was b previously thought, and that o reflected in the fleece weights, which were lower than the n average over a period of r years. „ 1 Dr. Bums said that the a ewes lost were older ones, h five- and six-year-old sheep, t He said that the conjunction s of bad storms and older and r poorer quality sheep had brought about the losses, t "An equal number of r losses from December shear- r ing has been recorded, so the s losses should not be re- 1 garded as a condemnation of f pre-lamb shearing. It is just ’ a combination of old sheep s and storms,” Dr. Bums said. 1 He said that the poor con- < dition of some of the sheep J and the lower wool weight [ were the result of excessive I stocking of the farm in the winter months. i “It shows we can go just 1 so far. but not too far. We < learn by our mistakes.” Aid To Management , j July shearing was ideal in , the management of Ashley Dene. Dr. Burns said. The , shearing was thus done, and in December and the sue- . ceeding months the work of making hay could be done without dividing the labour force between shearing and hay making. He said that last year the farm produced 20 000 bales of hay. and the feeding of hay enabled more stock to be carried over the winter. Dr A. E. Henderson said that it did not seem to matter now when sheep were shorn because a market eould, apparently, be found for the wool at any time. The loss in shorter and less weight brought about by prelamb shearing had to be balanced by the advantages of early shearing. He agreed with Dr. Bums that the returns from prelamb shearing did not necessarily have to be shown in “cold cash.” Savings in management and in other directions were economic returns. Dr. Henderson said the over-all cost of shearing would be £lO a 100 sheep. Mr J. F. G. Blakely asked what was the advantage of early shearing if the lambs were weaned early. The risk of losing sheep after shearling was more likely, he contended. than the risk after I shearing in December. He I asked if it could not be found suitable, for management, to shear in Novemberearly December and then concentrate on hay making, or shear after hay making. Dr. Burns said that last year lucerne hay making at Ashley Dene went on in January and February. The pre-lamb shearing really meant a great deal in management. The board had instituted pre-lamb shearing for better management of . the farm. • “Ewes pre-lamb shorn do * seek shelter.” he said. "The making of 20,000 bales of hay

s essential from the managenent point of view, as it is lecessary for winter feed ■g servos/* Ashley Dene this year was ibviously overstocked. Stockng the land to the maximum extent over the winter made he stock position “terribly vulnerable,” said Mr R. H. levin. “The farm this winter is ■arrying 2754 sheep. The bad osses are a reflection on the [uality of the older sheep. Phe average weight of a fleece s well below the 101 b of vool from a ewe in that country," Mr Bevin said. Fewer Sheep? He said the management hould aim at the maximum reduction an acre rather than he maximum production a beep. “I don’t think we should >e carrying three sheep to he acre. The land won’t :arry that. The number of sheep should be reduced to >OOO to 2200 through the win;er. Whatever you do to the ■op of the land you must remember there is about 500 ft of shingle underneath. “A southerly breeze would blow a lot of the sheep there over.” Dr. Bums replied that the number of sheep to be carried was being looked at. The sheep had, perhaps, not a big enough grazing area a head. The numbers meant they were on a comparatively small acreage and had, perhaps, too much hay. He said he did not want the board's discussion to reflect in any way on the farm manager. He was a good stockman, and the board had laid down the policies to be followed in managing the farm. The farm manager should be absolved. Mr Bevin said he was in no way criticising the farm manager. He was discussing management of the farm on its broadest basis. The Ashley Dene farm report said that 1233 LeicesterCorriedales shorn averaged a fleece weight of 7.71 b, and 1311 Corriedales shorn averaged 81b, giving an average fleece weight for the 2574 sheep of 7.91 b. The ewes were rationed on turnips and Italian ryegrass immediately after shearing, and the hay consumption for July for all stock was 1620 round and 1050 square bales. Lambing at the farm began on July 24. there being 17 lambs at the end of the month.