Hawke’s Bay Did Not Look So Attractive

Press, Volume C, Issue 29638, 7 October 1961, Page 7

Hawke’s Bay Did Not Look So Attractive

(By

H. E. GARRETT]

Hawke's Bay has been claimed to be the most attractive sheep farming district in the world. Recently it did not look it. After six or seven weeks of extremely wet and cold conditions the famous pastures were extremely short and the sheep bedraggled. Lambs did not look as though they would catch the first boat and make the premium

this year. However, no doubt the pendulum will swing and a few weeks of bright sunshine will bring things back to normal. In the meantime there is a trail of lamb losses and the famous Heretaunga plans are showing the effects of the third major flooding in eight weeks with areas of drowned broad beans and many gaps in the rows of early potatbes. However, the orchards are flowering and the land is still selling for up to ' £6OO an acre.

The impression one gathers is that Hawke’s Bay farmers are still optimistic as far as sheep prices are concerned. Their biggest concern is animal health. The two diseases worrying them on the intensive farms are facial eczema and salmonella, or as it is locally known, paratyphoid. There is no vaccination for these at present. Facial eczema control is well understood today and by means of growing a summer crop and/ or ‘Confining the ewe flock, in conjunction with attention to the very efficient eczema warnings put out by the Department of Agriculture, the disease can be almost totally avoided.

However, the paratyphoid condition which causes immediate death results from stock held in heavy concentrations and as you can see the eczema control measures are the ideal breeding ground for this second serious disease. These two are mutually incompatible and in eczema seasons Hawke's Bay farmers have a real battle of nerves and an ulcer producing condition In the farm managers. One farmer suggested to me that the only remedy that he can rely on is to open al] the gates and go for a holiday. <To be Continued.)