Plans To Run More Cattle

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30100, 6 April 1963, Page 7

Plans To Run More Cattle

ON April 16 the Mount Peel Station will draft off to the works WO 18months steers, the mates of the winning entry in the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association's annual duller beef competi‘on. With tour entries the station secured the first and fifth placing, on the hooks and was unlucky to have the body which had been placed fifth on the hoof eliminated from the hooks judging because of bruising. Mount Peel station coven about 18,000 acres, of which about 10,000 acres are grazed, and is managed jointly by two sons of the chairman of the Wool Board (Mr Jack Acland), Messrs John and Mark Acland. The station runs some 7200 sheep, which are now being bred to straight Romneys, and about 550 breeding cows. With an extensive development policy which involves about 70 tons of superphosphate being applied each year from the air on to the hills and a further 40 tons by truck to the flats, which are being cultivated, the aim is to increase the

carrying capacity considerably. Within the next 10 to 15 years the brothers hope to be running 1000 breeding cows. Their cattle policy is to keep aU calves for 18 months and to winter them well. They aim to have the steers ready for killing at that age. Of the 200-odd 18-months heifers, about half go into the' herd as replacements and additions and the balance are sold in calf. Born at the beginning of September, the calves are weaned on March 1 and are put mi to autumn-eaved pasture which carries them through until mid-July when they are put on to swedes and fed some hay. About the beginning of September the steer calves are put on to the beet grass to fatten by the following April. The heifer calves are held until November, before being put out. Although at present the heifers are not mated until the . following year, the brothers hope, because of the better wintering, to be able to mate them a year earlier in the near future.