Canterbury potential for 37M more stock units

Press, 25 November 1982, Page 2

Canterbury potential for 37M more stock units

Farm editor Canterbury had the potential to support 37 million more stock units than it did at present, said the Minister of Agriculture. Mr MacIntyre. yesterday. An increase of this magnitude would quadruple the present breeding stock level of 11 million sheep and 300.000 breeding cattle. “I don’t quote you this estimate as an achievable target, because there are too many variables involved,” he said, when opening a new deer horn processing plant for Wrightson NMA, Ltd, at Hornby. “I say it to illustrate the point that when it comes to potential to earn overseas funds, farmers are way ahead,” Mr Maclntyre said. “There is no question that we can produce more. The question is whether we can sell it.”

I Mr Maclntyre said that a j leading Ministry of Agriculi ture scientist, whom he did not name, had estimated that Canterbury • hill country could be developed to carry a further 13 million stock units.

Within the 37 million total, irrigation would add 10 million, intensification a further 12 million, and longterm applicaton of technology a further 15 million. This represented, a potential of another $1 billion worth of production from stock. Canterbury at present contains about 11 million breeding ewes, the same number of lambs, and about 500,000 cattle and calves. -