S block changes

Press, 5 October 1984, Page 23

S block changes

The M.A.F. authorities at the Winchmore Research Station have made some policy changes on the intensive sheep grazing irrigation farmlet known as S block. The changes have been aimed at increasing the carcase weights of lambs produced while retaining low fat levels and the present high outputs of meat and wool per hectare. They involve a reduction in the numbers of ewes per hectare and an increase in silage conservation, earlier lambing, faster lamb growth rate and drafting of lambs on fatness measure-

meats rather than live weights. “The ability to maintain pasture quality in late spring and early summer will be closely monitored as a key component in maintaining the productivity of the system proposed,” said Dr Andy Bray, scientist in charge of work on S Block. He also conceded that changes made previously on the block reported extensively after a field day at Winchmore earlier this year, had not given the desired improvements in production, so hence the need for the latest changes.