... fodder tree enthusiasts too

Press, 16 August 1985, Page 18

... fodder tree enthusiasts too

Some research work should be diverted from the traditional ryegrass/clover and sheep/cow systems to alternatives such as fodder trees and new farm animals, believes Mr Pat Palmer, a former deputy director of the Crop Research Division of the D.S.I.R.

In a paper to be presented to a fodder seminar organised by the Tree Crops Association, Mr Palmer knocks some of the myths surrounding fodder trees and also takes a swipe at the present pastoral systems that fodder trees might supplement or displace.

Mr Palmer says that fodder trees probably have a place in farming systems on land marginal for yearround grass production. But new farm animals might be needed to make

full use of the potential of systems involving fodder trees. An example is the current move towards farming goats with gorse. Mr Palmer will be one of 18 speakers at the two-day fodder seminar at Lincoln College which starts on September 5. The line-up includes scientists and researchers working with a range of fodder trees and farmers who use trees in their farming systems. The seminar is included in the week long activities of the N.Z. Institute of Agricultural Science conference (from September 2 to 6 at Lincoln College) and intending participants should register as part of the main conference. New Zealand’s climate is ideally suited to growing trees, but grassland has become prevalent because of the heavy grazing pressure

possible under the equable climate, heavy phosphate inputs, and the absence of seeds of aggressive shrubs and trees from Europe and North America, says Mr Palmer.

He suggests that growing fodder trees to supply a reserve of feed for use in a severe drought would not be economical, just as insurance irrigation schemes usually did not pay. To be profitable it must be used to produce extra seasonal production each year. Looking at the use of fruits and nuts from trees for fodder for stock, Mr Palmer says apple production from highly managed orchards on highly manured soils averaged 35 tonnes per hectare, equivalent to 5.5 tonnes of dry matter. Similar inputs into cereal production would probably return 10 tonnes or more so a

fanner would be better off growing maize or barley rather than fruit to feed his cattle.

The general consensus at an Animal Production Society meeting in 1983 was that the introduction of new animals to New Zealand was vital for the pastoral system to survive. Risks of the introduction of disease had been greatly exaggerated and were negligible with modern techniques. Mr Palmer says there is a need for research on exotic animals to see how their production compares with domestic stock.

He urged that priorities be set for fodder tree research and efforts made to ensure sufficient finance is available.

Also presenting a paper to the seminar will be Mr Roland Clark, of Purau, on Banks Peninsula, who will

outline the importance of fodder trees. Mr Clark believes New Zealand is ahead of other countries in using tagasaste (formerly known as tree lucerne) and the main problem involved getting farmers to grasp the idea of providing a bank of feed for droughts. Seeds of tree medic (Medicago arborea) have been imported from Italy because it could be suitable for areas where the climate is too tough for tagasaste. Tree medic is a winter flowering, nitrogen-fixing browsing shrub. Other topics at the seminar will include alternative tree species, the multiple use of trees on the Canterbury Plains, and talks by three Australian researchers.