ROTATIONAL GRAZING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 214, 24 August 1931, Page 7

ROTATIONAL GRAZING

NEW ZEALAND METHODS. AUSTRALIAN DELEGATION IMPRESSED. Last year a delegation of Victorian dairy fanners visited New Zealand and observed the work done here in rotational grazing. Among them was Mr G. C. Howey, of Swan Marsh, Pirron Yallock, in the neighbourhood of Colac. Immediately following his return he set about establishing a modification of this intensive system, so that he could feel his way to a general adoption of its principles. Already, after a year’s trial, he has acquired evidence that is convincing. “The first impression gained,” says Mr Howey, “was the general air of Srosperity in New Zealand dairying istricts. There is a fine type of farm home, after the style of suburban residences. Almost every farm seemed to have the telephone and electric current laid on. One was next impressed by the heavy stocking, suggesting, until the idea behind rotational grazing was grasped, that the normal carrying capacity was extraordinarily high. But even when that system was not adopted there was a large amount of subdivision.” UNIFORMITY OF HERDS. The delegation were also impressed with the uniformity of the herds. Each seemed to consist of the one type of cattle, Jerseys, Friesians, and so on. An important feature, too, was in the conservation of fodder, both in grass, hay and ensilage, for, without exception, every farm had its stack of hay or silage, or both. On one farm visited, consisting of 100 acres, the cost of superphosphate in one year was £236 18/-, or over £2 per acre. The value of the land ten years before was £5; at present the farm produces 2501 b. of butterfat per acre. The 100 acres are subdivided into 20 five-acre paddocks, each carrying 74 cows, with 42 head of young and dry stock. Sure a powerful argument for generous manuring and rotational grazing! USE OF MOWER AND HARROWS. The amount of wok done in grassland harrowing and in the use of the mower also impressed the delegation. It was unusual for them to see grass cut with a mower to prevent it from seeding, and yet there is a reason for it, and perhaps that was the greatest lesson they learnt, for grass in the leaf stage is 2i times as valuable for milk production as the same grass in the flowering stage. This is an advantage which can only be obtained by rotational grazing, which, of course, includes cutting the surplus spring growth in the leaf stage for silage.

Mr Howey, previously mentioned as a member of the delegation, is satisfied, from a thirteen months’ trial, that the 100 acres with which he has made his pioneer essay of rotational grazing by subdividing into ten paddocks, can comfortably graze throughout the year at least 60 dairy cows; whereas, under his old system, a cow to three acres was the basis. CERTIFIED SEED FROM N.Z. RECOMMENDED. This change of system by Mr Howey in establishing rotational grazing has caused him to arrive at several important deductions. One of the most important is the necessity to reconstitute the pastures in order to encourage perennial plants and discourage the annuals, at least so far as the grasses are concerned. In past years he has sown perennial rye grass seed obtained from farms which are known to possess old stands. The rye grass established on his farm has proved incapable of standing up to the strain of rotational grazing, hence resowing has been started mostly with certificated seed obtained from New Zealand.

Another deduction of importance is that the system helps to control weeds, as with rotational grazing they are unable to seed, and steadily disappear. It must be gratifying to the persons responsible for arranging these visits to find that members of the delegation have secured valuable information, which will be of untold value on their dairy farming activities.