HINTS TO INTENDING SHEEP-FARMERS IN NEW ZEALAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 58, 14 February 1852, Page 1 (Supplement)

HINTS TO INTENDING SHEEP-FAR-MERS IN NEW ZEALAND.

By Fred. A. Weld, Esq. [From the Now Zealand Journal.] I believe that no man who is at all acquainted with the pastoral capabilities of New Zealand will differ from me when I express my opinion, founded on the actual experience of seven years, that it is, in this respect at least, unsurpassed by any other country of similar extent. I have uniformly found this to be the opinion, not only of those whose knowledge of pastoral matters has been acquired in the country itself, but also of men who have the-further advantage of possessing an extensive experience Ajfxljhe business of stock-farming, as carried on v*in' Great Britain, and in the Australian Colonies. The peculiar advantages which justify this claim to superiority are chiefly, though not entirely, referable to equality of climate. The climate of New Zealand, though one of the most variable within certain limits, is at the same time, the most strictly temperate, both in summer and winter, of any in the world. As a natural consequence, the growth of grass is never sufficiently checked to affect seriously the condition of stock. The supply of the purest water is always unlimited. There are, of course, no prejudicial extremes of heat or cold; and it naturally results that the increase of a flock is move vapid than is usual in the neighbouring sol nies, whilst the stock are at all seasons in high and thriving condition. With regard to sheep (of which it is my present purpose more particularly to speak) this manifests itself, not only by the early age at which they are fit for the butcher, but by the length and soundness of the fibre of the wool, and the consequent weight and quality of the fleece. In New South Wales, 1% lbs. of wool is a high average yield for sheep. In New Zealand, a well-bred Merino flock on a good run will fully average 4 lbs. With regard to the quality of the staple, I have the authority of some of the first English brokers for speaking of it in the highest terms. :-f. As yet, it has not fetched prices equal to those of the first-class New South Wales wools; be- ,* cause, sheep-farming being yet in its infancy in New Zealand, the flocks are still, in most cases, of a mixed description, and the " sorting" and " getting up " of the wools has not hitherto been sufficiently attended to. Year after year, however, our wools command a higher price as these causes of depreciation are removed, and as the produce of our flocks becomes better known in the home market; whilst, even under the most disadvantageous circumstances, the extra weight of fleece gives us an advantage over our brother sheep farmers in Australia. To the influence of climate also may, at all events indirectly, be attributed the great amount of immunity from disease which is so remarkable in stock of all kinds in New Zealand. I know of no prevalent affection to which either horses or cattle are subject in those islands, whilst, with the exception of scab, sheep appear to be equally exempt from all the ailments which so often entail ruin upon their owners in the neighbouring colonies. Isolated cases of foot-rot and staggers do occasionally occur, but never to any extent I wish I could say as much for scab. The comparative humidity of the climate renders this a formidable enemy to the sheep-farmer, whilst the scarcity of labour, and various other causes incidental to a new country, often throw unforeseen obstacles in his way as he seeks to eradicate it. Yet, with proper management, though he may not at all times repose in the certainty of prevention, he may, at least under ordinary circumstances, be confident of a speedy and effectual cure,—not inexpensive, it is true, but still at a rate which would leave a fair profit upon the (/ j annual expenditure. ; * I have now briefly touched upon certain points more or less referable to climate,—viz., the constant supply of water and food, its effects on condition and growth of wool, and on the general health of the animal; but I must not omit here to allude to the physical characteristics of the pastoral parts of New Zealand. No one can have traversed the undulating downs and grassy plains so characteristic of the Middle Island, or the rich open valleys that invite the grazier in many parts of the North Island, without being struck with their fitness for stockfarming, and in many cases for that only. The Northern Island in its natural state appears to me chiefly adapted for cattle, whilst the Middle offers, in its open undulating or broken tracts of country, inexhaustible pasturage, combined

with that shelter from wind and weather, and dryness of soil, so essential to the welfare of that class of animals to which the sheep belongs. Nearly the whole of the south and east coast of that island, with the exception of the great block of the Kaikora mountain, is one vast tract of pastoral country, well-watered, and much of it comparatively easy of access. A deficiency of wood is indeed a drawback to this, the most extensive grazing district in New Zealand. Standing on any summit of the offspurs of the Kaikoras, or the inland range that runs down the centre of the island, the eye wanders over an apparently interminable waste of grass land, sometimes level, sometimes heaving in wavy outline like a sea, whilst here and there it is attracted by the gleam of rivers and streamlets, or rests on the landward peaks of snow that look down on the wide prairie. Ido not mean to say that the whole of this vast expanse of country is equally good, or that, on a nearer inspection, it would always be inviting to the eye of the English agriculturist, accustomed to the rich green and luxuriant herbage of his highly cultivated fields. The yellow seed-stems and drylooking tufts of rough grass might at first discourage him, but he would be reassured on a more attentive fixaminaiioii, by the abundance of mountain herbs ami fine grasses which it would discover. Moreover, the natural pasture is at first always thinly spread over the ground, but it loses its tufty character on being fed down and manured by pasturage. Again, much of the unoccupied grass county, especially in the Northern Island, is rough with flax, fern, and bushes ; and in other parts, where the hills and downs begin to assume the character of mountains, the wild and desolate nature of the country would almost remind you of the dictum of Dr. Bucklancl, who pronounced New Zealand to have been colonized a thousand years too soon. From this sketch it will be easily understood how difficult it is to state with any accuracy the number of sheep that a given quantity of land will support when in its natural state ; but, judging from the occupied parts of the country, I should say on an average of available districts, certainly not more than one sheep to three acres of wild land. I am aware that at one time a very different impression prevailed on this subject; but from my own experience, and that of others on full-stocked runs, I am enabled to speak confidently in this respect. It must be borne in mind that in speaking of the average quantity of land requisite to maintain a sheep, I here merely allude to wild and unimproved pasture. In no country do artificial grasses thrive and flourish more luxuriantly than in New Zealand; and by their cultivation, the capabilities of a given area of good land to maintain stock might be increased tenfold. With the greater abundance of capital and the establishment of some systematic tenure of waste lands, I have no doubt that this will ultimately be acted upon extensively and most profitably. As will easily be imagined, on no point have I been asked more questions than with regard to the probable profits of sheep-farming ; and certainly no question can possibly be more difficult to answer with any degree of accuracy. So much depends on the breed of sheep.—so much on good management and good fortune, —so much on the nature of the " run," the state of the markets (ever varying in a new country), and on the number of the stock, that it really amounts almost to an impossibility to give anything like a decided opinion or an average statement of results. And indeed it will probably remain so until the increase of stock and population, and the introduction of something like a settled system in the management of the waste lands, shall have combined to approach things to a permanent level. I might adduce numerous instances of large profits having been made bj sheep and cattle farming in New Zealand, and I should find it difficult to name many in which the result has been unfavourable, even under peculiar and disadvantageous circumstances. One thing I consider I am safe in saying, that with a flock of any magnitude, say 2,000 sheep, the wool after the first year ought in ordinary cases fully to cover the expenses, leaving the increase and the fat male stock as clear profit; whilst as the flocks increase in numbers the wool of course gives a greater proportion of profit. I believe that I am speaking within bounds when I say, that this is the case on all or most of the sheepstations I am acquainted with on the Middle Island. At this rate a better investment could scarcely be made, even taking the minimum

possible price of stock as that to be realised, I might easily, by taking any special case, show its probable profits, but by so doing I am not aware that I could convey a more useful or correct general idea than I have already done. 1 will therefore proceed to say a few words upon the amount of capital required to enter into the business of sheep-farming. I am inclined to think that a flock of 800 to 1000 breeding ewes is required to commence a self-supporting station on anything like an adequate scale. At present prices, this would represent a capital of from £750 to £900 ; but beyond the sum invested in sheep, I should advise the retention of about £300, to be expended in the necessary labour supplies, improvements, &c., and as a " rest" to fall back upon in case of casualties or unforeseen contingencies. I think that this sum, and the proceeds of two clips of wool, should carry your station over the first two years, when you would have male stock to dispose of; and as your flocks would increase faster than your expences, you would commence to make a clear cash profit, independently of that shown by the increase of your flocks. The amount of this profit would of course depend entirely on the state of the markets; and I think that in prudence a man should not calculate on higher than the minimum, or boiling-down price of about os. a head for male (wedder) stock ; though I believe that female stock will not fall below 12s. for some years to come, and may -remain much higher, whilst many causes may concur in keeping up that of wedders to the same rate in many parts of New Zealand. From what I have stated above, it appears to me that a capital of from 1000/. to 1500/. is required to make a good begi'tning in sheep-fanning; but I consider double that sum as the most favourable amount that can be invested in the formation of a sheep-station ; for on a good run, 2000 sheep can be kept with almost as little expence as 1000, whilst the increase of 2000 ewes forms a full and separate flock, thereby necessitating no waste of labour in keeping them sepaivate, A larger amount of capital than 2500?. I should hardly advise to be invested solely in sheep. The produce of 2000 ewes soon amounts to a large flock; and when prices are tending downwards it is cheaper to breed sheep than to buy them.

It must not, however, be supposed, from what I have said, that a man cannot commence sheep-farming with a less capital than that which I have indicated above. I mean that about a thousand pounds, or somewhat less, is the minimum capital with which a man, in the majority of cases, may without rashness count upon establishing a sheep-station on a secure and self supporting' footing. But at the same time I am aware that he who brings his own labour and experience into the concern, and thus materially reduces its expeuce, or who invests in sheep as an adjunct to a farm or other establishment, may of course commence with less capital and a smaller number. And again, where, as in the neighbourhood of a new settlement, the price of sheep is high, and likely to remain so for a few years, a very much smaller flock may be self supporting, and even exceedingly profitable from the moment that any of the increase can be brought into the market; but as a general rule, I should advise persons whose capital will not allow them to obtain about 800 ewes, and at the same time reserve something in hand against contingencies, rather to place their sheep with some respectable sheep-owner, paying part of their produce for their keep and care, than to risk running into difficulties by setting up a station on their own account with insufficient capital. This method has the further advantage for a young colonist, that during the period whilst his'flock is attaining the size requisite to enable him to set up on his own account, he may be living inexpensively at a station, and be employed in acquiring that experience of pastoral matters which he will need when he takes the management of his own flock.

Before I turn from this part of the subject, it may not be amiss to add a few words with regard to cattle-breeding. There is decidedly less risk in cattle than in sheep-breeding. The stock is less subject to disease, and requires far less care and expense. On the other hand, the profits are more uncertain; and lam inclined to think (even when a system of salting down shall be established) will fall somewhat short of those of sheep-farming. I am not, however, sure but that for a small capitalist, I should rather recommend cattle. Ido not approve of

mixed stations of sheep and cattle. They do not do well on the same ground ; and one or other is generally neglected. Horses, on the other hand, thrive on a sheep-station. A certain number are of course necessary, and consequently it is no extra expense to keep a few well-selected breeding mares besides the workhorses. They are little or no trouble, disease among them being almost unknown. They run at large the whole year round; and their sleek coats and high condition bear another testimony to the superiority of our climate ; but though every stock-master will take a pride in his little herd* of horses, and will find them as profitable as they are interesting and ornamental, I should be inclined to consider it speculative for a man to invest his whole capital in horse-breeding. Everything points out New Zealand as eminently adapted for that purpose •, but if the demand for horses should fall short of the supply, they cannot be boiled down like sheep, or salted like cattle, and consequently might become almost valueless at some future period, unless, indeed, the Indian market be found available as an outlet. (To be continued.)