Hill-country Fanning

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 132, 5 June 1937, Page 9

Hill-country Fanning

PRODUCTION OF HIGH QUALITY EWES KEY OF SHEEP INDUSTRY “For any man holding land, it is his duty not only for his own prosperity, but for that of the State, to leave the fertility of his land not lower when he leaves it than when he took it over.” This was the opinion of Mr. A. C. Morton, sheep-farm manager at Massey College, when addressing the annual gathering of sheep farmers yesterday on the subject of hill country sheep farming. Tho production of high standard ewes and stiff retain the fertility of hill country was a problem that had to bs tackled. The key to the sheep-farming industry was held by the hill-country farmer who had to raise sheep not only for his own purposes but for the requirements of the flat-land farmers. Mr. Morton confined his address largely to the Taihape-Mangaweka district, the altitude of which was generally high. Across the whole area, which was generally papa country, was a centre ridge running across it. The whole of it had been sown in cocksfoot and rye-grass, but above a strata of sandstone where tho soil was of much lower fertility, these had gone out, letting danthoria and brown top in to be dominant within a short tinle. The climate was rigorous aud the rainfall was well spread, the average for 24 years being 45 inches annually. This area could be classified as first-class hill country, the holdings ranging from 700 to 1000 acres. Blazing the Trail. Speaking of breaking in this country the speaker paid tribute to the work carried out by the pioneers. It was covered with heavy bush which involved high felling costs. For several years the early settlers had to slog for very little returns. It had to be remembered that tho pioneers had no precedent. Breaking in country to-day settlers would have the experience of others to work upon. Methods of stocking and tho use of seed would undoubtedly be carried out on quite different lines. The early settlers were given very little inducement to run cattle owing to there being no market available. The speaker said he could remember three-year steers selling for 22s Cd a head. The early clearings were wonderfully fertile, giving remarkable growth of grass, but stock was difficult to obtain. Californian thistle came and also took charge, it being a heavy drain on the settlers to keep it cut. To-day this thistle had to a great extent disappeared. Tho “take” of grass was affected by tho thistle with the result that bidi bidi got in on all bare patches. In the main sheep and cattle farming wore carried on, the country being very suitable for the Romney. Mr. Morton anticipated that in tho near future some of the finest Romney wool produced in New Zealand would be raised from this district. The Lamb Problem. One of tho problems confronting the farmers in htis district as in other areas in New Zealand was the lamb problem. There was an average of 95 to 100 per cent, of lambing but as in other districts there were too many not up to a standard. The problem now was how to raise the standard of the 50 per cent, which did not reach the requirements. It was obvious that care in raising ewe iambs from infancy was of paramount importance. For the raising of hoggets the best paddocks only should be used. Control should be by means of dry cattle and they allow it to sweeten up. The adoption of this method would go a long way toward the successful rearing of the hoggets. Keeping tho stalk off the pasture until after the new year was desirable. If the farmer had. a lot of rough growth for the winter he would have a lot of unpalatable feed to deal with. Ewe lambs should be maintained in a condition so that they could be frozen. They would then come through the winter in .good order and grow into splendid two-tooths without having their constitution undermined. An important feature was to keep pastures evenly grazed so that ewes would not be left with dry old growth which -was less nutritious and unpalatable. The short feed was more frost proof with the result that it was of much greater feed value than feed that had been left uncontrolled. Clover was all through the district and it had beeu brought on by top-dressing. If carried on, ~xr. Morton said it would be very profitable. Control by Cattle. It was necessary that the pastures should be controlled by cattle, the best sorts for the purpose being young bullocks. These, however, were difficult to obtain and tho control would fall, to a great extent, upon tho breeding herds which were not so advantageous for this purpose. Much depended upon the hill-country farmer for the carrying on of tho fat lamb trade. It was necessary that he should raise ewes of such a standard that would stand tho fat lamb farmer in good stead for at least two seasons. The speaker concluded by stating that tho whole of the sheep raising industry depended largely upon the hill country and the arresting of the deterioration that was taking place in the soil was of vital importance. Work should be undertaken to show how hill country could be held and brought back to production. It was necessary to be able to farm at such a profit that the farmer would be able to put back a considerable portion of it into his farm again—a practice which had rarely been carried out hitherto.

Mr. Mortou was accorded a voto of thanks for his address.