GRAZING PROBLEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20304, 11 July 1929, Page 3

GRAZING PROBLEMS.

CATTLE AND SHEEP

THE CARE OF PASTURES. COMBATING DETERIORATION. Mr. 0. F. Moore, of Busby Park, Kai Iwi, YVanganui, an experienced farmer, writing on the subject of grazing, strongly advocates the use of cattle in conjunction with sheep. Jle savs:— " It is absolutely necessary for the wellbeing of sheep, and especially lambs, that cattle should be carried to keep pastures in order for them. .1 say without fear of contradiction that the chief cause of land deteriorating iu New Zealand is lack of cattle. The man who thinks he can carry his sheep successfully without cattle will find he has made a very great mistake. There is no doubt that the slaughtering of day-old calves of dairy breed is responsible to a large extent for deterioration in land and sheep, although cattle of'this class arc of poor beef quality, they would serve quite well to clean up the pastures for the sheep. A few years ago thousands of steers of various ages could be purchased in Taranaki and other dairying districts, but now these are unprocurable. " There is good money 111 beef cattle now, and this will continue to be so, for there is a world-shortage of beef. Surely, then, it is good business for farmers 1o return to breeding beef cattle of good quality as soor; as possible, thus ensuring (he well-being of their sheep and at the same time making a good profit on their cattle.

" llock-salt in large lumps should be available to stock in every paddock all the year round. It is cheap and has a wonderful effect in keeping animals, in good health. I may say that we have never had any need to dose or drench our lambs.

" Deteriorated land and stock in this .Dominion will never he restored nnt 1 a fair proportion of cattle arc carried on every farm. Anyone inclined to doubt what, I -say lias only to watch how quickly weak lambs como away when placed on

a dairv farm among the cows. 1 may siy that top-dressing cannot he successfully carried on without cattle to l.cep pasi ures in order. Especially on our light hill country cattle, arc absolutely necessary to solidify the ground and break down ftsni and other undergrowth. '' I know of no two things which would contribute more toward the reclamation of the deteriorated lands of New Zealand and the restoration of our flock than fencing and judicious stocking with cattle. " Jf all the cleared sheep country worth going on within the Dominion was subdivided by good, secure fences into areas to suit the various classes of country dealt with, and the whole stocked with the right proportion of sheep and cattle, and these properly handled, the wealth of New Zealand wonlo be increased tremendously and our noxious weeds would bo practically eradicated." 11l conclusion, Mr. Moore, says:— J lie cost, of living and the cost of production in New Zealand must be substantially | reduced before real prosperity can be enjoyed, and the problem of unemployI ment solved. . "Make settlement in the backblocks more attractive, and gladden the hearts of the old pioneers by good metalled roads, thus developing the country in the right wav.