GORSE AS PASTURAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21861, 25 July 1934, Page 12

GORSE AS PASTURAGE

EXPERIENCE IN NELSON THREE SHEEP TO THE ACRE Over throe sheep to the acre during the past season, one of the driest recorded for a number of years, is tho achievement of a Nelson farmer in connection with gorse-grazing on poor dry hill country. Ordinarily the class of country under grass where this result was achieved is estimated to carry not more than ono sheep to the acre. The result, it is claimed, bears out a statement made to farmers by Dr. D. L. Freeman during a tour of inspection of district pastures last spring. He said that the prudent management of gorse in poor, dry hill-land where it is neither economical to create bettor pasture nor to fertilise that which is already in existence would result in the land's carrying a very much larger flock, a correspondingly larger number of lambs each season, a larger numbor of carcases of mutton, a larger wool clip, and generally in an enormous increase from tho business of sheepfarming. In the caso cited, where over three times tho numbor of sdieep are grazed, the returns would bo in the vicinity of treble as compared to those from land under poor native pasture. Ono fact that should not be overlooked is that if gorse is neglected it is useless as food for sheep. Tho plant should bo so managed as to ensure its being ( maintained as a close cushion, producing an abundant growth of tender and nutritious shoots. Tho sheep are at present on turnips, and it is tho farmer's intention to return them to the gorse again about September. Last season the lambing average of tho ewes was 80 per cent. Another Nelson farmer advises that ho has a small flock of ewes on gorse. This flock, which is regarded us very much larger than it would, bo if tho land were under usual native pasture, produced over 00 per cent of lambs last season, and 75 per cent of these were sold fat from the ewes and were sent direct to tho freezing works. Tho first draft, which totalled about one-third of the lamb flock, was sold before tho Christmas season and the last during February.

The use of young gorse as food.for sheep is not altogether a new idea in the Nelson district. At least 0110 farmer there adopted it on a small scale as faxback as about half a century ago.