CAPACITY TO THE ACRE

Southland Times, Issue 22993, 12 September 1936, Page 14

CAPACITY TO THE ACRE

Lamb 2201 b; Wool 601 b. UNUSUAL METHOD OF ASSESSMENT The butterfat production an acre has been a usual method of assessing the value of dairying lands, but it is not often that the wool and lamb return is similarly assessed, says The Napier Telegraph. However, a farmer on 113 acres near Palmerston North is doing this on a propex-ty which has been devoted to dairying up to last year. The figures are interesting, and, incidentally, show what can be done by intensive pastoral fanning, where winter hay is provided. The farm, which is owned by Mr C. R. Best, is at present wintering 600 ewes running with Southdown rams, and 130 ewe hoggets. Last yeax- the 600 cw'cs lambed 115 per cent of lambs, and clipped lOJlb of wool. In addition to this, up to 200 “brought in” lambs were carried. The actual output of lamb was 2201 b an acre (bought lambs not included). The farm returned 601 b of wool an acre. The returns from this property, as a sheep farm, totalled almost £lO an acre for lamb and wool. Fifteen acres are lucerne, and this is cut but not grazed. Two paddocks, totalling nine acres, are in chou moellier. The farm receives 2cwt of basic slag per annum an acre. The owner has a good supply of lucexme hay, which he considers a valuable sheep food. Harrowing of moderate severity is a practice at this season of the year. The flock is kept in two mobs, and a modified form of rotational grazing is followed. It is of interest to compare these sheep returns with dairying. If the guaranteed price should return 14d per lb for butterfat u nd the farmer cleared 40/- a cow from pigs, the property would have to carry 70 cows giving an average of 2401 b fat. That is 1501 b an acre butterfat yield.