Should Sheep Be Run On The Dairy Farm?

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 62, Issue 5, 15 May 1941, Page 305

Should Sheep Be Run On The Dairy Farm?

Experience Shows That Cows Return Double The Money On Dairying Land

INTENSIVE fat lamb production on areas suitable for dairying has been a'trend in recent years, especially so on land either lightly encumbered or where the fixed charges are low. In order to obtain more definite in- . formation regarding the returns to be expected from this type of farming., compared with the returns from dairying, a trial of the two types of farming. was established at the Stratford Demonstration Farm in 1936.

This farm, situated on the borough boundary, has an elevation of 1,000 feet above sea level, a rainfall of, more than 60 inches, is flat to easy undulating, and is typical of the dairy farms in the district. The pastures are mainly ryegrass, cocksfoot, dogstail, and white clover, with a definite trend to Yorkshire fog, sweet vernal, and browntop.

By G. A. BLAKE,

Fields Instructor, Stratford, and Chairman of the Stratford Demonstration Farm Committee.

Farm Divided For the trial the farm was divided into two equal areas of 64 acres having the same carrying capacity, and each area'was stocked wholly with the one type of animal. In other words, sheep were put on one-half of the farm and cows on the other half, and no intermingling was allowed for the three years the trial was in progress except that dairy stock were used on the sheep section for pasture control. Because of the difference in the type of sward between pastures used solely by dairy cows and those where sheep are grazed, it was necessary to make the change-over to ewes gradually. In 1936 some 250 ewes were carried on the sheep section, and the dairy cows were used at times to help control the feed. The sward showed a marked

change in density by the end of the year. ■ In 1937, 300 ewes were grazed on the 64 acres on the daily change system, but this number was insufficient to cope with the growth of grass. Hay and ensilage were therefore made from the surplus grass, while the . dairy heifers were also grazed on a portion of the sheep section in order to control the feed. It is interesting to note that the sheep on the farm were unaffected during the facial eczema outbreak of that year, whereas other farms in close proximity were seriously affected. This is perhaps accounted for by the fact that, as there were 11 paddocks on the sheep section and the stock were shifted daily, the feed was always 11 days old. During the following year the number of ewes was increased to 351, but

again harvesting was . necessary to utilise the feed to advantage. In 1939 the ewes were again increased, this time to 407, and experience this season showed that this was about the maximum carrying capacity, as only one small paddock was harvested. Although heavier lamb losses were experienced in August of this year due to very severe weather conditions, a satisfactory percentage was nevertheless obtained. ... Three Years’ Results The results for the three years 19371939 in fat lamb production from the 64 acres are shown in the accompanying table.

The considerable tail end of lambs which could riot be fattened each season was due to. the high summer rainfall, which resulted in the pastures remaining- soft after the lambs were weaned. It was noted that lambs which were not quite ready for killing off their , mothers in . December went back in condition repeatedly when weaned, in early January if, the weather was wet. However, under these conditions the results can be considered quite satisfactory. * . The only supplementary feed necessary was a small amount of hay fed during lambing when the weather was exceptionally cold and rough. The topdressing applied to the sheep section was 2|cwt. of lime and 2-Jcwt. of super per acre each year. It was demonstrated on the farm that 400 ewes can be carried in place of 40 cows, the average number carried on the other half of the farm, or that 10 ewes replaced one cow. The trial was discussed and decided on when butterfat was Bd. to 9d. per lb. and the advisability of having more

than one string to. the bow on the dairy farm appeared to be worth investigating. Receipts With fat lambs averaging £l. per head and butterfat at Bd. per lb., the receipts from the* two sections of the farm worked out as follows. ( Ten ewes with 100 per cent, lambs averaging £ 1 per head returned £ 10, compared with the same return from one cow with a butterfat production of 3001 b. at Bd. per lb. On the one side, the wool, which has averaged 5/- per ewe, returned £2/10/- for the 10 ewes, and on the other, pigs returned

an average of £2/10/- per cow. Thus, the gross’ receipts from 10 ewes were equal to the receipts from one cow. A study of the running costs of the shed in the case of the dairy herd showed that they were offset by the replacement cost of the ewes, plus the cost of dipping and shearing. While the replacement cost in ewes is paid in cash, the herd replacement cost is accounted for by loss of carrying capacity in cows due to the keeping of yearlings and heifers on the farm. When, as at present, butterfat is 1/5 per lb., the cow producing 3001 b. of butterfat gives a return of £2l/5/-, as against only £lO to £l2 for the 10 lambs which can be fattened in her. place. ‘ v . i It would appear, therefore, that each 10 ewes which are carried on a clean and productive dairy farm mean either the replacement of one cow or a reduction in production equal to that of one cow. In fact, at present relative prices of butterfat and of lat lambs, COWS CAN RETURN JUST DOUBLE! THE

MONEY RETURNED BY EWES ON DAIRYING LAND. In other words, dairy farmers who at present run a considerable number of ewes and fatten lambs on dairying land do so at a loss of gross and eventually of net income. There is undoubtedly a saving of labour in the replacement of cows by ewes, and this is the one real advantage. The trial at Stratford was not concerned with the practice' of fattening store lambs on dairy pastures to use up surplus summer growth to advantage, nor was it concerned with the control of weeds by sheep. The only weed dealt with effectively by the sheep on their section was ragwort, which they prevented from flowering, but in any case the few scattered plants on the dairy section are always easily controlled.

Y ear. Ewes. Lambs docked. Lambs sold to December 31. Lambs not fattened. < ■ Lambs docked. Lambs sold to. December 31. Lambs not fattened. 1937 300 v 320 108 ’ . ’ ' 48 1938 - 351 381 ' 181 50 1939 • 407 ■' 396 ' 176 23

FAT LAMB PRODUCTION ON THE STRATFORD DEMONSTRATION FARM, 1936-39.