Benefits from Topdressing and Cobalt Application

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 81, Issue 1, 15 July 1950, Page 67

Benefits from Topdressing and Cobalt Application

DEVELOPMENT OF FORMER BUSH-SICK AREAS IN TAURANGA COUNTY

By

A. V. ALLO,

Instructor in Agriculture, Department of Agriculture,

Tauranga. THE casual visitor passing through the Bay of Plenty finds it hard to credit the phenomenal development that has taken place in the district over the past 20. years. The country appears to be so easy to farm that it is difficult to believe the history of hardship and disaster associated with many areas of the Tauranga County.

IN the early days of settlement pioneer farmers were greatly attracted by the easy rolling country with its mild equable climate and its ease of development, and it was not long before areas were being sown down to grass. However, it was soon found that this grass would last only a few years before starting to run out to weeds and rubbish, so that early farming in the district was characterised by short-lived pastures, which were usually followed by crops of swedes and, sometimes, on . the better country, of maize, after which the land was returned to grass. The introduction of phosphatic topdressing into the Bay of Plenty about 1914 saw a profound change in the methods of pasture management, as it was found that this kept pastures at a satisfactory level of production. Unfortunately this was not the end of the worries of many farmers in the Tauranga County. While the farmers on land west of Tauranga, along the road to Katikati and Waihi, were able to run all classes of stock successfully, many of those on the rolling country east of Tauranga and round the Te Puke district found that they still had inexplicable difficulties in running stock. Properties could carry beef cattle satisfactorily and, indeed, fatten them on the better-developed and topdressed pastures, but .they could not rear young stock. Many tried to run

sheep, with disastrous results; breeding ewes did not thrive and it was almost impossible to keep lambs after Christmas. A number of properties set up as sheep farms bankrupted their owners and the land went back to fern and scrub. ' Swing to Dairy Farming With the opening of dairy factories at the turn of the century there was a marked swing from cattle production—previously the major agricultural activity of the districtto dairy farming, but even then there was great difficulty in raising young stock, most of which had to be brought in from other districts. The problem was not to be solved for many years. Various treatments and remedies were tried, many of them falling into the “quack” category; the only one affording any measure of relief was. ferri-ammonium citrate, which, however, was unpalatable to stock and difficult to administer. Then, in 1931, it was found that certain brands of limonite fed as licks gave satisfactory results, and it was at first considered that the trouble was due to an iron deficiency. This theory ' was exploded when it was found that certain brands of limonite were ineffective in remedying “cattle sickness” or “bush sickness” as it was called. The deficiency was not of iron, but of some

element that was present in some brands of limonite and not in others. At length, as a result of research in both New Zealand and Australia, the cause of bush sickness was found in 1935 to be a deficiency of cobalt, and the way was now open to revolutionise farming practices on the bush-sick areas. No longer were farmers confined to running beef cattle and mature dairy stock, which frequently had to be run off on the healthier swamp areas. By using cobalt . either as a topdressing, as a drench, or in licks all classes of stock could be run without any trouble. It is now, of course, realised that the cobalt deficiency on much of the North Island pumice country is associated with some of the pumice ash showers. In the Tauranga County the Kaharoa ash shower, which was cobalt deficient, covered those portions of the county east of Tauranga except the swamp areas while the country west of Tauranga was mostly covered by the Waihi and Whakatane ash showers, which were not deficient in cobalt. In the early 1930’s Tauranga farmers were faced with another problem—ragwort. It started to increase rapidly over most of the county,. and though it was possible to control this weed on the smaller farms by spraying and dusting with sodium chlorate, it was found that heavily infested areas could be handled economically only with sheep. Thus the discovery that cobalt was the cure for bush sickness came at a most opportune time, because it became virtually necessary to use sheep as a means of controlling ragwort. Many hill-country properties had to change over from dairying to sheep on account of the ragwort menace, and others continued to run dairy stock on the cleaner country and sheep on the heavily ragwort-infested gullies and sidlings.

The following table shows the remarkable increase in sheep numbers in the Tauranga County over, the past few years: —

The change-over from wethers and dry ewes to breeding ewes is shown by the following figures: — In 1925 the number of dry sheep was 168 per cent, of the breeding-ewe figure; in 1945 the number of dry sheep had dropped to only 15.2 per cent, of total breeding ewes. An excellent picture of the land improvement history of Tauranga County is given in the following table:—

History of Farm in Bush-sick Area The story of the development of the Tauranga County through topdressing and cobalt can, perhaps, best be illustrated by giving the history of a farm in the bush-sick area. A farm in the Te Puke district has been selected, and the general story of its vicissitudes is fairly typical of what has happened on

numerous farms in the area. The farm is 635 acres and is situated in the Maniatutu district,-13J miles from Te Puke. The property, which is on easy rolling country, is bisected by a deep gully into which run several minor gullies which provide . excellent natural shelter. There are a few patches of undrained swamp in the valley bottoms, accounting for only a few acres. The property, which was purchased in April, 1902, for £1 ss. an acre, was ring fenced and there was also a 3-wire fence subdividing the front 250 acres of the farm. This portion of the property had been burnt in 1901 and was supposedly sown down with grass seed. Judging from results, however, only half the area had received any grass seed, the balance showing nothing but

young manuka. The remainder of the farm consisted of 150 acres of manuka up to 10ft. high and heavy fern and tutu country. The whole farm had been part of a 1200-acre property and contained no buildings. ' One of the first tasks was to build a house, which was constructed of kauri obtained from Mercury Bay.

At the time of purchase the farmer had three sons aged 12, 10, and 7, the last being the present occupier. They struck trouble right at the start when the back of the property was swept by fire, which started 6 miles away and burnt out an area of 50 square miles. Nothing could be done to develop this burnt-out area owing to the lack of finance, and it just had the effect of making later development all the more difficult. The history of this farm is divided into several well-defined periods: — 1902-1910, clearing and surface sowing. 1910-1916, ploughing up. 1916-1930, improvement by topdressing. 1930-1939, the change-over to dairying. 1939-1949, change-over from dairying to sheep farming. It is intended to describe briefly the farm operations characteristic of each phase. Clearing and Surface Sowing During the period 1902-1910 about 30 to 40 acres of the easier country were developed yearly. The fern was burnt in the late summer and the area sown with 12 to. 151 b. of grass seed per acre. The seed mixture used consisted of:— lb. Red clover .. .. 3 White clover .. .. 14 Alsike .. .. .. 1 Cocksfoot .. .. 6 Timothy . . . . J Chewings fescue .. Ito lj After the seed was sown the area was harrowed, or lightly disced to cover the seed. It is interesting to note that the clover seed was treated with red lead to protect it from birds.

When the easier fern country had been handled about 40 to 50 acres of manuka country were developed each year; Here the scrub was cut with slashers, burnt .in the early autumn, and surface sown as already described, During this time all the work was done by the farmer and his family, u , s , in ,g re e horses. By the end of 1910 to l grass These U early Pastures were marked bv a nhennmenal growth of clovers after the burn but once this t emo or ar v fertilitv was exhausted pastures rapidly deteriorated to weeds and rubbish and threw very little feed, T mnn tl . x, 1 x. --.x m 1902, before the house was built, a small orchard covering 4 - acre was planted and a plantation of wattles was sown in 1903. In the following year the main belt of pines was . planted from seed sown in 1903. The first stock'run on the farm were bought in1902 and comprised 60 head of 1- and 2-year-old cattle, nearly all Shorthorns. These had a lean winter in 1903, but survived without loss. They were wintered on the unimproved land, and, although they had access to a great deal of tutu, this plant did no harm. Indeed, in those early days some settlers claimed that tutu was the antidote to cattle sickness. During this period the general policy was to buy young cattle in the autumn and sell them as. forward stores to the fattening farmer during the following spring. No stock were reared on the property.and in general stock were on the farm under 12 months. As the area in grass increased so did the number of stock carried, until, in 1912, 180 head were wintered, or a beast to every 3 acres of grass.

Ploughing Stage The second period, from 1910 to 1916, could be termed the ploughing stage, during which the land grassed during the first stage came under the plough. By this time the tutu roots had rotted down and the regrowth of manuka and fern was still small enough to allow ploughing to be done. About 40 to 50 acres were tackled each year, of which about 10 acres were sown in maize and the balance in swedes. It was during this period that the farmer realised the advantages in providing good winter feed so that he could buy . in cattle on the cheap autumn market and sell them at a handsome profit when prices rose in the following spring. After the crop the land was summer fallowed and sown back to grass in the following autumn. By this time the pasture mixture. varied from that used during the initial development, being increased to over 181 b. of seed per acre. The standard mixture used ■ was:— lb. Cocksfoot .. '. . . . 6i Italian ryegrass ". . . . 3 Perennial ryegrass .. .. 3 Red clover .. .. . . 4 White clover .. .. .. 2/3 There were only a few small areas which were ploughed and sown directly back into grass. In those , early days maize yields varied from 20 to 40 bushels per acre according to the quality .of the land, but crops of 20 to 25 bushels were common. Even with these yields the crop provided a badly needed: addition to the farm income. •

During this period the steeper, faces were surface sown to grass while adjacent easier country was being sown down. - . ■ With all the ploughing that was required the horse team was increased to 6, for which about 10 acres of oats were grown yearly after swedes to provide chaff. ' During this period haymaking was started on a fairly large scale. In the initial stages of development first-year glass paddocks, consisting mainly of red clover, were sometimes cut, but only to a very limited extent In the second period, however, up to 40 acres were cut yearly, increasing in 1916 to 60 acres. x x , The most important development, however, was the beginning of topdressing on a limited scale, up to 10 tons of superphosphate being bought each year. Most of this fertiliser went on the hay paddocks, so that yields of hay increased, with consequent increase in the winter stock-carrying capacity. The pastures sown during this period produced reasonably well for a year or so on the built-up fertility after the grazing of the swedes and maize stalks, but, unless topdressed, they . soon • began to deteriorate to weens ana imerior grassesin marxea ™,,L and showed an outstandmg ie+2.- = the nronertv was WaS subdivided into J paddocks. It was not long before the farmer started sowing his swedes with manure, using a mixture of half superphosphate and half bonedust at the rate of 2cwt.

per acre. Later the rate of application was increased to 3cwt. per acre. In 1913 the first new grass was sown with manure (lewt. per acre each of guano and superphosphate) and the response was so marked that it became the standard practice to sow down all grass seed with manure. From 1912, with the cutting of hay, the introduction of topdressing, and the growing of winter crops, the stock policy changed from selling stock as forward stores to fattening them on the farm, so that the farmer could cash in on the spring market. Improvement by Topdressing The third period extended from 1916 to 1930. The policy of ploughing up 30 to 40 acres of the poorest pasture for swedes each year was continued and there was a steady improvement in pasture production. In 1927 the first paspalum was sown on the farm. Before this there had been considerable local prejudice against this grass, mainly because very little was known about its correct management. When the farmer changed over to dairying during the depression he greatly regretted the lack of good paspalum on the property. Because of increased stock prices during this period, there was a great reduction in the amount of maize grown, all efforts being concentrated on beef cattle production. The amount of fertiliser used increased from 12 to 15 tons in 1916 to 30 tons in 1928, nearly all being superphosphate. By this time two sons had left the farm and the management was in the hands of the youngest son. In 1928 he expanded his scale of operations considerably, increasing his manuring and grass seeding,. and buying large numbers of stock, so that when prices collapsed in ■ 1929-30 he was all the more seriously hit. The policy of cattle fattening was continued > throughout this period. There was still no breeding done, mainly on account of cattle sickness, and also because it paid the farmer better to buy in rather than to breed his own stock. No sheep were run because of the cattle sickness. The peak stocking was in 1925, when 340 head of cattle were wintered, and 300 head were wintered in 1930. This spectacular increase over the years was undoubtedly due to increased topdressing with consequent pasture improvement, better crops, and more hay. Change-over to Dairying The period from 1931-1939, which included the slump and the subsequent recovery, . was the dairying period during which there was a revolutionary change in farming operations. The collapse in stock prices forced the owner to change over to dairying, which again entailed a considerable capital outlay for dairy stock, erection of a cowshed and piggery, increased subdivision (from 9 to 20 paddocks), erection of a milker’s cottage, etc. All beef cattle were’sold in 1930 and in 1931 outside cattle were taken in for grazing while the farmer prepared to change over to dairying. He also bought 162 weaner . Jersey heifers. Whereas fattened cattle had been healthy, these heifers started to go back in condition after 6 months, in

spite of being on good pasture. The cobalt deficiency was making itself felt; 40 of the heifers died and the balance were kept alive only by sending them on to healthy swamp country. In 1932, 100 springing Friesian heifers were bought in the autumn and milked in the following spring. A few calves were reared satisfactorily, because this was the first year limonite had been used on the property. Cow numbers had increased to 150 by 1934, from which time all replacements were reared on the farm. Limonite was used regularly and no trouble was experienced in. rearing calves. The maximum dairy production was obtained in 1936, when 31,0001 b. of butterfat were produced from 150 cows. Little or no cropping was done for the cows, but 30 acres of silage and 50 acres of hay were made yearly. Topdressing was curtailed during the early stages of this period. No fertiliser went on the farm from 1930 to 1933, in which year a limited area was topdressed. By 1935, 30 tons of superphosphate'were being used each year, while lime was being applied yearly, 15 tons being used at the rate of 3cwt. per acre. During this period there was also a large-scale venture into pigs. The size of the property gave ample room for a good pig layout, arid the need to utilise fully the supplies of separated milk encouraged the farmer to exploit pigs to the .utmost. Every year about 12 acres of maize and kumikumis were grown for pig food and up to 200 stores were wintered.

It was during this period that rag wort started to assume menacing pro portions and soon became an increasing problem requiring many daysspent each year on spraying and dust ing. Even so the property was so large and had so many gullies and sidling. l that complete control was virtually impossible. At the same time the rabbits became a serious pest, on several occasions over 60 being shot in less than 2 hours on the front of the property alone. They were far thicker at the back of the farm. The drastic change from cattle to dairying coupled with the lack of topdressing during the slump period, and the invasion of ragwort and rabbits resulted in a serious deterioration in the pastures, especially on the back of the farm. The only paddocks which maintained a good sward, were the night paddocks and those which received the limited amount of fertiliser used between 1933 and 1935. With the rise in farm produce prices from 1934 onward, the amount of topdressing used increased to a maximum of 40 tons in 1939, and the back paddocks started to pick up a little. Even so the leeway of the depression was never fully overtaken and with the outbreak of war in 1939 many of the back paddocks were still poor. In 1937 the farmer realised that he would have to carry sheep or the ragwort would drive him off the property, and in 1938 he purchased 300 breeding ewes. In a few weeks these had been reduced to 140 through an outbreak of facial eczema. .

It was in this period that cobalt was introduced as a cure for cattle sickness. Limonite was first used on this property in licks in 1932 and cobalt in 1935 as a lick and later in the topdressing. From the time it first came on to the market the farmer has used nothing but cobaltised fertiliser. Change from Dairying to Sheep • Farming ' The fifth period, from 1939 to 1949, includes the war years, during which the change-over from dairying to sheep was made. Because of fertiliser rationing the amount of fertiliser used over the war years was cut down to 11 tons yearly and the pastures at the back of the farm deteriorated still further. The last crop grown was 12 acres of maize in 1940 for pig food, and the grass-seed mixture sown after this crop (all Certified seed when available) was: — lb. Perennial ryegrass . . .. 8 Italian ryegrass . . .. 8 Paspalum .. .. .. 7 Cocksfoot .. .. .. 3 Red clover .. .. .. 5 • White clover .. .. .. 2 Subterranean clover .„ i In 1942 a rabbit board was set up in the area and the operations of this board have brought the rabbit pest completely under control. In 1940 the herd was gradually changed over to Jerseys, Jersey bulls being used, Friesian heifers being sold, .and Jerseys bought. This change-over continued until the herd consisted finally of all Jerseys.. In 1939 to deal with the ragwort problem 400 6-year-old ewes were bought and the herd was cut down to 120 cows. The ewes were grazed on land topdressed with cobalt and were drenched with cobalt and did well. They had 414 lambs of which 380 were sold fat off the mothers, and 101 b. of wool per ewe was produced. , From this time sheep numbers were increased by 300 yearly to 1200 and the herd correspondingly reduced to 70 z cows in 1944. This stocking was maintained until 1947. The herd averaged 15,0001 b. of butterfat and the lambing percentage was 102, 70 per cent, of the lambs being sold fat off the mothers. In 1947 the herd was sold and sheep numbers increased to 1850 ewes. With the introduction of sheep the ragwort was soon brought under control and today the weed is well in check. The increase in sheep numbers from 1200 to 1850 was made up of bought-in 2-tooth ewes. The policy now is to

buy in about 450 2-tooth ewes and sell the same number of ageing ewes, mostly fat. The fertiliser usage increased to 45 tons in 1949, and with fertiliser rationing removed the programme includes the use of 60 tons of serpentine superphosphate yearly, half of it cobaltised. Since serpentine superphosphate came on to . the market it has been used on this property and the farmer is well satisfied with the results he has had from it. . Present Position Today the farm consists of 20 paddocks, all sheep-proof fenced. Most of the posts on the farm are concrete and this property was one of the first in the district to have concrete posts used in a fenceline. This was in 1920 and posts made at that time are still in excellent condition. All the paddocks . are watered, those at the front with troughs and those at the back by streams. Pastures still show a great variation from the front to the back, of the farm. The better paddocks contain ryegrass, white clover, red clover, and paspalum as the dominant species, while at the back pastures consist of ryegrass, crested dogstail, subterranean clover, a little cocksfoot, ratstail, hairgrass, danthonia, and flat weeds. A sledge track to the back of the property, which was constructed in 1903, has been bulldozed into a road to allow truck access. The grazing management is based upon the principles of rotational grazing. Last year set stocking of ewes was attempted, but they did not thrive and the practice was discontinued. This season they are being rotationally, grazed for the greater part of the year, paddocks being spelled and grazed for equal periods, and cattle are being used to clean up any rough growth. As lambing time approaches in August the ewes are broken up into mobs of 200 to 300 and put into paddocks where they are left until the bulk of the lambs are 2to 3 weeks old. The mobs are then bulked up and rotationally grazed, any late lambs being kept with their mothers in a separate mob and put on to the best feed available. About 60 per cent, of the lambs are fattened off the mothers, the balance usually being sold as stores in midJanuary. All replacements are bought in. At first 5- and 6-year-old crossbred ewes were bought yearly, but now 500 2-tooth ewes are bought yearly from the east coast. Southdown rams are used. The farmer hopes to be able to plough up one of the poorer pastures at the back of the farm each year and resow into grass, and an attempt will be made to renovate other paddocks

with better species of grasses and clovers. Twenty acres of meadow hay are cut yearly, plus 12 acres of lucerne sown down in 1941 and giving five cuts annually. Hay is fed to cattle only and is all stacked. In 1947 no beef cattle were kept to control pastures, the farmer running 75 dairy heifers. This was ‘not a success as far as pasture control was . concerned. Once they were disposed of the farmer stocked up with run cattle, and today the property is carrying 1600 breeding ewes, 200 bought-in wethers, 40 Southdown rams, 50 Polled Angus breeding cows, 45 in-calf Polled Angus heifers, 35 Polled Angus weaner calves, 10 other cattle including house cows and bulls, 2 working horses, and 3 hacks. . ■ The farmer aims to breed his own run cattle, running 100 breeding cows and selling the surplus stock as required, to keep the balance of grazing right for the sheep. Last year the farm production was 1751 lambs of which 1000 were sold fat off the mothers, 510 as good autumn stores, and 160 kept on the farm and sold as early winter stores. The balance were kept on the farm as hoggets. Wool production averaged 8-glb. per ewe and no cattle were sold. Today the pastures are building up again, the ragwort is under control, and the rabbit menace has been removed by the action of the rabbit board. Rise in Sheep Numbers The spectacular rise in sheep numbers already quoted is sufficient to indicate the big swing there has been over to sheep in the Tauranga County, and many of these sheep are grazing on country which 20 years ago was impossible for sheep production. The table at the bottom of this page will illustrate the increase in the carrying capacity of the property over the years. (An attempt has been made to convert the various classes of stock into terms of stock units where 1 stock unit equals 1 dairy cow producing about 2001 b. of fat in a season.) The factors used in conversion have been worked roughly from feeding standards; the figures are approximate only, but give a reasonable picture of the productive progress of the farm. There is an excellent range of buildings on, the farm including woolshed and sheepyards, dairy shed, and piggeries. A spray dip is being installed. There is the usual range of haymaking equipment, topdresser, harrows, etc., all work on the farm being done with horses and the farm truck. Labour on the farm consists of the farmer and his son and a hired man. The history of this farm epitomises productive trends over much of Tauranga County during the past 40 or 50 years and illustrates the parts played by topdressing, cobalt, and Certified seeds in the upward trend of primary production.,

Sheep grazing on Pongakawa country.

Breeding Total Year ewes sheep . 1925 .. .. 5,919 18,109 1935 .. 30,117 40,642 1940 .. 66,934 90,992 - 1945.. .. 132,850 185,707

Area Area improved Area occupied Total (cultivated) Total topdressed *Total Area improved occupied (cuitivatet Total Area i) topdressed Total *Total Year (acres) (acres) (acres) cattle dairy cows . sheep 1901 N.A. 55,963 14,596 3,034 5,655 906 N.A. 78,554 19,504 3,987 3,476 1911 N.A. 99,21 1 27,926 8,246 7,324 1916 209,693 1 17,366 32,341 8,637 12,852 1921 .. 263,355 (32,505 43,884 . 15,094 1 1,433 1926 276,607 130,908 ' 148,065 - 50,987 25,445 15,657 1931 280,292 153,072 75,493 73,935 39,350 29,757 1936 281,236 156,260 80,562 83,385 54,506 56,321 1941 282,414 167,021 111,336 96,884 56,310 121,705 1946 287,576 177,786 89,334 99,425 54,381 N.A. 1948 290,520 184,017 113,637 101,790 101,790 55,694 55,694 215.154 215,154 ❖ As As at April 30. t 1927 first , first year of enumeration. N.A. Not available. available.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS FOR TAURANGA COUNTY

Year Stock carried — Stock units (902 60 stores wintered 40 I 912 180 stores wintered 120 1930 300 stores wintered and fattened and fattened 240 240 1934 150 dairy cows plus replacements replacements 180 180 1938 (50 dairy cows plus replacements, replacements, 300 300 breeding ewes .. ewes .. 230 230 1 940 (20 dairy cows plus replacements, replacements, 500 500 breeding ewes '.. ewes 230 230 1944 70 dairy dairy cows plus cows plus replacements, 1200 breeding ewes .. breeding 285 ewes .. 285 1947 75 dairy dairy heifers, 1850 breeding heifers, 1850 breeding ewes .. .... ewes ' 360 360 1949 60 mature cattle, 1850 breeding ewes, 45 heifers, 35 , 45 heifers, 35 calves 395

CHANGES IN STOCK ON TE PUKE FARM