Improved forages to enhance hill country sheep production

Recently, sheep and beef farms in New Zealand have been out-competed for prime land by dairy and horticulture farming. This means that industry targets to increase sheep and beef production have to be achieved on farms with constraints on pasture production. They are increasingly restricted to hilly and other locations with variable climates and soils, and landscape constraints on farming practices. These challenges lead to the formation of two on farm projects within the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Demonstration Farm programme to improve production from permanent pastures on sheep and beef farms. The first of these was a 4 year evaluation at Whangara Farms North of Gisborne looking at improving forage supply on both noncultivatable hill and flat to easy country through spraying out existing vegetation and oversowing or direct-drilling with white clover and plantain. The second project at Aria in the King Country concentrated on improving the forage quality and quantity at critical times of the year. Clovers and plantain were established through cultivation. Both projects showed that forage and animal production increased after the introduction of clovers and plantain. However, plantain at Whangara did not persist beyond the fourth year from sowing. Poor white clover establishment at Aria resulted in substituting red and white clover for plantain from the second year with improved forage and animal performance. At both sites the costs associated with introducing new forages was repaid within the first 2 years. Keywords: hill country development, forage species, forage quality, whole farm systems

Recurrent outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis associated with calves among students at an educational farm programme, Minnesota, 2003

Enteric illness outbreaks among middle-/high-school students in consecutive semesters of an educational farm programme were investigated with retrospective cohort studies. During the first outbreak, 31/92 (34%) interviewed students were ill. Risk factors included participating in animal science class (RR 8·1, 95% CI 1·2–55·2) and contact with calves (RR 4·2, 95% CI 1·1–16·2). Stool samples from seven students and two calves yielded Cryptosporidium parvum. Students cared for animals in street clothes and practised poor hand washing. During the second outbreak, 37/81 (46%) interviewed animal science students were ill. Risk factors included having visible manure on hands, and wearing coveralls and boots. Stool samples from seven students and eight calves yielded C. parvum. Student hand washing was still inadequate. Coveralls/boots were cleaned infrequently and removed after hand washing. These outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis resulted from calf contact and inadequate hygiene practices. The failure to adequately implement recommended interventions contributed to the second outbreak.

R&D success stories and principles to practice

Meat New Zealand invests in Research and Development (R&D) projects to increase pastoral industry profitability. It annually seeks to measure the benefit to industry by independent benefit:cost analysis on completed projects. The analysis to date shows an eight to one return for each dollar invested. The Sheep and Beef Videos have been very successful projects carried out by Meat New Zealand. These successes are outlined along with an Australian beef industry project "BeefCheque". Common threads are drawn from each of these programmes such as peer support and commitment, participatory learning, industry partnership, learning expertise and farmer ownership. Meat New Zealand has implemented these principles in other R&D investment areas and encourages other industry participants to do the same. Keywords: behaviour change, Monitor Farm Programme, motivation, groups, profitability

Effects of farm monitoring on Northland's small beef cattle farms

Results from the MRDC-ANZ monitor farm programme in the Far North (Omatua Farm Ltd) have involved the adoption or continued use of onfarm technologies such as crossbreeding, yearling mating, regrassing, supplementary feeding, subdivision, fertiliser use, stock policy evaluation and monitoring animal growth rates. These results have substantially improved farm productivity and profitability. Farm business planning has been a significant part of the monitor farm process, leading to a 12% increase in yearly beef produced off the monitor farm. Small farms like Omatua Farm Ltd make up 63% of the beef cattle and sheep farms in the Far North District Council. The potential of the farm monitor-business planning approach on these farms is to improve gross annual income by $20 000. Without improvements in productivity and profitability an increasing amount of beef cattle farm land in the area is likely to end up in an alternative land use. Keywords: business planning, farm management technologies, monitor farm, small beef cattle farms

MRDC Monitor Farms - using information

An industry survey indicated a concern that the results of existing research were not getting across to potential adopters. In response to this situation, the Meat Research and Development Council sponsored a monitor farm programme which operated on 24 farms throughout New Zealand. Key components of the programme were the monitor farmer and farm, community group, and facilitator. Factors judged critical to the success of the programme were the need for local ownership of the programme, development of quality information, and the establishment of a partnership of skills, expertise and experience. Preliminary surveys indicate a high level of farmer endorsement of the programme. Level of involvement by community group members has exceeded that set initially. Further analysis is required to identify the impact of the programme on farm business performance and the application of technology in New Zealand farm businesses.Keywords: community group, information, monitor farm, technology transfer

Setting and monitoring targets improves dairy farm performance

The process of setting targets and intensively monitoring performance on an Opotiki dairy farm improved milkfat production over one season by 6% when compared to surrounding farms. By comparing actual results with performance targets a number of constraints to improved milk production were identified. The constraint given highest priorty was the extended calving spread. Management was implemented to overcome this constraint with the result of a mean calving date 19 days earlier. This improvement was the major reason for the 6% production increase. Keywords: Comparative Farm Programme, targets, monitoring, constraints, pasture growth, utilised pasture

The control of slender thistle, Carduus pycnocephalus L. and C. tenuiflorus Curt. (Compositae), in pasture by grazing management

The effect of grazing management on slender thistle populations and botanical composition of improved pasture was studied in two field trials in southern Tasmania. Deferring grazing until winter or spring reduced slender thistle populations in both trials. The reasons underlying these observations are discussed. Spring grazing favourably altered pasture botanical composition by increasing the frequency of perennial ryegrass and subterranean clover and reducing the frequency of weed grasses. These changes arc discussed in relation to thistle control. It is suggested that deferred autumn grazing may be incorporated into the farm programme as an economical method for the control of slender thistle in pasture.

SEED PRODUCTION

MID-CANTERBURY is the centre of the main small seed growing area of New Zealand and the purpose of this paper, is to show how the growing of these seeds-in particular, the seeds of herbage species-relates to the general farm programme; what problems the seed trade is facing at present; and what might be done to improve the position. The extent to which herbage seeds contribute to the total farm income depends on a number of factors, including soil type, rainfall, nearness to markets and, last but not least, the personal preference of the farmer.