Hill country farmers believe in rotation plan
The silver lining in the drought cloud has been better winter growth on the hills than usual, say Rangiwahia (Manawatu) farming brothers Andrew and Stewart Morton.
It has meant they are able to feed in-lamb ewes and cows carrying calves better than they had feared at the beginning of winter.
‘‘It hasn’t been as cold and wet as usual, resulting in good pasture growth,’’ said Stewart Morton.
It usually doesn’t grow much in the hill country during the short days of winter.
However, it needed to grow, said both brothers, as ewes were lighter at mating and going into winter, than what they wanted.
They are about to scan ewes early in July and, according to Beef & Lamb’s Economic Service, with lower numbers of twins, and fewer young sheep (hoggets) mated, there would be about 3 million lambs fewer in the coming season.
The Mortons said it would be at least two years before many hill country farmers were able to breed replacement stock numbers to the level they were at before they were forced to sell during the big dry.
They said that, in their system, flexibility with other properties closer to Feilding allowed weaners, in-calf cows and in-calf heifers to be sent off the hills to relieve pressure.
‘‘We have had fewer frosts in the hills, perhaps three or four this year, and given the way the feed has grown over the past six weeks, we’re in a better situation than we expected,’’ said Stewart Morton.
They said they were down 22 per cent in stock units, compared to the same time last year, with 10 per cent having being sent down to their Kimbolton proper- ties, and 12 per cent not having been purchased as part of their normal stocking policy. They also had learnt from previous dry conditions in 2008, and made decisions to off-load stock early.
‘‘We did not buy in cattle. We killed aged ewes and unloaded store lambs earlier than usual,’’ said Andrew Morton. Farm advisers say farmers generally need to have more trading stock and less breeding stock on hand.
‘‘That’s already happening. It’s an emotive decision when you have to kill good breeding stock, which makes it that much harder to do,’’ said Stewart Morton.
They said being able to make decisions early and capitalise on the different strengths of the properties, helped to alleviate potential problems, adding that, perhaps one year in four, they are dealing with weather extremes, such as droughts or floods.