Matching sheep and beef policies to pasture supply on Northland hill country

Authors

  • C.R. Page
  • R.D. Thomson
  • R.W. Webby

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33584/jnzg.1995.57.2152

Abstract

Farm monitoring on sheep and beef cattle farms in Northland has been in operation for the past 8 years. The emphasis has been on monitoring the performance of sheep and beef cattle farms to provide the data to encourage group members to make decisions based on objective measurements. Monitor groups were initially supported by extension and science personnel with more recent groups being operated on a commercial basis. Key biological indices such as animal numbers, weights, weight gain, meat and wool production and pasture production are monitored. Group members are encouraged to use information from the monitor farm to identify opportunities on their own farms for improvement in production and income. Significant gains have been made in production but it can take 3 to 5 years for the full benefit to be realised. Pasture production information has been v,ital to identify changes in feed supply from year to year during the monitoring programme. Farm monitoring in the future is likely to be the basis on which farmers will be able to. meet year-round supply of product based on specifications of weight, date and carcass attributes. Keywords: beef and cattle, farm monitoring, objective measurement, pasture production, sheep

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Published

1995-01-01

Issue

Section

Articles

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