The true nature of nature
Released 05 Aug 2011
Bruce Wills is the President of Federated Farmers
Some 80 years ago, pioneers started experimenting with artificial insemination to improve our livestock. A big challenge they faced was how to get this time sensitive ‘product' out to farms before couriers were commonplace. Someone suggested carrier pigeons, but there were some obvious flaws. Not every pigeon makes it to the right place on time and to our native hawk or Kahu, a pigeon is ‘meals on wings'.
While times have moved on, the end result of this breeding refinement is now appearing on the nation's farms. It's the first sign of spring and some 150 days after the rams were let out in April, I'm now counting down the final four weeks. Since calving comes around 283 days after last December's mating, September is shaping up to be a busy month at my Hawke's Bay farm, Trelinnoe.
After this week's snow, we can be thankful such weather is counted in days rather than months. It's no wonder so many people grabbed their cameras including myself. The snow that greeted last week is now largely gone and while at times we find winter tough, livestock take it in their stride. I can understand why some people ask why farmers have animals giving birth in winter. What I can say is that despite the snow, there were very few stock losses. Lambing is generally staggered with the warmer parts of New Zealand lambing first and the High Country lambing last, in October. Pregnancy being what it is, some lambs come early but the plan is to have lambs and calves born into improving weather and the new season's grass growth. In other places, like the East Coast where I farm, it's a balancing act to ensure our livestock gain good condition before summer slows grass growth.
These weather conditions were natural and expected and as a colleague who got hit by last year's spring storm said to me, ‘winter in winter is fine, but winter in spring isn't'. Having fed stock in falling snow, I had no worries at all about their wellbeing and that's the same thing other farmers south of Taupo have said to me. Sheep and cattle are bred to live in the outdoors and our animals entered winter in peak condition with plenty of available feed. Thanks to the MetService, farmers had time to move vulnerable stock into sheltered paddocks and yards.
One common question asked of me is, why aren't pregnant ewes brought into barns? While some are, a University of Wisconsin study found lamb survival in barns improved only 1.5 points over those born outside in their spring. I look at it like this, the only animal that pays its way on a New Zealand farm is the one that lives and grows. As a farmer, you work really hard to ensure most that are born survive, grow and prosper. Thankfully, nowhere in New Zealand shares Wisconsin's climate; the average temperature in January, equivalent to our July, is a bone crushing -6.6 celcius. To a Wisconsin sheep, Southland, even in mid-winter, would resemble Rarotonga.
Writing in the Dominion Post, respected science writer Dave Hansford asked if we've lost our understanding of the true nature of nature. While commenting on that wayward penguin ‘Happy Feet', he pointed out what's shown on television is "crafted to tear, not tug, at our nurturing instincts". He has a point. Within a few days of settled weather, a once fragile newborn lamb or calf quickly finds its feet. Farmers work with nature and if we do it right, nature is usually our friend. bwills@fedfarm.org.nz.
