AgInEd | October 19, 2020

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AginED

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FOR E FUTURIA G R R S! U E N E R P

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Volume 29 I October 19th, 2020 I email: agined@globalHQ.co.nz I www.farmersweekly.co.nz

did you know? 1 Go the AgriHQ market snapshot page

Carbon sequestration -

2 What was the South Island lamb price last week?

This is the process by which carbon dioxide is absorbed during photosynthesis, and in trees it is stored as carbon in trunks, branches, foliage, and roots.

3 How is this tracking compared to year-ago levels?

STRETCH YOURSELF:

This graph shows carbon prices in NZ dollars per tonne and Euro per tonne. Carbon prices demonstrate the ‘cost’ of carbon dioxide (CO 2)/greenhouse gas emissions. This is in an effort to put some responsibility back on those who are responsible for it/produce it. In June 2020 the carbon price began to rise. This is due to the government moving the price cap/limit from NZ$25/t to NZ$35/t.

1 Why do you think the government has lifted the price limit on carbon prices? Hint: What are they trying to achieve for the environment and why? 2 Carbon farming is a rapidly growing industry. This is leading to many farms being sold and converted to pine forests. What is your opinion on farms being sold for forestry? 3 If the number of sheep and beef farms decline, what will happen to NZ cattle and sheep numbers?

Why Pine trees? According to calculations from the Emissions Trading Scheme, in forests under 100 hectares pinus radiata (pine trees) absorbed almost

1000 tonnes of carbon over 25 years,

1 Go to www.farmersweekly.co.nz

while native forests absorbed

2 Find and watch the OnFarm Story of Dawn and Glen Bendall “You can’t help but smile” and read the article “Duck eggs hatch into growing business”.

less than 300 tonnes.

4 What other stock to Dawn and Glen carry?

3 How long has Dawn been farming ducks?

STRETCH YOURSELF:

Animal Science How does milk influence bone development?

Dairy heifers sometimes suffer fractured humerus bones during their first lactation, possibly as a result of inadequate bone development as calves. Heifers that break their shoulders have a visible weak line in their bones indicating a distinct period of inadequate bone growth has occurred. Is variation in bone growth and development related to the type and quantity of milk/milk replacer the calves drank when they were younger? The Animal Science group at Massey University are currently investigating the bone structure and strength of lambs reared on different milk/milk replacer diets, as a model for calf bone development.

Alpacas are cute but don’t be fooled Alpaca are very social, have a very strict social hierarchy and a strong need of companionship with other alpaca. The codes of animal welfare require that alpaca must always live with a companion.

1 How much land do the Bendalls have? If alpaca are hand-reared and have too much human contact when young they can lose respect for people and become dangerous to handle, this is called ‘berserk syndrome’. Alpaca have soft fleece that can be used to make clothing.

Test your knowledge! 1 What minerals in milk may be important for bone growth and development?

2 How many ducks do they keep? What do they use them for? 3 What are the benefits of duck eggs vs chicken eggs? 4 Can you buy duck eggs locally where you live? Do you think that there would be enough demand to see these in places like supermarkets in the future?

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2 Where is the humerus bone located? 3 How much milk does a cow produce per day at peak yield in her first lactation? 4 Why might producing high volumes of milk impact on bones? 5 What is the resting position of an alpaca called? 6 What is the name of baby alpaca? 7 What term is used to describe an alpaca giving birth? 8 What noise do alpacas make when they are nervous? 9 Why do Alpaca like to dust bathe? Find out the answers at https://www.facebook.com/BAnScMassey

WANT TO LEARN THE SCIENCE BEHIND ANIMAL PRODUCTION? CHECK OUT THE BACHELOR OF ANIMAL SCIENCE (www.massey.ac.nz/bansci).

5 How would you effectively market duck eggs?

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