Volume 113 I July 11th, 2022 I email: agined@globalHQ.co.nz I www.farmersweekly.co.nz/agined Are you a parent or teacher and want to receive AginED every week directly to your email inbox? Send us an email to sign up at agined@globalhq.co.nz
HELLO ADVENTURERS! Firearms and looking out for your mates while you stay safe!
HOW TO ASSESS A BEEF BULL FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION
Rule # 5
NORTH ISLAND LAMB KILL (thousand head)
When you are out hunting or even doing some target shooting it can be easy to forget to look at your surroundings. It is especially important to stop and think about what else is going on around you - there may be houses on the other side of your target, domestic animals, your hunting buddy or a road what else could be there if you miss your target?
This graph shows the North Island lamb processing statistics Head to https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ykjbFYUbIuc to watch Jason Archer from beef+lamb NZ genetics and Bill Austin discuss what you should be looking for when selecting a beef bull for commercial production. 1
You can underestimate the distance a bullet travels once you have pulled the trigger and so it is essential you are aware of where your mates are at and what else is around, remembering once you pull that trigger you can’t take it back. Send in what Rule # 5 is and the information that keeps you and your hunting friends safe. PLUS a personal account of how you use rule # 5 to stay safe and how far the bullet from your rifle can travel through to agined@globalhq.co.nz We will put you in the draw to WIN a brand new pair of Burris binoculars valued at over $600 thanks to Anna and James from Rivers to Ranges in Rangiora! Next time we will cover Rule # 6. Each time you send in your answers it gives you a higher chance of winning - there are only 2 more chances after this to enter! Good luck and happy hunting! Harriet :)
Harriet
Jason and Bill discuss bulls “phenotype”. What does this term mean?
2 Bill recommends focusing on traits that are either going to make you money or cost you money. Can you give an example of a bull trait that could make you money and also one that is likely to cost you?
In recent times there has been increased interest in alternative proteins and also some debate about whether we should be eating less meat in our diets, both for dietary reasons but also some purport an environmental slant to reducing meat consumption. A student of a school in the United Kingdom has caught some attention
In what month was this year's lamb kill at its lowest level?
2 In what month/year on this graph were processing numbers at their highest level? 3 In what month/year on this graph were processing numbers at their lowest level?
STRETCH YOURSELF: 1
For several weeks recently lamb processing numbers have been higher than last year's levels and some of the five-year averages. Why do you think this is?
2 What factors kept kill levels so far below usual levels in March? 3 Do you think that numbers will track above or below usual levels from June through to September? Why do you think this?
FILL YA BOOTS
3 Jason and Bill talk about EBV’s. What does EBV stand for? 4 Can you give an explanation of temperament scoring from 1 through to 5 based on Bill's examples? 5 For the remainder of traits, what is the ideal score? 6 Why would a bull that overtracks slightly be preferable to those that don’t track up at all? (Tracking up meaning that the back foot tracks in the print of the front foot, overtracking goes beyond this). 7 What are the three most important traits to remember when looking at bulls?
CHALLENGING PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS Teenager fights back after school looks to reduce meat consumption
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after she flipped the script when it was suggested by her school that they should be eating less meat to help the environment. When it was suggested in Elsie-May Dansy’s class that the students should eat less meat to help the environment she decided to research whether there was actually any environmental benefit to reducing meat consumption. To read more on her research head to https://www.fginsight. com/vip/vip/videoteenager-fights-backafter-school-looksto-reduce-meat-consumption128687?fbclid=IwAR1Yp3k6s-Klmdr xGSF0DliZ4bjRKSZ7cDmlUZ0Hfx8Is uv82VyAm _ nFg28
1. How did Elsie-May design her research? 2. What are the two meals that she compared?
ELECTRIC FARM VEHICLES, FAD OR FUTURE? Loxley Innovations, founded by Duncan Aitken is a Christchurch-based company looking to create and produce electric tractors. With the current push for electric vehicles throughout NZ it is not surprising to see development of industrial equipment using similar technology. This is what Loxley Innovations are currently doing. Follow this link to read the full article: https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/ adding-value-through-energy/
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According to this article how many tonnes of carbon is produced annually by agricultural equipment?
2 What did Duncan first convert to electricity?
3. What were some of the aspects that she used as comparisons to show environmental benefits or drawbacks?
3 How important is the idea of being able to use the energy created to power the likes of households, appliances, farm infrastructure and even possibly create power for the national grid?
4. What was the key message that Elsie-May took from her research
4 How long has it taken Duncan to get to this point?
5. Do you think about the environmental impact of the foods you consume? 6. Do you think that the environmental impact of our food will become more or less important for most people in the near future? Why or why not?
5 Why do you think that currently the electric tractors max out at 60hp? Do some research, what would be needed to make larger electric hp tractors? Do you think this is possible? If so, how do you think these would stack up against current hp comparable tractor models?