Country-Wide December 2020

Page 61

LIVESTOCK | STOCK CHECK

Godwits returning to the Manawatu where they left from six months ago.

Farming’s sustainable gains poorly marketed BY: TREVOR COOK

S

eeing emaciated godwits returning to the Manawatu river estuary after flying for nine days from Alaska was an experience to make our dilemmas, disappointments, frustrations and anger seem almost trivial. Their declining numbers are not because we do not accommodate them well here but because development along the Chinese coast is reducing their re-fuelling options on the long flight back. It is humbling to see these birds returning to the Manawatu where they left from six months ago. They are driven by an instinct. Some of our frustrations and anger etc are probably also driven by instinct, but mostly by logic and passion. These birds demonstrate the instinctive drive to survive and farmers will similarly respond to challenges to survival but with more than just instinct. It might seem like a big mountain to climb given the deafness to logic and reason of some of the decision makers to date. Not helped by the media playing puppy dog to the opinionated, but ill informed public and their guardians. Take for example the Heart Foundation recent claims.

Country-Wide

December 2020

I was surprised that there was not more reaction to the messages from the Heart Foundation linking red meat intake to heart disease. First of all, when such stuff is put before us the media take it as gospel. Is it a valid conclusion or is it a flimsy relationship? Furthermore, relating a single food entity to a disease presence is very rarely valid because of the huge number of confounding factors that can contribute to that outcome. Did it apply to lean venison as much as it did to fatty sausages? In the promotion of this claim lean red meat was sitting alongside sausages. Was it the fat that is often with red meat that does the supposed damage or something else? Take it out of your diet, shorten your life by missing out on the longevity factors known to be in red meat, but be comforted by knowing that the risk of heart disease will not be doing the damage. Perhaps those deaf decision makers need to get out on farms more and see first hand the application of best practice. That application captures water, soil, vegetation and animal health while sitting alongside profitable farming. A recent large Wairarapa field day showcased the best, demonstrating all of these and would readily meet any objective of sustainable

farming. Where is this being heralded as the way of the future and as a proven approach to successful farming? Practices based on planned grazing rotations that feed animals appropriately and keep the soil and pastures healthy. Monitored application of fertilisers to help the soils stay healthy, management programmes that support animal and people welfare. Plant biodiversity that supports soil stability and the world and care of waterways. A model delivering high quality products that is operating all over the country. Yet is often criticised by opinionated and ill informed public as damaging the environment, and at times being unkind to animals. To be marketed just as New Zealand lamb or beef is not doing it justice. What is behind it is as important as its appearance and taste. Have we marketed it on that basis enough? To not do so opens the door to labelled yet unproven management systems to take the limelight. There has been a genetics programme in our sheep and beef industries forever. It is now, at least in sheep, able to contribute significantly to the sustainability objectives referred to above. It can stand alongside those other aspects of our farming that makes it unique. I have been less than complimentary about that genetic gain in the past partly because management has such an impact on the outcomes which can dilute the role of genetics. But there are now sheep that require less inputs and get less disease as an observable and measurable outcome of the genetic selection. Facial Eczema tolerance has long been one of these which I have celebrated in the past. But the incidence of worms, flystrike, enzootic pneumonia, wastage and lameness can be significantly reduced by the use of selected rams. I think that it has taken a long time for the genetic selection for these to get enough grunt to not be overwhelmed by management. To have this genetic support accompanied by high performance in the standard production traits demonstrates a huge achievement by our sheep breeders. It may not be a comment welcomed by many farmers, but those breeders that have made genuine gain through selection are poorly rewarded. Especially when you see the price paid for Angus bulls with very little genetic data behind them.

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Articles inside

The right balance

2min
page 89

Emissions analysis beneficial

2min
page 88

Caring for their mates

6min
pages 65-71

Hemp trial leads to skincare export

1min
pages 88-89

Zoom without the gloom

3min
page 86

A whole new wilderness

4min
pages 84-85

More photos from Country-Wide

1min
pages 90-92

Selling the fine wool story

3min
page 87

Selling stock takes good relationships

4min
pages 82-83

Regional council seeks collaboration

4min
pages 80-81

Wean earlier and heavier

10min
pages 54-57

Concern over stock exclusion rules

7min
pages 78-79

Ram buying - what’s your genetic plan?

3min
pages 58-60

Looking back and forward

4min
pages 62-64

Lows and highs in a year of Covid-19

1min
page 64

Wiltshires get the nod

16min
pages 44-51

Stock Check: Farming’s sustainable gains poorly marketed

3min
page 61

Weaning for a successful tupping

4min
pages 52-53

Wool or meat – A bet each way?

7min
pages 40-43

Focusing on forages

9min
pages 34-37

Tips from top performers

5min
pages 38-39

Contracts give certainty for buyers, sellers

2min
pages 31-32

Opportunity knocks for strong wool

8min
pages 28-30

Produce products consumers want

3min
page 33

My challenge to you...

3min
pages 25-27

Going online for work and workers

1min
page 24

The meaning of being a ‘co-operative

6min
pages 22-23

Tragedy on the farm

3min
page 21

Great expectations

3min
pages 14-15

Shepherding, when I’m 64

3min
page 11

Snow hits tailing figures

3min
page 12

Chris Biddles has a few words of thanks for Winston

3min
page 10

Our time to give thanks

3min
page 13

Half-hearted on water

1min
page 8
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