AN early morning interview on ABC Radio with respected Wellington shearing contractor Hilton Barrett gave listeners an insight into the sheep and wool industry.
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Hilton discussed the hold-ups that have occurred in a wet spring and he added “our teams have 20,000 sheep ready to be shorn right now”.
He went on to talk about the increasing practice of six-monthly shearing and mentioned a figure of about 250,000 sheep that his teams are now shearing at six-monthly intervals.
Those who have been using this method know that the fertility and “do-ability”of the animals are really noticeable and so is the financial bottom line.
To utilise these ideas we must first breed a certain type of sheep.
Vigilance is key
EVERY stock manager is now being extra cautious because of the threat of virulent footrot across many districts and states.
The regular store stock sales in central NSW have been making use of the technology of Auctions Plus and flooded roads have added to the problem.
For stock that are sold by electronic means and don’t leave their owner’s yards until freighted out, their new owners should be much more confident of the health status of their purchases.
Please be extra vigilant when bringing in any new livestock.
Pull over, driver
DRIVERS of medium-sized farm trucks are surprised when they are flagged down by staff at Roads and Maritime Services pop-up checking stations on main roads and highways.
A truck with a gross vehicle mass of 4.5 tonnes or more must stop when signalled or when lights are flashing on the pop-up caravan.
Trucks of this weight drive past permanent checking stations and it’s quite a surprise to get an authoritative wave from a staffer at a pop-up facility.
Weight and see
A BOUGHT in mob of 38 heifers, average 14 months and ready to join, were individually weighed last week.
Details are interesting as they came to our district on July 1 and have only been given an odd big square of aged wheaten hay (to help control bloat).
For the 96 days involved these heifers averaged 1.28kg per day on improved pasture MO supered last autumn.
One of these heifers died of bloat and the mob averaged a bit over 350kg, with the best in the 415kg bracket.
Lots of young cattle are recording good weight gains in a top spring.
Just for laughs
AT 17, she asks: “Is he handsome?” At 21, she asks: “Is he wealthy?” At 30, she asks: “Where the devil is he?”
A real musician: hears a pretty girl singing in the shower and puts his ear to the keyhole.
He said: “I’ve been married 32 years today and I’m still in love with the same beautiful lady. If the missus ever finds out, she’ll choke me slowly.”
