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Publication Open Access Lucerne species and strains(Lincoln College, 1957-03) Iversen, Christen EdwardDuring the course of a tour in 1954 I had the opportunity of observing some of the investigations being carried out with lucerne in Britain, Holland, France, United States and Canada. These observations were made because of the increasing importance of lucerne in drier districts of New Zealand. The area has roughly followed the years of the century, being approximately 20,000 acres in 1920, 32,000 acres jn 1930, 40,000 acres in 1940 and 50,000 acres in 1950. Since then, however, the area has increased to 90,000 acres in 1954. This increase has been made possible by a clearer understanding of the needs of the plant and has been made necessary by increased livestock production. A similar change has occurred in England and Wales where the former area of approximately 30,000 aeries recently rose to 112,000 acres. The increasing use of this plant in the United States has been phenomenal, the area changing from two million acres in 1900 to 10 million by 1925 and 19 million by 1952-40 per cent. of the world area. Further, they believe they have only started. If the plans of the plant breeders of Canada are achieved the change there could be even more startling. From information to hand from Spain, Palestine and Italy it appears that increased acreages of lucerne are fairly general. Why? Perhaps the two reasons given forthe increased area in New Zealand are of general application, but there is a third reason, equally important, and that is the choice of suitable strains. This reason becomes more and more important as lucerne cultivation is expanded from more suitable to less suitable environments.Publication Open Access Fertilisers, lime and farm production in New Zealand, 1900-1952(Lincoln College, 1957-05) Orchiston, Hector DouglasA quantitative analysis of some official agricultural statistics for the period 1900-1952, has established some trends in fertiliser materials imported, lime produced locally, and the major items of farm production. Pastoral production has been defined as the sum of the protein equivalents contained in wool on a greasy basis, meat on a carcase weight basis, and dairy produce at a milk-at-the-pail basis. Farm production has been defined as pastoral production plus the protein equivalents contained in cash crops.Publication Open Access Loss and damage in potatoes(Lincoln College, 1959-04) Blair, Ian DouglasThe work of this survey over three seasons has involved an inspection of a sample of Canterbury crops during the lifting period (May-June), inspection of farm consignments during grading in produce stores, and observations on aspects of transportation. The problems to be discussed are less those primarily associated with loss of production to farmers, viz., virus and other diseases that limit yield, but rather more the issues that relate to blemishes or defects in the appearance of marketed produce. Of these, certain diseases, notably scab and tuber rot (Blight) are important but, in addition, mechanical damage to a perishable commodity appears to be of particular concern during the handling of the Canterbury crop.Publication Open Access The sources of information and factors which influence farmers in adopting recommended practices in two New Zealand counties(Lincoln College, 1960-07) McMillion, Martin B.At a time when rapid advancement in the field of agriculture, as well as industry and business is taking place, it is necessary to convey information to the farmer in such a way that he will adopt recommended practices. People tend to be conservative rather than progressive in nature, making it necessary for the extension workers to understand the factors which are associated with adoption of new practices. New Zealand research groups are continually testing methods and practices which are being readily accepted by some farmers. The acceptance has been reflected in the increased agricultural efficiency in the past few years. Yet, higher standards of living and a more efficient agriculture are delayed by the slowness with which farmers accept technological improvements. The acceptance of improved farming practices is determined largely by economic considerations. When farmers are losing many sheep from an unknown disease they are quite susceptible to new information and to the use of any recommendation. As the economic importance goes down so does their willingness to accept a new practice. Adoption should follow immediately after any practice is proven to be economically sound, but there is often a considerable lapse of time between initial acquaintance and adoption of a practice and those who would benefit most are frequently the last to adopt a practice. Psychologists and educators are asking themselves why there is such a time lag between recommendation and adoption. They are interested in finding the best ways to impart information to the farmers and the factors which are associated with adoption. If extension agents know why some readily adopt a practice and why others do not, they can go about their job in a more intelligent and efficient manner. This study was designed to find the source of information used by the farmer and what effect the different sources and ·amounts of information have on the adoption rate of a certain group of recommended practices. The effect of a group of factors, such as years of education, kind of education, size of farm, and urban influences have also been studied to find their effects on adoption of farm practices.Publication Open Access Progeny testing in sheep : The inheritance of birth rate, growth rate and carcass quality in Southdowns(Lincoln College, 1952-05) McLean, J. W.The application of science to animal breeding requires the measurement of productivity and the measurement of its inheritance. The former is accomplished with relative ease; the latter, because of its nature, only with difficulty. The most accurate method of measuring the inheritance of productivity lies in the assessment of genotype by a study of the effects of random gene samples in a reasonably large number of offspring-a process known as progeny testing. This paper records some of the results of work on the progeny testing of Southdown rams carried out at Lincoln College from 1944 to 1947. The work was designed, first, to find out if heritable differences of an appreciable size could be identified by measurement of productivity and progeny testing. Second, if so, to determine the minimum number of such measurements and progeny necessary to provide a reasonably accurate system for application of the method to commercial animal breeding as it is at present organised; and third, to test the accuracy with which genotype for productivity could be assessed by other methods of selection commonly used by the breeder, such as type, pedigree and performance-in other words, to find out if the farmer who selects and pays high prices for so-called high quality sires, really gets anything better from the point of view of productivity than the farmer who pays low prices.Publication Open Access Farm management and potential production in Westland County(Lincoln College, 1954-09) McCarthy, W. O.The general standard of farm management in Westland county is only fair to average. Production on all farms could be increased by at least 50 per cent. over a five-year period, financed moreover, out of current income. Dairy farming is characterised by large total areas, but small fully-improved areas. Sharemilking is almost unknown and the majority of farms are one-man units, milking on average, 44 cows. The amounts of winter supplements saved are usually not adequate. Management is weak with regard to provision for shelter and adequate paddock water supply. Pig production is not efficient. Sheep farms are generally understocked (average carrying capacity 0.95 EE per effective acre). This partly accounts for the high average fat-lamb weight (39.8 lb.) and the high percentage of lambs fat off the mothers ( 45 per cent.). Wool is regarded as secondary to fat-lamb production, the average fleece weight being 7.7 lb. The average carrying capacity on cattle farms is one breeding cow per 20 effective acres, with a calving percentage of 92. The fully-improved and topdressed areas are extremely small and supplementary winter feeding is rare. The financial analysis of 23 farms shows that higher costs of production on the farms with smaller output are due mainly to the disproportionately heavier overhead costs caused in turn by indivisibilities of capital equipment. The data on labour inputs demonstrated the importance of centrally-situated buildings and the necessity for planning forward and integrating work. It was found that there were 248,683 acres with some potential. The likely carrying capacity could be (present figures in parenthesis): Dairy cows 26,500 (9,000), sows 1,900 ( 640), breeding ewes 54,000 ( 35, 000), breeding cows. 5,350 (3,600). However, without substantial subdivision of existing holdings it is extremely unlikely that these carrying capacities will be achieved.Publication Open Access Present and future farm production in North Canterbury(Lincoln College, 1956-06) Garrett, H. E.This investigation set outs to divide the North Canterbury area of approximately four million acres between the Rakaia River and the Conway into ten main soil groups. The details of stock and crop production for the 1952-53 season have been determined and classified for nine of the ten soil groupings and the potential for increased production after ten years determined and recorded.Publication Open Access The problem of low non-fatty solids in milk of the Christchurch milk supply area(Lincoln College, 1951-07) McLean, J. W.It is generally believed that the compositional quality of market milk, particularly from the point of view of non-fatty solids, in the South Island of New Zealand has undergone a progressive decline over the last 20 years, to the extent that it now represents a serious problem to all concerned with the market milk industry. Specific evidence of this trend, at least in Canterbury, is contained in the data published by Grigg (1947). relating to the fat and non-fatty-solids content of milk as presented for sales in Canterbury over the period 1926 to 1946. That a similar problem exists elsewhere is clear from Kay's statement (1947) of the situation in England "that there has been a slow decline in compositional quality of milk which began some years before the war and was acutely accentuated during the winter months of the war years .... " " The only reason for the existence of the milk industry is the fact that cow's milk is a valuable human foodstuff. Anything therefore causing a decrease in its nutritional value is of major importance, not only to the consumer, but also to all engaged in the industry, whether producers or distributors." (Kay, 1947.) A commendable awareness of all sections of the community in Christchurch to the seriousness of the situation led in August 1944 to a meeting of interested organisations. Represented were various producer organisations, the State Departments of Health and Agriculture, and Lincoln College. At this meeting, Lincoln College was asked to investigate the problem of the low percentage of non-fatty solids in the Christchurch milk supply area. The following is the report of that investigation.Publication Open Access Sheep farming in Waipukurau County, Hawkes Bay(Lincoln College, 1953-10) Nelson, MichaelA survey of sheep farming in Waipukurau County has been made by visiting all sheep farmers, the two freezing works, appropriate Government departments and the relevant commercial firms. An analysis was made of farm output, farm-management practices, the financial position of occupiers and changes in land ownership on the three major soil divisions. Production figures of wool, lamb, mutton, beef, store stock and crops were collected, together with farm-management practices. From these, standards of production and management were established for each soil division.Publication Open Access Faults in New Zealand wool(Lincoln College, 1955-01) Henderson, Alexander ErnestAn account is given of a survey in which the incidence and association of twelve basic wool faults were investigated. The survey covered· three breed groups: Romney and Romney Crossbred, Threequarterbred, and Halfbred and Corriedale, and more than 77,000 fleeces grown in a wide variety of locations were inspected. The data show that more than half the fleeces inspected were affected by one or a combination of faults. Descriptions are given of the faults concerned and while causes could not be precisely established, a summary of available literature enables general conclusions to be reached. Hereditary faults are found to have a low incidence, environmental faults being most numerous. Of the latter, "break" and "cotting" are most prominent. The fault "hairy tip" which has a strong hereditary basis has been found to be a marked predisposing factor in the occurrence of "cotting." This in turn leads to a high incidence of the faults dependent on wetness in the fleece. Attention is drawn to the need for definition of the role of fleece architecture in preventing deterioration of the fleece while on the sheep.Publication Open Access Variation in fleece weight and the significance of wool-price differences when culling(Lincoln College, 1953-03) Henderson, Alexander ErnestAttention is drawn to the productive significance of a consistently-occurring fall in fleece weight with increasing fineness of wool, and to the stable relationship of the price ratios for wool of different qualities. It is concluded that, providing other productive characters are not affected, there should be a selection bias towards fine-woolled sheep in the Threequarterbred, and Corriedale and Halfbred groups. In the Romney and Crossbred group, medium-woolled sheep should be discriminated against. It is further concluded that efficient selection for fleece weight must involve rejection of low producers within separate quality-groups rather than from the flock as a unitPublication Open Access Sheep breeding in New Zealand(Lincoln College, 1948-01) Stevens, P. G.Improvement in both the quantity and the quality of sheep products has attracted the attention of investigators working on the problems of inheritance in sheep during the past twenty-five years. The knowledge gained from these investigations has received only limited application in some special aspects of sheep breeding. The wider use of the information available still awaits practicable methods of application.Publication Open Access Micro-organisms and plant growth : The scope of recent soil microbiological research(Lincoln College, 1951-02) Blair, Ian DouglasEarly stages in the development of soil microbiology as a distinct branch of soil science witnessed ( 1) the association of micro-organisms with soil biochemical processes, notably nitrification, organic matter decomposition and liberation of plant nutrients; ( 2) nitrogen fixation from air, by organisms either in symbiosis with legumes or species free-living in soil; ( 3) the demonstration of mineral transformation by certain other bacteria. These pioneer developments associated with the researches of Kette, Warrington, Winogradsky and Beijerinck have been reviewed in the writings of Waksman ( 1932; 1938), Waksman and Starkey ( 1931) and Russell ( 1937).Publication Open Access Shearing ewes before lambing(Lincoln College, 1950-02) Coop, I. E.In New Zealand the shearing of ewes has always been and is still largely confined to the months of October to December. Since lambing normally takes place in August-September and weaning in January-February, this means that shearing intervenes between lambing and weaning. Naturally, within the many types of sheep farming in New Zealand there are variants of this system but as a general rule ewes are shorn in the early summer before the lambs are weaned. Many factors have led to the adoption of this standard practice, the advantages of which may be summarised briefly.Publication Open Access The merit sire test of the Corriedale Sheep Society (Incorporated.)(Lincoln College, 1949-04) Stevens, Percival GeorgeThe evolution and consolidation of the Corriedale breed of sheep in the South Island must be regarded as one of the major achievements in sheep farming in New Zealand.Publication Open Access Land utilisation on Ashley Dene Farm : survey of work done 1937 to 1946(Lincoln College., 1946-12) Bevin, R. H.The College property, Ashley Dene, consists of 878 acres, situated about seven miles South-west of the College itself. Over the last eight years, the property has been progressively developed. The purpose of this survey is to record the various changes which have taken place together with a review of the management methods which have been introduced.Publication Open Access Investigations into the production of subterranean-clover pastures on Ashley Dene, 1939-1946(Lincoln College., 1951-05) Calder, J. W.This bulletin records the production of subterranean clover pastures under different fertiliser treatments. Measurements of production were made by means of the grazing animal. The trial was carried out over the years 1939 to 1946.