Farm management and potential production in Westland County

Abstract

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.