Beef + Lamb NZ: Beef-focused field day to look at 'M. bovis', soils

Tom Fraser

Beef production is the focus of a field day on Banks Peninsula later this month.

Beef and Lamb New Zealand (BLNZ) will be hosting the field day at Willesden Farm, on the Christchurch-Akaroa road, on Tuesday, October 30.

Facilitator Dr Tom Fraser said Willesden was a large, diverse beef, sheep and cropping property which encompassed a range of land classes from hill country to irrigated flats.

The main stock class was cattle, with 1500 Angus and Angus-cross cows and 2500 finishing cattle, as well as winter dairy grazing, a 5000 ewe flock with all lambs finished and 2000 ''winter trade lambs purchased and finished on contract''.

Crops grown included radish, Chinese cabbage for seed, fodder beet and maize.

Willesden was also undertaking a 1000ha irrigation development programme on Birdlings Flat Spit, near Lake Ellesmere.

''There is a wide range of soil types present in this area that generates a number of problems, but it has also generated a lot of opportunities,'' Dr Fraser said.

He said there would be lessons from Willesden Farm's recent Mycoplasma bovis experience.

''The property has now been declared clean by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI), but the procedures the farm has had to go through will make for some very interesting discussion.''

Dr Fraser said Emil Murphy, from MPI, would be present to provide an update on the outbreak and efforts to eradicate the disease.

''There will be biosecurity measures in place to make sure people and vehicles are safe from any potential risks on arrival and departure.''

Max Tweedie, from BLNZ Genetics, will lead a discussion on ''the genetics of sound cattle'', including how structural soundness impacts on production and profitability.

The field day gets under way at 1.30pm and finishes with a barbecue at 5.30pm.

Registration is not required. For further information contact Tom Fraser by phone on 021122-0356 or via email at fraserpastoral@xtra.co.nz.

-By David Hill

Central Rural Life