SUMMARY
GENERAL
The snows of July and August 1992 had a severe effect on livestock, road transport, power and telephone communications. Not since 1945 had low lying areas, including Banks Peninsula received so much snow. Snow blanketed the ground from high altitude to sea level, the impact on livestock being compounded by the poor condition of livestock due to the unusually dry autumn and concurrent feed shortages. A series of follow-up snow and rain showers in September proved disastrous for recovering livestock, especially pregnant ewes and cows already weak from the difficult winter and two devastating snows.
SNOW DEPTH
The July snow (July 8-10) covered mainly inland areas and high plains. In the hills it averaged 1.0 metres (0.12-1.80) and 0.3 metres (0.05-0.75) on the plains. The coverage was relatively even with minimal drifting. Snow on Banks Peninsula was confined mainly to high altitudes.
The August snow (August 26 - 28) was accompanied by high SW winds and drifting snow. Upland areas were characterised by light snow coverings on exposed ridges and deep drifts on the lee of sheltered areas. Areas not normally subjected to snow risk (plains, Banks Peninsula and downlands) were badly affected, with drifts up to 30m on parts of Banks Peninsula and 20m in Inland Waiau. Snow drifted (1.7 - 2.4m) behind gorse hedges and low shelter on the plains burying livestock and rendering access difficult. Blizzard conditions continued for 3 - 4 days causing havoc on downland and plains farms in the middle of lambing.
The main difference between the July and August snows was not so much in mean depth of snow (approximately 0.5 m across the region) but the extent of drifting in the August snow (1.5m July vs. 4.lm August).
LIVESTOCK LOSSES
Sheep
A total of 13.2% (range 0 - 49.5%) of the survey flocks died during and after the snows, representing a mean of 480 sheep per farm. Total deaths were highest in ewes (383 per farm) followed by wethers (70 per farm) and hoggets (27 per farm) representing 15.0%, 19.2% and 3.7% of June 30 stock numbers respectively. Percentage losses were similar for the high country (14.8%), hill country (15.7%) and Banks Peninsula (15.4%) with the downs (10.9%) and plains (8.4%) being less affected. Total deaths varied from an individual farm maximum of 750 on a Banks Peninsula property to the highest farm maximum of 3788 on a high country property. Thirteen percent of the ewe losses occurred during the July snow, 47% during August and 40% after the snows. Thirty six percent of survey farmers lost lambs during the snows, averaging 604 per farm (maximum of 500 in the high country, 2000 on the hill, 2400 on Banks Peninsula, 1770 on the downs and 1000 on the plains).
Cattle
Total cattle losses on survey farms averaged 4.9% (range 0 - 26.0%) being higher in cows (8.2%) than heifers (2.7%), steers (0.3%) or wintering calves 2.8%. Total losses were highest (6.3%) in the high country (N = 20 per farm, range 0 - 76), followed by the hill country (5.0%) and Banks Peninsula (4.7%). There were only a few deaths on downs and plains farms. Sixty six percent of all cattle deaths occurred after the snows with 5% occurring in July and 28% in August.
Deer
Death rates in deer were slightly higher than cattle (7.6%) but were evenly distributed among hinds, stags and weaners. Death rates were highest on Banks Peninsula both on a percentage basis (20.2%) and numerical basis (mean 81 deer/farm; range 0 - 210). Plains farms were lowest (1.6%) with high, hill and downs farms intermediate at 3.0%, 4.2% and 4.9% respectively (N = 10, 11 and 18 deaths per farm respectively).
Location of sheep deaths
Due to the permeating nature of the August blizzards, deaths tended to be spread out on most properties and occurred at both high and low altitude lee faces in the high country and in both exposed and sheltered paddocks (behind low tree shelter and gorse hedges) on the plains. Manuka gullies, scrub gullies, river terraces became death traps as livestock were caught in drifting snow. In upland areas, deaths were reported as being lowest on exposed or NW sunny faces. The preferred location for sheep prior to a snow varied according to farm type but all except plains farmers indicated a preference for low altitude blocks with good accessibility. Plains farmers considered accessible and sheltered paddocks to be the best place to have them in spite of the losses behind shelter in the August snows.
Eighty two percent of farmers considered that their sheep breed was suitable for their country but 11% considered the Merino to be less hardy than other breeds. Perendales appeared to be the most resilient. Hill and high country sheep were in substantially better condition than plains ewes but no association between ewe condition and death rate was able to be established in the present results.
LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION LOSSES
Wool weights were estimated to be down by 0.8kg at the next shearing (range 0.4 - 1.0kg), lambing percentage down 34% (23 - 46%) calving percentage down 16% (7 - 21%) and fawning percentage down 21% (0 - 51%). Sheep were more difficult to shear and the incidence of breaks, cotted and poor coloured wool increased, especially in summer-shorn wool. Less effect was observed by farmers shearing at 8 month intervals or shearing through the break (September - October). There was an increase in the number of dry ewes the following season in spite of many ewes appearing to recover liveweight, but the majority of farmers reported lower weaning weights of lambs with ewe liveweight being affected for up to 12 months. Cows were more difficult to get in calf resulting in more dry cows and later calving.
Twenty five percent of farmers reported no major stock health problems, although increased parasitism was reported 34% and general ill-health by another 20%. Pleurisy, pneumonia, magnesium, cobalt, copper and selenium deficiencies together with macrocarpa poisoning were mentioned by a minority.
Lambing date
Almost 90% of farmers thought that lambing date was unimportant and that a snow could occur anytime.
Shearing date
Three-quarters of farmers considered their shearing date was suitable for their country but emphasised that if winter shearing, blades should be used in the high country and cover-comb in the plains. A similar proportion of farmers (68%) considered shorn ewes to survive better than woolly ewes, mainly because of increased mobility. Two to three months of wool was considered ideal but over 10 days if blade shorn or 4 weeks with a cover comb appeared satisfactory. Farmers considered that winter shearing with a normal comb was an unsound practise, some questioning the ethics of it.
Contact for Enquiries
North Island
Phil Journeaux
Manager
North Island Regions
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Private Bag 3123
Hamilton
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 7 957 8314
Fax: +64 7 957 8315
South Island
John Greer
Regional Team Leader
Natural Resources Group
MAF Policy
PO Box 20 280
Christchurch
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 3 943 1703
Fax: +64 3 943 1757
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