Table 20: Supplementary Feed Use During the 1992 Snows
| Increase in the snow | ||
| Supplement | Normal Use | year (1992) |
| (%) | ||
| Conventional bales (N) | 1740 | 73 |
| Round bales (14) | 280 | 44 |
| Silage (tonnes) | 445 | 34 |
| Grain (tonnes) | 25 | 23 |
| Nuts (tonnes) | 2 | 380 |
| Brassicas (ha) | 31 | 8 |
Useful feeds
Conventional small square hay bales were the preferred supplement for livestock during the snow (Table 21). Reasons given included ease of feeding, transportability, suitability for cattle, warm feed in snow, less wastage during feeding. In many cases it was the only feed available.
Silage was the next preferred feed being of high quality and suitable for feeding in late pregnancy. Silage reduced sleepy sickness and was found to be easily fed by some farmers. Autumn saved pasture, if accessible with a snowplough, or grown at low altitudes eg Banks Peninsula, was also considered valuable being of high quality and suitable for ewes in late pregnancy. Choumollier/kale proved useful to many farmers in that the stems protruded through the snow or became accessible earlier.
Lucerne hay and grain were also found to be good production rations and easily transportable.
Table 21: Supplements Used During the 1992 Snows
| Winter feed | Effective | Ineffective |
| feeds | feeds | |
| (% of farmers) | (% of farms) | |
| Conventional hay bales | 51 | 14 |
| Silage | 8 | 11 |
| Autumn saved pasture | 8 | 4 |
| Choukale | 7 | 4 |
| Lucerne hay | 4 | 0 |
| Grain | 4 | 20 |
| Greenfeed | 3 | 5 |
| Oaten hay | 3 | |
| Round hay bales | 2 | 6 |
| Turnips | 2 | 13 |
| Tussock | 1 | |
| Nuts | 1 | 13 |
| Haylage | 1 | 1 |
| Swedes | 1 | |
| Pea vine straw | 1 | |
| Molasses | 1 | |
| Feed blocks | 1 | 4 |
| Straw | 0 | 4 |
| Oaten hay | 0 | 4 |
| Kiwi fruit/carrots | 0 | 1 |
Ineffective feeds
More farmers experienced problems with grain than any other supplement, trampling being the major problem. Meadow hay also caused problems due to poor quality during late pregnancy and livestock not being used to it (eg Banks Peninsula). In the case of round bales some difficulty was experienced in feeding them. Turnips were of little value when covered with snow. Sheep nuts required a period of adaption as did grain otherwise deaths occurred. Greenfeed was considered to have insufficient energy for ewes in late pregnancy and was easily tramped, and as with autumn saved pasture, generally inaccessible in deep snow. Straw and oaten hay were too low in energy. Farmers clearly identified the need for a high energy type of feed (silage, balage, grain, nuts) in late pregnancy if metabolic problems are to be avoided. While hay is suitable for cattle and ewes in mid pregnancy consideration need to be given for the emergency supply of high quality feed in late pregnancy.
Purchase of stockfood
Two-thirds of farmers purchased extra stockfood during the winter of 1992. Most frequent purchases were hay 53%, nuts 19%, grain 16%, straw 5% with the balance in feed blocks, peavine straw, silage and haylage. The average amount of hay purchased was 1136 conventional bale equivalents, 15 tonnes grain, 5 tonnes of nuts and 500 - 700 bales straw.
Donated hay
Sixty three percent of farmers received donated feedstuffs, some of which were paid for. The proportion was highest on high country farms (90%) followed by Banks Peninsula (79%), plains (67%), hill country (60%) and downs (43%). Hay made up 93% of the donated feedstuffs, although there were sheepnuts, kiwi fruit/carrots and silage included as well. The mean number of donated hay bales was 400.
Storage capacity
Forty four percent of farmers intend to increase the storage capacity for supplements. Of these, 58% wanted more capacity for small conventional bales, 25% for round bales and 17% for silage.
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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