Farmlands Lifestyle Guide Farmlands Co-Operative Society Limited © 2016
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An introduction to keeping animals on lifestyle farms in New Zealand, designed to optimise nutrition, wellbeing and inspire confidence to try new ventures. FAR_04523 CONTENTS CONTENTS BENEFITS OF RAISING AND CARING FOR LIVESTOCK 05 INTRODUCTION 04 HEALTH AND SAFETY 06 ALPACA AND LLAMA 08-15 BEEF 16-25 MILKING COWS 26-33 DEER 34-41 GOATS 42-49 HORSES, MULES AND DONKEYS 50-57 2 Farmlands Lifestyle Guide Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited © 2016. All rights reserved. CONTENTS POULTRY – including Chicken, Turkey and Ducks 58-69 PIGS 70-79 RABBITS 80-85 SHEEP 86-95 GENERAL SECTION 96-111 3 Farmlands Lifestyle Guide www.farmlands.co.nz INTRODUCTION Farmlands is committed to meeting been raised and fed in a manner by the need to be busy farmers at the needs of New Zealand farmers commensurate with their own weekends, cope with cold mornings and their operations, regardless of standards and beliefs. The criticism and dark evenings and become size and persuasion. that productive land is being lost to overwhelmed by the challenges non-productive lifestyle farmers can of farming. Whilst profitability may be a be countered if they in-turn become higher priority for commercial recognised as productive stewards This guide is intended to help farmers whose livelihood may be of the land, who are intertwining newcomers gain confidence and totally dependent on farming, we traditional and modern systems of increase the rewards from their understand that lifestyle and part- food production. As custodians of livestock activities. It may encourage time commercial farmers may have the land for future generations, small more experienced lifestyle farmers many other criteria on which they block owners can do every bit as to consider new species and judge the success of their farming much to safeguard the health of the systems on the route to a rewarding activities. We are fortunate in land as their commercial neighbours. and possibly holistic experience. New Zealand that small lifestyle This guide has been written by blocks are still within the economic Sales of lifestyle blocks each year commercial nutritionists, whose grasp of many, who can pursue their suggest that the lifestyle dream feed formulations effect the lives of dreams of partial self-sufficiency by turns into a bit of a nightmare for tens of thousands of animals daily putting food on the table that has too many people, who become tired throughout New Zealand. 4 Farmlands Lifestyle Guide Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited © 2016. All rights reserved. BENEFITS OF RAISING AND CARING FOR LIVESTOCK As people lead increasingly hectic and busy for their toiling parents. Even small acreages intensive systems, the ability for hens to free lives, many of us crave returning to our can be attractive to contractors for silage or range might be expected to vary their diet agricultural or pastoral roots, which until only neighbours looking to lease land but farming and allow expression of behaviour that makes a few generations ago possibly would have the land for yourself offers the potential to the consumer feel good, regardless of any been the norm. generate income solely for yourself, which changes to the flavour or nutritional value of might help to offset the costs of a more the eggs. For those that are fortunate enough Being able to produce your own food can expensive property. to be able to fulfil a lifestyle dream, small be satisfying when as consumers, we are scale farming can be hard on the back but presented with packaged foods that seems Energy deficiency is a global issue. Pasture overall good for both body and soul. far removed from the producer. Personal species have the ability to capture energy desires, which may seem like idiosyncrasies, from sunlight throughout the year and can be catered for e.g. if you like well generate organic matter provided they have marbled beef, you can take beef to higher sufficient water, minerals and are not too weights and if you want to wear a hand spun cold or hot. Ruminant animals (including jumper from your own coloured sheep or cattle and sheep) have the ability to digest alpaca, you can. pasture species, which would otherwise be poorly utilised by mammals, to produce Lifestyle blocks offer many advantages, animal protein in meat and milk, in addition including distance from neighbours and to wool, horn and hides, which are of room for the children to play. Also, those near value. Land allows lifestyle farmers to keep urban areas especially can fetch a premium grazing animals in a potentially productive over properties with a smaller footprint. environment in smaller herds or flocks, Evidence is suggesting that children raised which are more reminiscent of traditional with farm animals might be healthier and farming practices. This allows for greater the honest manual labour that a lifestyle human interaction and personal care than block often brings is likely to be beneficial might be possible on large commercial farms. Whilst high quality eggs can be produced in 5 Farmlands Lifestyle Guide www.farmlands.co.nz HEALTH AND SAFETY Farms rank as one of the most dangerous workplaces in New Zealand. Farm livestock can be big, strong and unpredictable, especially when being handled in confined spaces. Animals and their produce can be sources of disease and should be processed properly, especially with sensitive people including the very young, pregnant and elderly. Farm machinery can be dangerous and accidents happen even in the hands of experienced professionals. Courses are often available covering food preparation and storage, stock handling, quad bike riding, chainsaw use etc, which are a good opportunity for inexperienced farmers to gain some knowledge and meet like-minded individuals. Lifestyle farmers should consider the potential risk of any activity beforehand and make plans to mitigate the risks, if necessary opting to pay a professional when the task is beyond their expertise or experience. 6 Farmlands Lifestyle Guide Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited © 2016. All rights reserved. 7 Farmlands Lifestyle Guide www.farmlands.co.nz ALPACA AND LLAMA ALPACA AND LLAMA AND LLAMA ALPACA Is there room on your lifestyle block for some exquisite New World Camelids? Alpacas and llama are both members of the camelid animal family, originating from South America and domesticated for their wool (alpaca) and packing ability (llama). Alpaca and llama are friendly, intelligent, relatively low maintenance animals and are therefore a common choice for lifestyle farmers. Alpaca and llama Temperament Docile. Mature weight Alpaca 48-84kg. Llama 130-200kg. Livestock unit equivalent An adult alpaca would be equivalent to 2 LSU. Life expectancy 15-20 years. Gestation period 350 days (11-12 months) Can go a month over term if the weather is poor. Stockmanship skills required Average – limited experience required. Profitability score/income streams Potentially rewarding if selling high quality fibre/clothing or stud animals. COMMONLY USED SPECIES AVAILABLE. There are two types of Alpaca – Huacayas and Suri. The TERMS difference is in their fleece structure – the Huacayas have a Male alpaca/llama – Macho. dense, short fleece while the Suri’s fleece is a lot longer and Female alpaca/llama – Hembra. silkier. In New Zealand the most commonly kept breed is the Huacayas, with the Suri breed making up only 10% of the total Baby alpaca/llama – Cria. alpaca population. In total, New Zealand has approximately Castrated male – Wether. 20,000 registered alpacas according to the latest statistics. Unpacking – giving birth. There are two types of llamas, the Ccara and the Lanudas. The breed Ccara are favoured for work and Lanudas for fibre production. Llamas are not as popular in New Zealand compared to alpaca – with less than 2,000 registered llamas. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALPACA AND LLAMA Although closely related, llamas are physically bigger than alpaca and for this reason are better known for their use as pack animals (they can carry up to a third of their weight). Alpaca on the other hand are not physically suited for freight carriage and due to their high quality fleece they tend to be primarily kept for this property. The ears of llama are different in shape to that of an alpaca with llama having very distinctive banana shaped ears. Alpaca and llama are very similar in terms of behaviour, nutritional requirements and health and welfare needs. 9 Farmlands Lifestyle Guide www.farmlands.co.nz ALPACA AND LLAMA ALPACA FUN FACT Alpaca fibre was so valued by early South American civilisations that it was used as a form of currency. Many owners enjoy showing their alpacas. SYSTEM OPTIONS Alpaca are well known for their lavish fleece, which is However, llama do offer the versatility of also providing renowned for its softness and lustre as well as tensile packing and guarding abilities. Interestingly enough, they strength. For this reason, it is in high demand for making are used as herd protectors for grazing animals in some luxury clothing items. Alpaca fibre is also very low in lanolin countries around lambing or kidding time, as they protect the (natural grease), so therefore the fibre is believed to be newly born animals from predators such as foxes, eagles and hypoallergenic compared to other wool sources. Alpaca canines, attacking them with their front feet. fibre is also very lightweight, non-itching and non-pilling. Although they have not traditionally made an appearance on Alpaca fibre comes in a vast array of natural colours with the New Zealand dinner table, alpaca and llama meat is tasty 22 recognised colours available. Huacaya fibre has similar and nutritious – as many South American herdsmen would properties to Merino wool (but is even softer) and is ideal agree. Alpaca and llama meat is low in fat, high in protein and for knitted and woven products, while Suri fibre is straighter iron and is believed to have the lowest cholesterol level of and smoother in structure and is ideal for high end fabrics.