Deer Farmers Landcare Manual 2012
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE NEW ZEALAND DEER Farmers’ LANDCARE MANUAL The New Zealand Deer Farmers Landcare Manual All enquiries regarding the Manual should be addressed to: The New Zealand Deer Farmers’ Association PO Box 10-702 Wellington Phone: +64 (4) 473 4500 Email: [email protected] www.deernz.org Disclaimer This Manual has been prepared by the New Zealand Deer Farmers’ Association with assistance from others listed in the acknowledgements. While some of the content is taken by permission from other publications and the known research record, much of the information is anecdotal, as supplied by contributing New Zealand deer farmers. Any representation, statement, opinion, or advice expressed in this publication is made in good faith, but on the basis that the New Zealand Deer Farmers’ Association and Deer Industry New Zealand are not liable to any person for damage or loss which has occurred or may occur in relation to that person taking or not taking action in respect of any such representation, statement, opinion, or advice. Some activities on farm (particularly activities in waterways) may require resource consent – refer to your local regional council. © Copyright the New Zealand Deer Farmers’ Association and Deer Industry New Zealand All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or stored on any retrieval system of any nature without prior written permission of the copyright holders. Given due permission, the deer industry encourages the use of this publication in education forums and training institutions. Photographs: Amy Wills, Janet Gregory, Jacqui Wellington, Paddy Boyd, Richard Burdon, Sam Zino, Tony Pearse, Trish Smith, William Oliver. Production: Claire Grant, editorial; Landward Management, case study production; Murray Lock Graphics, graphic design; Orcus Print Solutions, printing. MISSION STATEMENT A practical landcare guide of best practice for deer farmers to assist in minimising or eliminating any adverse environment effects of deer farming and to enhance the long-term sustainability of the New Zealand deer farming industry. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to acknowledge the time and input put Stakeholders: John Cheyne, Hawkes Bay Fish & Game; in by the people who have contributed to this edition of Jim Risk, Ballance AgriNutrients; Gary Morgan and the New Zealand Deer Farmers Landcare Manual. Dave Connor, Environment Southland; Susie McKeague, Otago Regional Council; Judith Earl-Goulet, Geoff Funders: Sustainable Farming Fund (MAF), Deer Thompson, James Hoban, Environment Canterbury; Industry NZ, NZ Deer Farmers Association, NZ Landcare Dave Cameron, Greater Wellington; Malcolm Todd, Trust, Hawkes Bay Regional Council, Landcorp Farming Horizons; Don Shearman, Taranaki Regional Council; Ltd. Simon Stokes, Environment Bay of Plenty; Bala Committee: Janet Gregory, NZ Landcare Trust; Edmund Tikkisetty, Waikato Regional Council; Rob Hughes, Noonan, NZ Deer Farmers Association; Tony Pearse, Auckland Regional Council; Bob Cathcart, Northland Deer Industry New Zealand; Amy Wills, DINZ; Richard Regional Council; David Stevens, Richard McDowell, Burdon, NZDFA; Malcolm Gilbert, NZDFA; John AgResearch; Peter Weir, Ernslaw One; Gary Wolten, Patterson, Bay of Plenty Regional Council; Ian Millner, Beef + Lamb New Zealand. Hawkes Bay Regional Council. Thanks to Beef + Lamb New Zealand for use of its Land Case study farmers: Tim and Trish Smith, Landcorp, and Environment Planning tools. Mararoa Station; Richard & Sarah Burdon, Glen Dene Station; Paddy & Barbara Boyd, Haldon Station; Sam & Kiri Zino and Mark Zino, Kanuka Downs and Flaxmere; William & Karen and Mark Oliver, Waerenga Station; Brian & Jacqui Wellington, Te Awamutu Station. NEW ZEALAND DEER FARMERS’ LANDCARE MANUAL 2012 3 CONTENTS Foreword .................................................................. Nutrient loss ........................................................ Critical Source Areas (CSA) ............................. 1. Sustainable deer farming ..................................... Deer faecal management ............................... Introduction ......................................................... Silage leachate ................................................ Sustainable land management ............................ Sustainable deer farming issues ..................... 6. Waste management ............................................. Soil and water ................................................. Managing inorganic waste ................................... Nutrient loss pathways ................................... Plastic waste ................................................... Understanding deer behaviour ..................... Commercial recovery ..................................... Balancing sustainability and profit ................. Agrichemicals ....................................................... Environment Awards ...................................... Banned chemicals .......................................... Landfill ................................................................. 2. Soil protection ...................................................... Animal disposal .................................................... Pacing .................................................................. Paddock management .................................... 7. Carbon .................................................................. Stock management......................................... Carbon cycling ...................................................... Rutting stags ................................................... Carbon measuring ................................................ Newly weaned fawns ..................................... Carbon trading ..................................................... Hinds .............................................................. Carbon and New Zealand deer farms .................. Persistent bare areas ........................................... 8. Biodiversity .......................................................... Stock management......................................... Managing biodiversity on farm ............................ Camp site management ................................. Indigenous vegetation protection .................. Play site management .................................... Wetlands protection ....................................... Soil pugging .......................................................... Pest control .......................................................... Avoiding pugging ........................................... Conservation areas ............................................. Remedies for erosion damage ........................ 9. Landuse capabilities ............................................. 3. Water protection .................................................. Risk identification and assessment ...................... Wallowing ........................................................... Environmental indicators ..................................... Managing wallow areas .................................. Landuse options ................................................... Deer trough management .............................. Integrated livestock management ....................... Remedies for damage from wallows .............. Fencing waterways............................................... 10. Case studies ....................................................... Fences ............................................................ Mararoa Station (Landcorp Farming Ltd) ............. Floodgates ...................................................... Te Awamutu Station ............................................. Culverts .......................................................... Glen Dene Station ................................................ Water quality and erosion ................................... Waerenga Farm .................................................... Wetlands .............................................................. Haldon Station ..................................................... Kanuka Downs & Flaxmere .................................. 4. Shelter .................................................................. Tree choice ........................................................... 11. Managing your environment ............................. Shelter ............................................................ Land Environment Plans ...................................... Shade .............................................................. Land use capability mapping ............................... Fodder ............................................................ Nutrient budgeting .............................................. Coppicing ........................................................ Regulations .......................................................... Woodlots ....................................................... RMA ................................................................ Planting trees ....................................................... HSNO .............................................................. Tree management ................................................ Animal Code of Welfare ................................. Weed and pest control ................................... Industry codes ..................................................... Antler rubbing ...............................................