Question for New Zealand Farmers (Silver Fern Farms)?

[ollie989898]

kiwi fruit will be cheap....

 

[Global ovine]

The quickest way through a herd of sheep is to stop completely and let them go past, only feckwits try to drive through.

In most situations that would correct. But in the case of @kiwi poms photos above, no, as I have been there and done that as a young high country shepherd.
Reason; this large mob of Merino ewes (could be several thousand I'm guessing) will be moving from summer grazing to winter safe country at this time of the year. Such shifts occur seasonally in the High Country and these ewes would be from such stations as Grassmere, Flock Hill, Graigieburn or Castle Hill (if I pick the location in the photos correctly). There is no way a large clustered mob of sheep that rarely see humans on a daily basis would go past big trucks and dozens of tourists wanting to get out to photograph this "strange" event to show their friends in Shanghai.
By letting them string out over their 5 to maybe 10 kms walk and grazing their way along is the only option as the older leading ewes will know the drill. Merinos are brilliant at following a leader.
With as many tourists now as NZ's population traveling the South Island's tourist loop, it would cause a hell of a traffic jam if everyone stopped moving.

 

[Farmer Roy]

In most situations that would correct. But in the case of @kiwi poms photos above, no, as I have been there and done that as a young high country shepherd.
Reason; this large mob of Merino ewes (could be several thousand I'm guessing) will be moving from summer grazing to winter safe country at this time of the year. Such shifts occur seasonally in the High Country and these ewes would be from such stations as Grassmere, Flock Hill, Graigieburn or Castle Hill (if I pick the location in the photos correctly). There is no way a large clustered mob of sheep that rarely see humans on a daily basis would go past big trucks and dozens of tourists wanting to get out to photograph this "strange" event to show their friends in Shanghai.
By letting them string out over their 5 to maybe 10 kms walk and grazing their way along is the only option as the older leading ewes will know the drill. Merinos are brilliant at following a leader.
With as many tourists now as NZ's population traveling the South Island's tourist loop, it would cause a hell of a traffic jam if everyone stopped moving.

That's the same as mobs of cattle on our roads - just keep driving slowly through them

 

[Farmer Roy]

But then, our roads do tend to be a bit wider

 

[benferg]

In most situations that would correct. But in the case of @kiwi poms photos above, no, as I have been there and done that as a young high country shepherd.
Reason; this large mob of Merino ewes (could be several thousand I'm guessing) will be moving from summer grazing to winter safe country at this time of the year. Such shifts occur seasonally in the High Country and these ewes would be from such stations as Grassmere, Flock Hill, Graigieburn or Castle Hill (if I pick the location in the photos correctly).
stopped moving.

Know that road far too well. In between the Mt white bridge and bealey spur.

Best thing to do with stock on the road is drive slowly and keep right behind the vehicle in front. It’s always an arse when someone lets stock come in between each vehicle.

Nice looking weather in the basin!!

 

[FonterraFarmer]

In most situations that would correct. But in the case of @kiwi poms photos above, no, as I have been there and done that as a young high country shepherd.
Reason; this large mob of Merino ewes (could be several thousand I'm guessing) will be moving from summer grazing to winter safe country at this time of the year. Such shifts occur seasonally in the High Country and these ewes would be from such stations as Grassmere, Flock Hill, Graigieburn or Castle Hill (if I pick the location in the photos correctly). There is no way a large clustered mob of sheep that rarely see humans on a daily basis would go past big trucks and dozens of tourists wanting to get out to photograph this "strange" event to show their friends in Shanghai.
By letting them string out over their 5 to maybe 10 kms walk and grazing their way along is the only option as the older leading ewes will know the drill. Merinos are brilliant at following a leader.
With as many tourists now as NZ's population traveling the South Island's tourist loop, it would cause a hell of a traffic jam if everyone stopped moving.

We never see sheep or cattle on the roads up here, WRC/WDC won't let you do it, the last time I saw sheep on the road was in the Catlins a few years back

 

[Bury the Trash]

We never see sheep or cattle on the roads up here, WRC/WDC won't let you do it, the last time I saw sheep on the road was in the Catlins a few years back

do you just mean that they try to discourage it ? surely stock droving is a legal right …

 

[FonterraFarmer]

do you just mean that they try to discourage it ? surely stock droving is a legal right …

You'd think so , but no Some people get a bit upset if they get a bit of cow s**t on their car. The reality is even to cross the road it's too dangerous, car drivers in too much of a hurry to get to their destination.

 

[Bury the Trash]

You'd think so , but no Some people get a bit upset if they get a bit of cow s**t on their car. The reality is even to cross the road it's too dangerous, car drivers in too much of a hurry to get to their destination.

pretty much the same here especially with the denser ( there's 2 meanings to that word ) population we have ...

 

[exmoor dave]

pretty much the same here especially with the denser ( there's 2 meanings to that word ) population we have ...

Dads 78 and the stories of the distances him and grandad walked stock over exmoor is astonishing,
Apart from crossing a couple main roads now, we'd trailer/ lorry everywhere, despite our most frequent moves off farm only being with in a 3mile radius.

 

[stewart]

kiwi fruit will be cheap....

I hope not.

 

[stewart]

'twas wondering if you NZ guys could produce a small pamphlet on " How things are done in NZ ", which would save thousands of young farmers from Blighty travelling all the way to NZ to " See how things are done in NZ ". It would save a fortune, and cut global warming.

Many thanks.

Fairly simple really, be prepared to adapt, try new farming methods, ignore the criticism from the neighbours when you are trialing new farming systems and the gloating from them when it may not work out as you had hoped, work together collectively as a group for the greater good of the industry.
Be open minded, travelling to NZ, or anywhere for that matter experiencing different cultures broadens the mind, so would not save a fortune, it is however the best investment you could make.

 

[Bury the Trash]

I hope not.

You grow them ?


Darn clever of that bloke to rename them from Chinese gooseberries that name wouldnt have helped sell, them ....


What the easiest way to skin them without wasteing bits of flesh anyway.?..

 

[stewart]

You grow them ?


Darn clever of that bloke to rename them from Chinese gooseberries that name wouldnt have helped sell, them ....


What the easiest way to skin them without wasteing bits of flesh anyway.?..

Yes I grow them, easiest way to eat them is cut in half and scoop the flesh out with a spoon, like you would with a boiled egg.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Eat them whole, and spit the wee spider bit out

It's only a lil bit of fur

 

[Farmer Roy]

You grow them ?


Darn clever of that bloke to rename them from Chinese gooseberries that name wouldnt have helped sell, them ....


What the easiest way to skin them without wasteing bits of flesh anyway.?..

I just eat the skin . . .

 

[Bury the Trash]

Bit of Roughage .....

 

[Samcowman]

I just eat the skin . . .

You are clearly a wrongun.
Bet you open a banana from the wrong end too!!!

 

[Farmer Roy]

I also eat apple cores
my favourite part of the apple

 

[Samcowman]

I also eat apple cores
my favourite part of the apple