South Island high country farming

Authors: Scott I
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 34, Issue 4, pp 55-56, Apr 1986
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: General, Rabbit, Wildlife
Subject Terms: Biosecurity, Legal/regulation, Management, Viral, Pest/pesticides, Disease/defect, Infectious disease
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: I take strong exception to Graham Meadows' letter in the December 1985 issue (N.Z. vet. J . 33: 217), not because I claim to know the answer to the myxomatosis controversy, but because of his comments on South Island High Country farming.
Those of us who are involved in this type of enterprise are becoming used to pronouncements from urban people on what should or should not be done with our areas. People from places like Auckland make infrequent visits to mountain areas and often misinterpret what they see. We are accused of burning and otherwise exploiting our properties by people who demonstrate their inability to recognise land which has not been burnt. The high country management now practised has been greatly altered 'from past methods. Limited development of lower, wintersafe country is now possible, allowing the "fragile" higher areas to be grazed sparingly. Rabbit control has made a tremendous difference to grazing pressure, as has aerial top dressing, and more recent dramatic reduction in deer and goats on our own property has resulted in an immediate increase in regeneration, not only of native beech but other species, in spite of sheep numbers remaining constant.
I leave it to my colleagues from Central Otago to draw Dr Meadows' attention to the economics of farming merinos - perhaps with reference to the merino hogget trial at Matakanui Station, and I will not try to exclude high country farmers from the appalling economic conditions affecting all New Zealand farmers at the moment. I will however point out some aspects of it that our profession should be aware of.
This system of farming, while using large areas of land, is extremely economical in terms of environmental impact. A minimum of fertilizer, drench, insecticide, antibiotic, growth promotants etc. are needed. This means our local waterways have a eutrophocation score of 0. Our tourist potential is tremendous and our farming system perfectly compatible with a long list of outdoor recreations. Stock health would be the envy of any farmer from a facial eczema area, or one trapped in a high stocking rate to pay interest situation.
As a farmer/veterinarian of the high country I can look critically at my way of life in this conservation enlightened age and be satisfied that very few other occupations in the world can be as easily justified.

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