Survey of the use of farm management tools October 2014 Dear New Zealand Sheep Farmer In 2012 Massey University and Lincoln University, in a joint industry project, surveyed New Zealand sheep farmers to identify what management tools were used, how farmers liked to receive new scientific information and topics that required research. This 2014 survey follows-on from that survey and aims to generate additional information on the use of farm management tools. We invite all sheep farmers to fill out the enclosed survey and return it in the self-addressed pre-paid envelope. The survey should take 5 to 10 minutes to complete. You can also complete the survey online at http://www.sheepresearch.co.nz. The survey is anonymous and you do not need to provide your name or contact details. The Massey University Research team involved with this study are Professors Paul Kenyon and Steve Morris and Drs Rene Corner-Thomas and Anne Ridler. The Lincoln University Research team involved are Dr Andy Greer and Mr Chris Logan. We thank you in advance for your co-operation. Should you wish to discuss any aspect of the survey please feel free to contact: Dr Rene Corner-Thomas Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences Massey University, Private Bag 11 222 Palmerston North 4442 Phone: 06 356 9099 ext 85179 (day) Email: r.corner@massey.ac.nz How to complete your survey Please answer the questions as they are relevant to you and your farming situation. To select the response for questions which provide a series of options (see example below) please colour in the corresponding circle with blue or black pen. Example question only If you are the owner of the property you would complete question 1 like this 1. What describes your role on the farm? Owner Manager Owner/manager Livestock manager Senior shepherd Shepherd General hand Equity partner Other: Please state In addition, many questions (as in the example above) also provide a space to write additional responses if the correct option is not present.
SECTION 1 DESCRIPTION OF YOUR SHEEP ENTERPRISE 1. What describes your role on the farm? Owner Manager Owner/manager Livestock manager Senior shepherd Shepherd General hand Equity partner Other: Please state..._ 2. Please indicate your age category 20 years and under 21 to 29 year 30 to 39 years 40 to 49 years 50 to 59 years 60 years and over 3. Please indicate your gender Male Female 4. What is your highest level of education? High school National Certificate National / University Diploma University Degree University post-graduate Other: Please state... 5. What is the total area and effective area of your farm (ha)? Total area...ha Effective area... ha 6. Do you have a stud flock? No Yes 7. In 2013, what was the size of your ewe flock? Less than 300 300 to 1000 1000 to 3000 3000 to 5000 Greater than 5000 8. In 2013, what was your lambing percentage (number of lambs tailed per 100 ewes presented for breeding)? Mature ewes... Hoggets...
SECTION 2 MANAGEMENT TOOLS 9. Which of the following, if any, have you used on your farm in the last 3 years (first column) and which tools are you planning to use in the next 3 years (second column)? For those tools that you are not planning to use (the remaining 8 columns) please colour in the circle that best describes the reason for not using a tool (please choose only one reason per management tool). Reasons for not using a tool Not relevant to my situation Plan to use in next 3 years Other (please answer Q. 10) Too costly Used, no benefit - rejected It s an unwanted complication Have used in last 3 years Benefits not apparent Labour / logistics Unaware of tool Animal measurements Individual non electronic tags Individual electronic tags Weighing sale lambs Weighing ewes Condition scoring ewes Examination of ewe teeth Examination of ewe feet Examination of ewe udders Breeding values Ram mating harness Fecundity boosting vaccination Pregnancy scanning Herbage measurements Rising plate meter Sward stick Pasture probe Visual pasture cover Herbage quality test C-Dax pasture meter
Reasons for not using a tool Not relevant to my situation Plan to use in next 3 years Other (please answer Q. 10) Too costly Used, no benefit - rejected It s an unwanted complication Have used in last 3 years Benefits not apparent Labour / logistics Unaware of tool Animal health Quarantine treatment for internal parasites for external parasites for Brucellosis for Footrot Salmonella vaccination Toxoplasma vaccination Pre-lamb clostridial vaccination Campylobacter vaccination Faecal egg reduction test Faecal egg counting Facial eczema spore counts Trace element status Refugia Environmental measurements Soil moisture monitoring Soil temperature monitoring Soil fertility testing Nutrient budgeting Rainfall data Software Financial budgeting Feed budgeting Farm mapping Overseer
10. If you gave Other as the reason for not using a tool in Question 9 please state the reason 11. Are there other management tools that are not currently available that you would like to be developed? If so, please also state your reasons for suggesting the tool.
12. What farm class does the majority of your property fit into? South Island high country (class 1)... South Island hill country (class 2)... North Island hard hill country (class 3)... North Island hill country (class 4)... North Island intensive finishing farm (class 5)... South Island finishing-breeding farm (class 6)... South Island intensive finishing farm (class 7)... South Island mixed finishing farm (class 8)... Lifestyle farm / block... 13. Is there anything else you would like to add? Thank you for completing the survey. Please return the survey by mail using the reply paid envelope or mail it to: Sheep Research Survey c/o Dr Rene Corner Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences Private Bag 11 222 Massey University Palmerston North 4442 Human Ethics This project has been evaluated by peer review and judged to be low risk. Consequently it has not been reviewed by one of the Universities human ethics committees. The researchers named above are responsible for the ethical conduct of this research. If you have any concerns about the conduct of this research that you wish to raise with someone other than the researchers please contact Professor John O Neil, Director (Research Ethics), telephone 06 350 5249, e-mail humanethics@massey.ac.nz.