Livestock Production in New Zealand Revised Edition

7 Introduction Natalia Martín and Nicholas Sneddon 13 1. Dairy Production Penny Back and Nicholas Sneddon 14 Introduction 18 Glossary 19 A brief history of the dairy industry 21 Production systems in the dairy industry 28 The ‘average’ New Zealand dairy farm 30 Calendar of dairy farming operations 38 Dairy operating structures 39 Feeding 42 Body condition score 43 Breeding and genetics 48 Animal health 50 Environmental considerations 53 Animal welfare 53 Conclusion 57 2. Beef Cattle Production Steve Morris and Natalia Martín 58 Introduction 60 The New Zealand beef industry 62 A brief history of beef production 70 Calendar of beef farming operations 72 Genetic improvement 75 Nutrition 75 Beef finishing systems 76 Disease 80 Environmental considerations 81 Animal welfare 82 Conclusion 85 3. Sheep Production Lydia Cranston, Rene Corner-Thomas, Anne Ridler, Paul Kenyon and Andy Greer 86 Introduction 88 The New Zealand sheep industry 90 Glossary 92 A brief history of sheep production 98 Calendar of sheep farming operations 107 South Island high-country farms 107 Shearing 111 Nutrition 114 Seasonal feed demand 116 Feed sources 120 Disease 122 Environmental considerations 124 Animal welfare 127 4. Deer Production Kate Flay 128 Introduction 130 Handling of deer 132 Glossary 133 Deer production 136 Calendar of deer farming operations 140 Nutrition 142 Breeding and genetics 143 Animal welfare 144 Disease 147 Conclusion 149 5. Goat Production Colin Prosser and Kevin Stafford 150 Introduction 151 Dairy goats 152 A brief history of goat production 153 Milk production 155 Farm systems 155 Carbon footprint 156 Breeding 157 Feeding 157 Mohair and cashmere production 161 Calendar of Angora goat farming operations 162 Meat production 164 Weed control 166 Animal welfare 167 Animal health 169 Conclusion 173 6. Pig production Patrick Morel and Kirsty Chidgey 174 Introduction 177 Glossary 178 The New Zealand pork industry 182 Production systems 185 Housing systems 190 Waste management 192 Genetics 197 Reproduction 199 Nutrition 208 Pork quality 214 Animal welfare 216 Disease 221 7. Poultry Production Fifi Zaefarian 222 Introduction 224 A brief history of the poultry industry 228 Chicken meat production 230 Glossary 241 Turkey and duck meat production 242 Table egg production 245 Management of layers 257 Waste management 257 Environmental considerations 261 8. Horse Production Chris Rogers and Erica Gee 262 Introduction 265 A brief history of the horse industry 270 Pasture-based production system 272 Growth and development 275 Racing and sport 278 Breeding 282 Feral horses 284 Disease 285 Animal welfare 293 9. Working Farm Dogs Naomi Cogger, Helen Sheard and Katja Isaksen 294 Introduction 295 Types of working farm dog 296 Dog work 299 Housing 300 Nutrition 303 Animal welfare 304 Animal health 311 Conclusion 314 Acknowledgements 314 Image credits 315 About the contributors