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Dr Clive Dalton Baconer: Pig slaughtered around 80kg live weight (60kg carcass weight) to produce bacon and ham. Barrow: A castrated male pig. Mainly an American term. Boar: Uncastrated male used for breeding but can be used for younger pigs. Breeds: · Large white · Landrace · Berkshire · Welsh · Hampshire · Tamworth · Wessex saddleback · Large black · Hybrids from commercial breeding companies · Kunikuni … Read more
Extensive glossary of technical and commonly used farming terms concerned with sheep farming, shearing and wool preparation, and preparation of sheep skins. By Dr Clive Dalton SHEEP Wool SHEEP SKINS
Sheep, husbandry, behaviour, training a sheep, pet lamb, rearing & training By Dr Clive Dalton Training sheepAs discussed earlier, sheep can learn quickly and there are a few tricks you can use to teach them. One of these is to teach a sheep to be a leader ( a Judas) sheep which can be used to … Read more
The forgotten facts The future of sheep improvement By Dr Clive Dalton The forgotten facts What really annoys me in all the discussion about how wonderful the importation of the exotic sheep breed was for the national sheep flock, is the lack of recognition of what was going on with sheep genetic improvement in New Zealand at … Read more
Daft Laddies. Farming Tales of North Tyne and Rede 50 years on. By Clive Dalton and Donald Clegg An extract from the book – Daft Laddies. Farming Tales of North Tyne and Rede 50 years on (2003) By Clive Dalton and Donald Clegg. If you would like a copy, contact donaldclegg@btopenworld.com Perfection! A beautifully ‘dressed’ … Read more
Daft Laddies. Farming Tales of North Tyne and Rede 50 years on. By Clive Dalton and Donald Clegg An extract from the book – Daft Laddies. Farming Tales of North Tyne and Rede 50 years on (2003) By Clive Dalton and Donald Clegg. If you would like a copy, contact donaldclegg@btopenworld.com Every farm had its … Read more
RABBIT BEHAVIOUR PART 2 Reproduction: Sexing: Mating: Pregnancy: Birth: FosteringBy Dr Clive Dalton Sexing. Sexual maturity (puberty). Week 1 Mate, shear, dose, cut nails.Week 3 Put next boxes in dam’s cageWeek 4 Kits bornWeek 5 Kits removed from dam, sexed and shorn.Week 12 Shear the doe and re-mate her. Oestrus (heat) Mating Pregnancy Preparation for birth … Read more
Dr Clive Dalton Auger: Tool for boring holes in timber or for boring holes for fence posts in the ground. Batten: Used to keep wires on a fence at equal distance apart, preventing stock pushing through the fence and adding strength to the fence. Ususlly made from lengths of wood (50 x 50mm) but can … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton The 2013 Auditor General’s report clearly shows we are not ready for an outbreak of FMD. The regular sporadic outbreaks in Asia and Japan are not far away. Response from the Ministry of Primary Industry (MPI) recognises that we may have problems dealing with an outbreak, but our borders are secure … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton Fleece weight and wool quality Fleece weight was always an important trait for Sheeplan breeders in the days when wool was worth improving. Today it’s a different story, although it cannot be totally ignored – and there’s always somebody talking up a great future for wool. Farmers have heard this talk … Read more
RABBIT BEHAVIOUR PART 1 Image: Breeds: Handling: EuthanasiaBy Dr Clive Dalton The rabbit’s image Why keep rabbits? Breeds and typesIn New Zealand all breeds have been imported, but we do not have the full range seen in Europe or USA. Below are the main ones. Meat rabbits Fibre rabbits Exhibition rabbits Handling Nails TeethRabbits have teeth … Read more
CATTLE BEHAVIOUR BASICS: PART 1 Origins: Senses: Communication By Dr Clive Dalton Origins and domestication Cattle evolved into about 260 different breeds, types and varieties in different parts of world such as the Buffalo in North America and the Yak in China. Wild ancestors of today’s cattle e.g. the Auroch, were hunted for meat. Early … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton The meat (broiler) chicken Management for good broiler welfare Free range broilers
By Dr Clive Dalton Recording ideas Masses of smart ideas came in from MAF field staff and breeders, and I loved collating and following them up to get photographs. MAF had full-time photographers and full darkroom facilities in Wellington and at Ruakura which I used, and I had a MAF camera for basic jobs. Black … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton Free range Slatted or wire floors Deep litter Battery cages Behaviour in cages Feeding and drinking rhythms Disclaimer: This material is provided in good faith for information purposes only, and the author does not accept any liability to any person for actions taken as a result of the information or advice … Read more
Goats & man: Senses: Social behaviourBy Dr Clive Dalton Goats are not like sheep Products from goats: Goat senses Sight Hearing Smell Social behaviour Climbing and digging
By Dr Clive Dalton Beak trimming Spectacles, polypeepers or blinkers Other mutilations Early handling of chicks Feeding Lighting Stocking density What is best for the bird? Moulting
By Dr Clive Dalton The Field NotebookI have vivid memories of this book, as I took on the job of collating all the suggestions from breeders and MAF staff, for a notebook to record lambing data in the front and room to record weights in the back. In the MAF Research Division we thought our … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton The male Factors involved in success The capon The female Nest design Eggs and egg problems Broody hens The hen and her chicks Other chick behaviour Temperature for chicks Drinking behaviour of chicks Eating behaviour of chicks Disclaimer This material is provided in good faith for information purposes only, and the … Read more