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• Importance of shelter
• Table 18: Types of Shelter Present on Farms
• Effective shelter

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SHELTER FOR LIVESTOCK

Importance of shelter

Fifty percent of farmers interviewed (N=34) considered their farms well sheltered, 38% moderately sheltered and 12% poorly sheltered. When asked how important shelter was in terms of stock losses during the snow the following responses were obtained.

Importance of shelter	Response
Very important	49.3
Moderate importance	16.9
Some importance	18.4
No importance	15.4

Farmers on the downs and plains considered shelter to be more important (50-76% respectively) than hill or high country farmers (30-35% respectively). Seventy two percent of farmers intend to increase the number of shelterbelts (high country 71%, hill country 70%, Banks Peninsula 0%, downs 100% and plains 87%). However only 10% intend increasing shelterbelts because of risk of snow.

Type of shelter on farm

Planted shelterbelts were the most common type of shelter on downs and plains farms (Table

18). Natural shelter including gullies was important on all upland areas including downs.

While manuka and native bush were important on hill and high country properties, plantations

were more relevant to the plains and downs environment.

Table 18: Types of Shelter Present on Farms

Shelter Type	High	Hill	Banks
	Country	Country	Peninsula	Downs	Plains	Total
	(%)	(%)	(%)	(%)	(%)	(%)
Gorse hedge	5	18	4.8
Planted shelterbelts	22	14	11	31	46	23.1
Plantations	13	5		23	18	10.6
Manuka	13	25	33			15.4
Matagouri	17	25				13.5
Native bush	9	2	23	8	5.8
Natural, gullies	26	24	33	38	18	26.8

Effective shelter

Only three out of 124 farmers considered that shelter had no effect in reducing stock losses. The use of haybarns/covered yards and shearing sheds was listed by 26% of farmers especially for newly shorn sheep as they are effective means of trapping and retaining body heat (Table 19). Planted shelterbelts were listed as the next most effective form of shelter (18.5%) with tail shelter, plantations and native bush being the most frequently mentioned types. Reduction of wind was given as the reason for the effectiveness of planted shelterbelts. Tail shelter was also believed to provide a greater snow free buffer zone in the lee of the shelterbelt but the height needed to be over 15 meters. Planted shelterbelts did not flatten and generally provided a clear area of snow on the lee side. There was dissention however on whether the belt should be trimmed and how dense the belt should be. Leaving shelterbelts untrimmed was thought by some farmers to reduce drifting. Factors such as wind speed, direction and snow particle size are all likely to influence the result. Native bush was considered effective in that it reduced wind, provided some natural feed, did not flatten and stopped the snow drifting. A belt of high trees (eucalyptus) with another belt(s) of lower dense evergreen trees was considered ideal. Gorse hedges and matagouri were mentioned as being effective in reducing wind, matagouri also acting to break up the snow. Pampas grass was used in the downs to cut down wind and was considered to be dense and dry and not to flatten.

Table 19: Shelter Which was Effective in Reducing Stock Losses (N=124)

Ineffective shelter included:

Contact for Enquiries

North Island
Phil Journeaux
Manager
North Island Regions
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Private Bag 3123 Hamilton
NEW ZEALAND

Phone: +64 7 957 8314
Fax: +64 7 957 8315

South Island
John Greer
Regional Team Leader
Natural Resources Group
MAF Policy
PO Box 20 280 Christchurch
NEW ZEALAND

Phone: +64 3 943 1703
Fax: +64 3 943 1757
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