Books

Internal parasites of sheep and their control –now and in the future
By Clive Dalton

It has suddenly become very important for sheep farmers regardless of flock size to understand how internal parasites (worms) function and especially how they develop resistance to the chemicals in drenches. 

This book is essential background for sheep farmers regardless of flock size, who want to have a meaningful discussion with their veterinarian to develop a worm control programme for their farm as every farm is different.  It will also be a valuable resource for students of sheep husbandry, veterinary nursing and animal care students, as well as staff in the farm servicing industries who have to sell drench to many clients who are not sure what is needed. Buy here for only $27.00

The Sheep Farming Guide
By Clive Dalton & Marjorie Orr

Drs Clive Dalton and Marjorie Orr are well known to visitors to this site. Both have happily contributed their expertise to assist lifestyle farmers. This book is yet further proof of their ability to write clearly about technical matters.  If you have sheep, you should buy this book.  If you know anyone who keeps sheep you should buy this book for them.  If you don't have sheep then this book could tempt you into getting a flock! Buy here for only $17.00

An Illustrated Guide to Common Weeds of New Zealand 2nd Edition
By Bruce Roy, Ian Popay, Paul Champion, Trevor James, Anis Rahman

Popular and indispensable tool in the identification and management of weeds in New Zealand, now in its second edition. Colour photographs and simple text aid in identification. Plants are listed by both botanical and common names, and indexes enable easy searching. The usefulness and toxicity of plants are also addressed.
ISBN: 0-473-09760-5
List price: $39.95
Publisher: New Zealand Plant Protection Society
Publication date: 2004
http://www.mwpress.co.nz/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=462

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY’S FARM TECHNICAL MANUAL 2003

A highly popular, ‘mini-encyclopedia’ of farming practices, this Manual is a must have for anyone living on the land.  The 2003 edition is massive, with over 1000 pages of essential information about farming in New Zealand, including Livestock Management & Nutrition; Animal Health; Pastures; Crops; Weed, Pest & Disease Control; Fertilisers; Organic Farming; Forestry & Shelter; Farm Improvements & Equipment; Climate Information; Glossary of Agricultural Terminology.  Available from Lincoln University, the cost is $79.90 (incl. GST, p. & p.). Print out and fill in the order form, and post with your cheque or credit card details.

PRACTICAL SMALLFARMING IN NEW ZEALAND
by Trisha Fisk

'The Bible' Excellent reference book for all lifestyle farmers. Everything you need to know is covered from buying a property through to useful contacts. Practical information on a trees, pasture, and a wide range of animals and birds. A must have!
http://www.penguin.com.au/lookinside/spotlight.cfm?SBN=9780143010890

A short history of sheep in New Zealand
by Richard Wolfe
Random House NZ, Price $30
ISBN: 1869418204

It’s great to have a book written by someone who can independently assess the contribution the humble sheep has made to the history and economic welfare of New Zealand.  The author needs to be congratulated on making such a masterful job of the task, and his wife, artist Pamela Wolf needs congratulations too for some wonderful illustrations.
The book is beautifully produced by with very clear text, excellent layout for easy reading or browsing, and it includes some fantastic old photos very tastefully chosen to support each chapter and illustrate historic moments.  The modern colour photos of the sheep breeds are excellent too, and believe me these are not easy to assemble to satisfy all those who know sheep.

PRACTICAL ORGANICS FOR NEW ZEALAND FARMERS
by Trisha Fisk

Another excellent reference book for all lifestyle farmers. The book is written in three parts, Topics include: the soil – minerals, soil tests, worms and microorganisms; the plants – photosynthesis, plant analysis, pasture species and weeds; the animals — health, ruminants, horses etc; changing to organics — liming, fencing, fertilising, management, weed management, animal medicine, stock handling, problems; going official – certification; marketing; conservation
http://www.reed.co.nz/products.cfm?View=2451&CatID=23

Lifestyle farming in New Zealand. Managing livestock on a small holding
By Paul Martin. 2006.
Craig Potten Publishing. ISBN 10: 1-877333-44-1.  Price $50

Paul Martin spent his early days on a lifestyle block before going to Massey to study animal science and veterinary science.  He has practised in Franklin and now works in Northland so has a very wide experience of problems faced by lifestyle block farmers.
This is an excellent book and very good value for money.  The text is very clear and easy to read and it’s beautifully produced with great photos by the author and Craig Potten (a master in the art).  The diagrams of practical things like a cow bail and chook house are really clear and helpful.
The book is badly needed by folk just starting off a small farm who appreciate having a “manual” between hard covers to keep referring to, rather than having to crank up a computer and go on the web. The book covers cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry and alpaca and llama.
The author needs to be congratulated for even attempting this job, as it’s a mighty challenge to know what to put in and what to leave out to avoid information overload, and the book ending up as an expensive doorstop.  The author has got the balance just right, and the “key points” at the end of each chapter are very helpful.

His top ten points right at the start are good sound common sense that needs to be appreciated by all.  The last one of “plan, plan, plan and plan” is very important as is “if you don’t plan, then you plan to fail”.

Paul’s advice on preventing drench resistance in worms is a bit out of date, and it would pay readers to get the latest free brochure from Schering-Plough Coopers called “Farmers’ guide to drench resistance” to get the latest advice.  It’s free by phoning 0800-800-543.
Paul Martin’s book is excellent and it would make a great Christmas gift for anyone on a small block.  It would be ideal reading for over the holiday break – if you have time for one.
The book has a very good index and a useful glossary of technical terms. (review by Dr Clive Dalton for lifestyleblock.co.nz)

THE SMALLFARMING REVOLUTION - New beginnings in rural New Zealand
by Ian and Diane Grant

This book is packed with practical advice, including the 25 Secrets of Successful Smallfarmer.  It also includes a close look at 21 small farms around New Zealand. Every page is full of information and ideas. Another must have - if you can source a copy as sadly out of print. Published by Penguin Books (NZ) Ltd, Albany, Auckland. ISBN 0 670 85672.

GROWING POPLAR AND WILLOW TREES ON FARMS - Guidelines for establishing and managing poplar and willow trees on farms.

This book was compiled and prepared by the National Poplar and Willow Users Group as part of the Sustainable Farming Fund’s Poplar and Willow project. It really is a first class book and has been badly needed for many years.

This badly needed book covers the whole range of issues involved with selection of species, deciding where to plant, protection and pruning, general management, pests and diseases and much more.

Growing poplar and willow trees on farms. Guidelines for establishing and managing poplar and willow trees on farms.
ISBN 978-0-473-12270-6
Available from Isabelle Vanderkolk, AgResearch Grasslands, Palmerston North (Ph 06 351-8246; Email: CLOAKING ) at $12 per copy (incl. GST).  Payment by cheque made out to AgResearch is preferred.  Discounts are available for orders of more than 20 copies.

Pasture and forage plants for New Zealand
By Dr Deric Charlton & Dr Alan Stewart

Grassland Research and Practice Series No. 8. Third edition –revised and expanded. 2006.
Price $20 (includes GST and postage).  Available from NZ Grasslands Association (NZGA) on www.grassland.org.nz or from Executive Secretary, NZ Grassland Association Ltd, Box 8099, Gardens, Dunedin 9041.  Phone + 64 3 473-6495.

Everyone wants ‘good productive pastures’ but when travelling around New Zealand, especially in the spring flush, the summer dry or the winter bog, you wonder where all the information to achieve this noble goal has gone.  Well if you are searching for it, look no further than this A5 book of 128 pages, of exceptional value at $20.

The authors really know the business, as they are noted authorities in both the science and practical aspects of pastures and their management – often said to be as much art as science.  There’s a lot to think about if pastures on a farm are not delivering the feed expected or giving up the ghost too soon in their lives.  This book will be an enormous help.

The first concern is what species of animal you are running on your pastures, and what are their feeding needs. Some species like horses and camelids have unfortunate toilet habits and overgraze some areas and foul others.  This is hard to manage.

The authors deal with what’s a ‘productive pasture’ and what controls its ‘quality’.  It’s all about ‘pasture utilisation’ – as if you don’t use what pasture is grown, then it’s money down the drain.

It’s amazing how many farmers, managers, staff and students don’t know their grasses and legumes in the vegetative stage – and this is critical.  This is a highlight of the book and the excellent line drawings will help get your plant identification up to speed. It’s also important to be up to date with the information on endophyte fungi and this is well described.

Pastures begin by buying good seed, and the sections on how to compile a seeds mixture and important points when buying seed is excellent and important to study.  If pastures fail then you are into pasture renewal and this subject is well covered, as it can be an expensive business if you get it wrong.

The description of the features of the different grasses, legumes, grazing herbs and forage brassicas is well done and there’s a mass of important information in the book you need to know to avoid wrong decisions.  There is also a very interesting chapter on using trees for livestock feed and  this is worth very serious thought.

You won’t grow good pastures in starved soil so the short chapter on fertilising new pastures and crops is very important and easy to follow.  Trace element deficiencies for example can lead to crop failures so check this section out.  The book also reminds farmers about nitrate poisoning.
The authors list 17 Breeders and Marketers of seeds and technical information and advice, and there’s a mass of scientific references to back up their information and recommendations.  This book needs to be on everyone’s bookshelf. (review by Dr Clive Dalton for lifestyleblock.co.nz)

SMALL-SCALE FARMING IN NEW ZEALAND -
1999. A grass-based approach to health, sustainability and profit. Carol Ekarius. Schoolhouse Road, Pownal, Vermont 05261.
ISBN 1-58017-162-1..
Available from TECHBOOKS, 378 Broadway, Private Bag 99-939, Newmarket, Auckland. Phone (09) 524-0132, Fax (09) 523-3769.
Price around NZ$65. Has to be ordered from USA

I Am A Working Dog - Natural training for sheepdogs
by Michael Oliver and Tony Sheild with illustrations by David Henshaw
ISBN: 1 877251 29 1  RRP: $19.95

The working dogs of New Zealand certainly deserve our respect. New Zealanders pride themselves on having the best sheepdogs in the world. Generations of careful breeding have produced the traits of stock-handling skills, loyalty, hardiness and courage that are now inherent in their bloodlines.

This book has been written to assist those who use working dogs to handle livestock. Its authors, Michael Oliver and Tony Sheild, are both farmers with extensive shepherding and dog trialling experience. They provide a fascinating history of sheepdog breeds in New Zealand, accompanied by delightful anecdotes of rural life; and a practical step-by step guide to training dogs the natural way.
For information contact: Longacre Press, PO Box 5340, 30 Moray Place DUNEDIN
Phone: (03) 477 2911 Fax: (03) 477 7222

The world of coloured sheep
Complied and edited by Roger S. Lundie and Elspeth J. Wilkinson.

Proceedings of the 6th World Congress on Coloured Sheep, Christchurch, New Zealand. 2004.

For anyone interested in coloured sheep, this is essential reading.  If you start off with one black or coloured female sheep, it won't be long before you feel the need to find a ram to mate it, so you'll definately need this book. 

As it's conference proceedings it's a wealth of information by the world's experts and conseqently  ranges widely over different coloured sheep in the world which is fascinating reading on it's own.  But ther is excellent reference material on how wool grows, the genetics of pigmentations, and management of coloured sheep. 

It's a great read if you want detailed information and a great browse if you want to look at great pictures - ancient and modern.  There are some amazing sheep around the world.  It's not a cheap book but the price is worth it if you are serious about wanting to breed coloured sheep. (review by Dr Clive Dalton for lifestyleblock.co.nz)
ISBN 0-476-00928-6
Details available from Dr Mary Knox, 900 Oharia Valley Road, Johnsonville, Wellington 6004
Email CLOAKING
Price: $65 incl. p&p within New Zealand

THE COMPLETE HERBAL HANDBOOK FOR FARM AND STABLE -
by Juliette de Bairacli Levy

Highly recommended book first published in 1952. This updated edition contains information on general livestock and herbal remedies. The author presents information about herbs and sets out cures and preventions. The author has also written "The Complete Herbal Handbook for Dog and Cat".
Available on-line from www.whitcoulls.co.nz for $35.95. Published by Faber and Faber Ltd.
ISBN 0-571-16116-2

NEW ZEALAND CONTACTS IN AGRICULTURE

New Zealand's annual directory of primary industry contacts including farmer/producer associations, livestock and grower societies, agribusinesses, research institutes, agencies and government departments. Free listings, nationwide coverage, over 360 pages, 31 chapters and includes alphabetical organisational and personal name indexes
Online ordering. Published annually in December
ISSN 1175 1150
Available from Contacts Unlimited, PO Box 545, Picton, New Zealand. Phone: 03 573 4471, Fax 03 573 4472 Email: CLOAKING Website: www.contacts.co.nz  Price NZ $59.95

THE FARMERS' VETERINARY GUIDE
Written by a panel of Veterinary Experts from Veterinary Science at Massey University & is not too technical.
By DEB (Dairy Exporter Books ) 1 Jackson Street, Petone, Wellington.

HEALTHY SHEEP NATURALLY
By Pat Coleby. 2000. Second edition. 175 pages. Landlinks Press. PO Box 1139, Collingwood, Victoria 3066.

This is an Australian book but has plenty of material of interest to sheep farmers in NZ. There are good chapters on feeding requirements, land management, management of sheep, minerals - their use and deficiency signs, vitamins - no good unless minerals are present, health problems, and worms -another strategy. It has a good bibliography and plenty of contacts of where to buy animal remedies and general farm supplies IF you live in Australia.
Buy in NZ from here: http://www.mwpress.co.nz/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=434

A GUIDE TO PLANTS POISONOUS TO HORSES
By Keith Allison and Christopher Day (veterinary adviser)
Published by J Allan, 1997 in UK. The plants covered are found in New Zealand.
ISBN 0-85131-698-0

TREES FOR NEW ZEALAND TOWN AND COUNTRY.
By Don C Bell, 2001
Published by David Bateman
ISBN 1-86953-476-X
$60

400 PLUS - A GUIDE TO IMPROVED LAMB GROWTH
Published by the New Zealand Sheep Council with assistance from Meat New Zealand and WoolPro.

It presents, in practical language, information on factors affecting lamb growth
Chapters in the book cover pre-tup decisions, pregnancy, birth to weaning, diet transition (milk to grass), post weaning, animal health and patterns of change in carcass composition.
There are also appendices on matching feed supply to demand, pasture and crop-related animal health factors, major minerals, diseases and lamb growth calculations.
For a copy, contact Meat New Zealand on 0800-647 000 or email CLOAKING There will be a charge of $15 inc GST to non-levypayers.

FACING UP TO FACIAL ECZEMA
Published and reprinted by the The Sheep Council, with financial assistance from Meat New Zealand.

The booklet looks at ways to help farmers to prevent or reduce the impact of FE on their stock through a range of options covering in detail such topics as breeding for increased tolerance, dosing with zinc, spore counting and spraying with fungicide.
For a copy, contact Meat New Zealand on 0800-647 000 or email CLOAKING . There will be a charge of $10 inc GST to non-levypayers

NEW PASTURE AND FORAGE POCKET GUIDEBOOK FOR FARMERS
By Dr Deric Charlton, and Alan Stewart, published by the New Zealand Grassland Association.

The 74-page booklet describes all the different pasture and forage brassica species, types within species, and listed are the available cultivars within each type. In recent years, large numbers of new pasture and forage crop varieties (more correctly called cultivars) have been released – well over 100 cultivars belonging to around 30 species are available.

There is often confuses farmers, consultants and seed retailers about what to use. Careful thought is needed now about what species and types to include in mixtures, and what brassica crops to sow. Farmers know they gain better results and profits when they supply their animals with a broader and higher quality diet, and liveweight gains in excess of 400 grams a day are now achievable on pastures comprising hybrid ryegrasses, chicory and the latest clovers.

In addition to the range of pasture grasses, legumes, herbs, and brassica crops, the booklet includes sections on which farm animals prefer what to graze on in their paddocks, and what to look out for when buying seeds and fertilisers.

Copies are available, at only $10 (including GST and postage), from the NZGA’s Publications Officer, Steven Northover, at AgResearch Grasslands, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North (ph 06 356 8019, fax 06 351 8032, email: CLOAKING . The NZGA also offers discount for bulk orders.
And for only $40-00, anyone can become an NZGA member and receive the Annual Proceedings AND this booklet!

Hand-made Farm Fence...#852
Manually Installing Hardware Into a Primary Industries Pastoral Management System
By Fencer Fred (Stephen Aspden) 2004

This is an amazing book and probably the best book on fencing that has ever been written.  It’s a shame that the author could not have got a mate to type it up.  The hand writing is very neat and a compliment to some teacher of years gone by, but in this age of word processing, the layout makes reading a slow process because the eye is not used to the “font” used. 

The content is brilliant and the diagrams and drawings are excellent – so clear in fact that they do away with the need for many of the words.  It’s a gem of a book and so needed when fencing is not the attractive skill it used to be and the hard yakka associated with it has little appeal these days.

It’s a gem of a book for anyone who has a fence on their property that may need some attention in future.  I hope the author sells enough to put some profit into getting the next version typed.  Everyone on a small block needs this fencing bible and at 25 dollars it’s a snip and an essential farm reference. (review by Dr Clive Dalton for lifestyleblock.co.nz)
ISBN 0-476-01064-0
Published by and available from S.D. Aspden, PO Box 28, Tokomaru Bay, NZ 3853.  Price $24.95
The book is hand-written with pencil drawings and diagrams. http://touchwoodbooks.co.nz/New 05/handmade.html 

Training the sheep dog
By Thomas Longton & Barbara Sykes
Crowood Press

This well respected book first published in 1997 was republished in paper back in 2003 and is an excellent text with good photos, diagrams and clearly written instructions for anyone who wants to train a heading dog.

The Longtons have championed dog trialing for three generations living among the best of Britain's hill sheep that would give any dog a run for its supper.

The book is very British and Border Collie based as you'd expect, but the principles so well explained apply to heading or herding dogs all over the world.
In their early pup training the authors use a circular netting pen with the pup on the outside to start with before it is allowed inside into closer contact with the sheep.
New Zealand trainers would see this as unnecessary but what the Kiwi dog handlers could really benefit from is the information on teaching a dog to shed sheep which is not well developed in Kiwi trials but is a very valuable skill needed at lambing.
There's a good chapter on problem solving too. It's an excellent wee book for anyone needing to learn the principles of selecting pups, early care and training for farm work and trials.
The interesting thing is that as dog trials become more popular in UK, the vast majority of competitors don't come from farms any more.  (review by Dr Clive Dalton for lifestyleblock.co.nz)
ISBN 1-86126-638-3
Price around 13 pounds Sterling (NZ$40?) 

Managing pests and diseases - A handbook for New Zealand gardeners by Rob Lucas.
Craig Potten Publishing.  ISBN1-877333-28-X

This is an excellent book, not just for gardeners but for everyone who lives in the country.  It covers how to identify pests, a quick check on which bug it could be, then how to make a good identification, their life cycles and how to deal with them.  The book then covers diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi.  The text is easy to read and the photographs are brilliant.  There's a good list of further reading and a helpful glossary.  It's a book you should really have on  our shelf for when plants start to look sick. (review by Dr Clive Dalton for lifestyleblock.co.nz)