The Winter Grazing Action Group (WGAG) is stressing to farmers the importance of having grazing contracts in place for
the coming season.
The group was set up by Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor last year in response to a report from the Winter Grazing
Taskforce, which made 11 recommendations to help ensure that animal welfare became a key part of all winter grazing
decisions in the pastoral supply chain.
He said the action group’s job was to recommend ways to improve animal welfare following what he called “a lot of
concern about managing winter grazing for cattle, sheep, and deer across the country”. The group’s 15 members represent
industry organisations, government, vets, farmers, and other rural professionals. It is supported in its work by the
Ministry for Primary Industries.
WGAG Chair, Lindsay Burton said the group was keen to emphasise the need for grazing contracts for livestock when grazed
off farm to make sure health, nutrition and welfare needs are understood and managed especially during periods of
greater risk like winter.
“With a clear plan in place and a contract to back it up, the issues that come up with grazing and the welfare of
livestock through the winter are just that much easier to manage,” Dr Burton said.
“Where animals are intensively managed within the farm operation the same detailed requirements must be present in the
farm management plan.”
A guide to help farmers with wintering practices is available on the Ministry’s website, and outlines seven key
short-term outcomes:ensuring animals give birth in the right environment,being prepared for all weather conditions,making sure animals can easily access acceptable drinking water,planning for successful winter feeding,providing animals with a comfortable lying down place,working together to care for animals during winter, andfinding opportunities to improve.
“Factoring that kind of thinking into a grazing contract goes a long way towards ensuring animal health and welfare are
properly looked after, said Dr Burton.
“Many farmers have already been proactive in making changes to their wintering systems and the hope is that by having
written contracts or farm plans in place, that momentum can continue.”
Milton Munro, Technical Team Manager for PGG Wrightson and member of the action group, echoes these sentiments “caring
for stock during winter is really important, which is why PGG Wrightson has updated our winter grazing contracts so that
the key outcomes identified by the Action Group will be met.” he says.
“Our livestock staff who assist farmers with finding off-farm grazing are stressing the importance of good communication
between both parties early on, along with the importance of planning for changing weather conditions when required to
ensure all stock are well cared for and a plan is in place for any animals that need extra attention.”