SURPLUS PASTURE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 235, 8 November 1940, Page 6

SURPLUS PASTURE

method of conservation Contributed by G. R. Taylor,. Local Organiser, District Production Council, Whakatanc. As on arable farms so' also on grassland farms, November and December are the busiest months of the year. Harvesting of surplus pasture growth should be in full swing. It should always be the aim in harvesting to cut early obtaining" a crop of good quality fodder rather than to cut late obtaining probably a larger bulk of stommy, fibrous material. Early cutting allows a quicker recovery -of pastures and a larger growth of aftermath. Late cutting is" inclined to open up pastures leaving tufted cocksfoot plants -and 'Weakening the clovers. The right time to cut is when the majority of tlie plants have reached the bloom. stage, not when -the plants have all gone to seed. Broken weather may, of course, prevent harvesting at the right time. During unsettled weather it is easier to make silage than hay. If ensilage is to be practised then several points should be watched to avoid loss in nutritive value of the cut material. As mentioned above the crop must not be cut too late. Grass, whether made into hay or silage, does not improve its feeding value in the process of curing but declines in its total nutritive value according to the efficiency of the curing process. A factor affecting tho final product in ensilage is the degree of consolidation exerted on the green material. The consolidation in turn affccts the temperature. Very low temperature silage results in a sour type of material whie-i

has, to a pronounced decree, the characteristic clinging smell ordinarily associated with silage. This .undesirable type is produced when ensiling an immature or sappy' crop. Silage made at too high a temperature becomes burnt dark-brown or almost black. This is the most common weakness in the stack silage made on New Zealand farms and is due to lack of consolidation. Excessive wastage at the top and sides is also caused by lack of consolidation. The tj-pe of silage to aim al is a well-.consolida.ted, relatively low temperature silage. Stacks in process of building until covered, should be protected "from prevailing winds by a covering 011 the windward side. Strong winds cause uneven .healing which in turn may cause the stack to topple over. The exclusion of air by covering with' earth or other material as we]] as by proper consolidation should be done immediately the s:tack is completed. As a general rule nonweighted stacks are not a success although in certain circumstances good results have been secured with out an earth covering. In hay making, excessive bleaching of the cut green material bv sun and wind is undesirable. The swathe-turner, helps to avoid this by allowing a quick, though complete, drying process-. Under doubtful weather conditions, cocking gives a reasonable chanco of saving the hay in good condition, Avhicli would not be possible for hay left in the swathe to the rain. Cocking is especially desirable for clover and lucerne hay to conserve the leafy material which would be lost bj r swathe turning and raking.