Grass Utilisation

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 43, 19 January 1949, Page 5

Grass Utilisation

KEENER REALISATION OF NUTRITION VALUE OF OUR GRASSLANDS IS NECESSARY IN N.Z. DAIRY FARMING (By W. H. Mandeno, Consulting Officer, Herd' Recording Dept., N.Z Dairy Board)

Economic dairying in New Zealand demands the maximum utilisation of grass. The phenomenal growth of pastures in New Zealand was one of the most significant features of farming noticed by Professor Petersen in his recent tour of this country under the auspices of the N.Z. Dairy Board. Such a reaction, which is typical of all overseas visitors who are interested in agriculture, should give us a keener realisation of the nutritional values of our grasslands.

v Although some cows in New Zealand are “force fed” with concentrates in an effort to obtain high records to assist in the sale of related stock the great majority are fed only grass, hay, and silage. Unfortunately for many cows the prevailing result is feast and famine. The striking success of more even feeding as practised by a number of dairy farmers as well as such institutions as Ruakura is gradually causing an adoption of similar methods by other farmers. Such a programme depends to a large ex rent on the proper conservation ol adequate amounts of hay and silage.

the harvesting done before Christmas festivities. The basic principle in harvesting is to conserve the surplus in spring and summer for the lean periods of late summer drought and winter. Adherence to this principle means that any surplus over consumption should be conserved whatever the month. Thus in a favourable January and February the careful grassland manager will be cutting the add paddock for hay or silage as weather permits. An extended harvesting season makes it necessary to give due consideration to the use of labour saving devices and general harvesting arrangements. Experience has shown that a small efficient team can put in amounts that would satisfy many a larger gang. An analysis of this position can only lead to appreciation of the value of organisation in preparation and in the harvest field. 40 Per Cent Surplus It has been shown that about 40 per cent of grass growth in the “flush” months is surplus to requirements of stock. Few are the farmers who even in a good season can say that they cut 40 per cen of their area, the farmer who does conserve as hay or silage 35-40 per cent of his farm area can face a dry summer or a long hard winter with much more confidence than the 10 per cent man. In the Bay of Plenty with strong stands of Paspalum which are difficult to control by any means other than the mower we have the ideal conditions for obtaining adequate reserves for winters such as the last. It is regrettable that when these extra stacks are built their value is lightly regarded and the same care in covering may not be given. Next season’s production will to a considerable degree be influenced by the reserves of feed on hand for the coming winter, and the thoroughness with which food feed is stacked away. With rising prices for hay it is to be hoped that realisation of the value of any supplementary feed will ensure that adequate care is taken to avoid the losses which have < been common through inadequate “hearting up” and covering of stacks and bales.

Virtues of Silage

The droughts in recent years have forced a recognition of the virtues of silage. This is especially the case in districts with a greater season to season variation than is experienced in the Bay of Plenty. However, the continual wet days in the earlier part of the present harvesting season enabled many farmers—with good price—to make one or two paddocks into silage which will generally be of. reasonable quality. Several hay enthusiasts however, have on hand as a result of their enthusiasm varying quantities of hay which, having been drenched during curing, has lost a surprisingly high percentage of its feeding value. With the spell of good harvesting weather accompanied by drying winds, hundreds of acres of very good hay have been stacked before Christmas. Such excellent weather is not of sufficient duration in other countries and growth is at its peak and for this reason the practice is followed by building small stacks or cocks to ensure proper curing. In fact farmers from Europe are surprised at first to see our hay being stacked from the window. With quick drying winds, however, the top quality hay is regularly made in New Zealand in this way. With changeable weather there have been a few stacks rushed in with consequent risk of fire, let alone the assured overheating which renders the protein constituents of the crop an almost complete loss. Harvesting Principles

This rushing in of hay is due in large part to the inability to arrange the stacking gang at short notice and to a desire to have all