ADEQUATE WINTER FEED FOR STOCK PAYS DIVIDENDS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 10, 11 July 1949, Page 6

ADEQUATE WINTER FEED FOR STOCK PAYS DIVIDENDS

(By W. H. Mandeno, Consulting Officer, Herd Recording Department N.Z. Dairy Board)

Recent experimental work at Ruakura and Massey College has shown that it pays to feed dairy cows on a level or reasonably high plane during their dry period. Except where high test records are desired this practice is unusual in New Zealand.

It has long been considered by New Zealand dairy farmers that it is economic to err on the side of overstocking rather than understocking. This gives greater effi. ciency in the utilisation of feed growing throughout the year as it is well known that even the best hay or silage results in a 50 per cent loss in feed value of conserved fodder. In a very good season there is a considerable surplus of rough feed which can carry the herd well into the winter —although this system of management results in deterioration of swards. In an average or poor season it is difficult to save any hay or silage—with the result that the herd suffers badly the following winter. 50,000 Can’t Be Wrong?

Dairymen, who base their practice on what the average farmer does, .may say that ”50,000 farmers can’t be wrong.” It may be safe to agree;'with his up to the point that, with present costs, farming must be economic with such practices in general use. It is, however, well known that the most successful managers ensure ample reserves to enable liberal feeding' in winter. An interesting sidelight on precalving feeding is that it is generally agreed by breeders that it is easier to qualify a C. 8.8. on the first lactation of his daughters than when they are more mature This is based on the fact that it is possible to feed heifers up to theij: capacity before calving whereas this treatment for mature cows may lead to milk fever and grass staggers. Whilst this “steaming up” of mature cattle is impracticable to the same extent as with heifers there is nevertheless a necessity to be careful of the quality of feed during the various stages of pregnancy. Next year there may be more hay, silage, and autumn saved pasture available, but what is on hand at present should be put to the best use. The greatest need for high quality feed comes after calving when, in the first week, a cow produces more in her milk thah is represented by her calf. Retain Autumn Pasture Adequate supplies of autumn saved pasture should be retained to meet this need—for whom the impulse to produce is at its greatest the economy of utilisation is also at a peak. If sufficient pasture is on hand some can be used to advantage in tfie last month of pregnancy. At this period the amount of secreting tissue in the udder is being increased to cope with full capacity soon after calving. It is prior to this stage in the “dry period” that lower quality feeds can best be utilised.

The dry cow has requirements closely resembling those of store stock so that the poorer stacks of hay and silage should be used early in the winter. The amount of protein in the feed should be almost trebled in the adequate diet of a milking cow as compared with that of the dry stock. As it is protein that suffers most when hay or silage stacks overheat, this (and the quality of fodder put into the stack) can be used to determine the order in which supplementary feed supplies are used. A knowledge of the feeding values of comomnly used crops is necesary for their most economical use. Whilst the “tops” of roots contain a good proportion of protein the greater weight in the bulb makes their utilisation most economic in the early dry period as their value is mainly in energy. Leafy crops such as choumoellier are best used for the milkers as they compare favourably with grass in protein content. Mouldy Hay-Rubbish

Some crops have special value because of high vitamin content which is a feature of carrots, but care must be exercised in seeing that stock do not have to eat fodder liable to contain poisons. Choumoellier when it is running to seed comes into this category and redwater is the result. Most common as a cause of digestive upset is the use of mould hay. Conditions favouring mould may suggest the making of silage rather than hay of very poor quality which should only be used if sufficient is available to enable cattle to pick it over. The tempting of cattle to eat this rubbish by adding molasses is not worthy of a good husbandryman.