GRAIN FEEDING TO SHEEP

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21418, 9 March 1935, Page 21

GRAIN FEEDING TO SHEEP

ADDRESS TO FARMERS AT OXFORD Under the auspices of the Oxford branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, Mr M. J. Scott, of Lincoln College, addressed a meeting of farmers at Oxford. His subject was "Grain Feeding to Sheep." He said it had been represented to him that because of the supply condition of rape and grass after the recent rains, lambs were scouring, and information was wanted about remedying this by the supplementary feeding of grain. From observations on the way from Lincoln, he thought the sheep were doing better than those lower down. He dealt with the condition under which grain might be fed profitably—the manner of inducing' lambs to eat dry feed, and the quantities to be given. It was, he said, a waste to put lambs on to unripe rape; they did no good, and the rape was wasted. The rape should be matured before feeding off. as then it contained up to 45 per cent, of dry matter as against 9 per cent, in growing or unripe rape. He considered that farmers erred in having their lambs too late. In a general way it would be profitable to have the lambs fit before Christmas, and to that end they should be early, so that they might have the advantage of the growing months of November and December. Of course, farmers had to consider circumstances. There seemed, however, a lack of positive effort by sheep farmers to have a feed supply in the early months. The earlier lambs were fattened the better, for in late feeding farmers were approaching the time when fattening was retarded by dampness and lowered temperatures. The nearer the approach to winter temperature the greater was the retardation of fattening. Mr Scott also gave some valuable hints on the treatment of breeding ewes during the winter. The address was followed with interest. Mr H. G. Parish presided, and Mr Scott was heartily thanked.