GRAZING OF LUCERNE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1708, 27 March 1913, Page 8

GRAZING OF LUCERNE.

EXPERIMENT AT MOUMAHAKI. Au; experiment' - in. grazing lucerne is being" at ■ Moumahaki State Farm,,-' According to the Journal of # the Department of Agriculture; the idea being Tto .(letei'mine. t'lie best means of grazing, fan established field by ootli cattlo and sheep. The field where the trial, is being, mado has. been in lucerne for two -years and, a quarter, and the, ■plant is 'tliero thoroughly well established. After the first cutting of this season 525 hcad'of sheep (ewes and lambs) woro turned''in on*fhe.: seven '.acres, At this time the lucerne was 18in. in heightfather high" for feeding off, the wet weather which, prevailed having .made it necessary to postpone the stocking. The slieep not being accustomed to the rich •feeding; 'were, not kept continuously on the. lucerne for the first few da£s. They were taken off after two hours' feeding on tho:.;first (lay/ ,on the second day thoy had four hours ■ grazing,. and on the third day they were allowed to remain in the field. The' sheep rapidly improved in condition,' and on the tenth day, the lucerne'being eaten down to a safe height, about Sin. above tlie crown, the sheep were taken off. When put cn the lucerne the sheep were in forward condition, and the bulk of them were fit.for freezing .when taken off. 'After seven days, the lucerne having recovered sufficiently, 300 laml>9,Vjiist weaned,-were turned on, and remained; for a period of seven days, being taken off after a few hours' feeding for the first few days, as with the first ■lot. The lambs were followed by\2Go 'ewes, w'liich remained on the lucerne for seven Says. The field remained without stock for', seven' days, and the "GO ewes were returned and depastured for another weiik. After this seven young bulls were turned on and remained for ten days. The field was then closed np. As far as'itlie'eye could see there was 110 deleterious effect 011 the plant, which is growing- as vigorously as before. "• Tlie seven acres are now being subdivided, 'and experiments to test the gain in weight in fattening will bs carried out.