VINTER FEED

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 169, 11 April 1919, Page 10

VINTER FEED

•- aidlttD-BB GIVEN'MOEE ATTEN-:-j ■ TION. • 1 Burin<» the course of an article in the "Journal of the Department of Agriculture'*- Mr. A. M'Tnggnrt, M.Sc., A.C., .writes:— The provision of winter feed in quantity sufficient to carry live stock 6ntisi ifactorily throiifrh that period of tlio year I lis a Yniitter that, should, particularly in I dei'tain districts,' be- given, moro _ consideration. In some parls the condition in . i.which dairy cattlo, for,instance,, strugj ; gle''tliroiigh' to the'spnng is deplorable; ! and this is due to neglect on the part f of their owners to provide the all-iicecs-I .nary winter feed! Tho cliniatc. of war* f tain of these districts is highly suitable

j ifor/the growing of suitable forage crops, ' «md this is so lo seine extent eveu ill ' .the winter period itself. Apart from the [ provision of such feed in the form of j hay, ensilage, or roots (mangolds, 6\yedes, i .anil turnips), in most parts of the coun- | try. arrangements may ]>c made for the ■ , growing ill winter-of certain forage crops i.tfind.'their possession during this period ' '"by anv farmer can be turned to prohti ; «l)le use, whether for feeding dairy catI -tie, beef cattle, or sheep.. Among such • crops may be mentioned Biidiv kale, tltou-6aml-hea(io(l i kale, emerald. rye, and wini ior vetches, prairie grass (bronuis umoloi. ,ides) and crimson clover, AVestern AVolths ! sryegrass (for strong, lands), oats and j Vetches, oats and field peas and dun i iKjafe. The last-named and emerald rye v'and'winter' vetches are perhaps the only ierops. that will grow during tho winter ''experienced in the southern districts oi the Dominion, whereas all grow elsewhere during this period. "With tho climatic and 'soil' fertility conditions posf -eessed by ;Ncw Zealand there should be, i '3io excuse for live stock, to any extent i wanting food. Most districts grow rooj-s i' ■well, und. where hay cannot be made ! >onsiWe can be provided. Where, owing i to uftoreseen circumstances or' other i -causes'. all three cannot be produced, j iiwinter feed, embracing certain of- the crops mentioned, may still !x> grown. _ ■ ! ; Ensilage-making ail'opls an economical ■ meaiis oi conserving surplus feed proin seasons.of sood rainfall, for use } during winter or during dry seusons that. ! iollow. In. Australia-ensilage has been f. tept for a period of ten years, and at the I -'enU-of that period'was still palatable and ! otherwise satisfying'to stock. Such conI Eoryed fodder is of . special value to pre- ! yailingly .or seasonally dry sections of the i country. The extensive practice .of this ft principle of surplus-feed conservation and j'tho adoption of/ensilage-making gener-a-ally in districts unsuited for :■ thus present further means of increasing vthe country's' agricultural output. ' tiumnier forage—in tho form of maize, ! millets, 'sorghums,"'oats and vetches, or I oats and peas—serves to materially sup- : iplement the pasture when dried up somei what in late summer and early autumn. I fl'his provision of abundance of succui lent gree'ii feeil for cutting, and carting : •out to' daify cattle tends to keep- up the : milk-yield, mid hence, if generally car - l'ied outi will considerably 1 ; augment the ; output of dairy products throughout the i Dominion. ..Lucerne produces the sair.o j .stimulating, effect, and is of great value ;in feeding in .any.,form 'lo .all .'live stock, i summer or winter. The growing of this ! fodder wherever possible throu£i',out the I cojmtry will-vastly increase agricnltural | jirpductionf'so.' -palafabre and nutritious i isiibs'io ill. kinas„'ftf;,farm animals. Its .perennial.siipj)ly-.of ilio most nourishing ! of ivnimal foods, once the crop is ' established, arid its suitability for provid- ;. ing feed in fornr of;pnstm'c, green feed, ! hay, "arid' rtnsilage, Tender it easily the ! most vi'ilnabie forage crop in the agrif cultural world. Where lucerne cannot *be grown successfully red clover can »o i eubsiitnted, also with excellent results,