CATTLE FEED.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1917, Page 4

CATTLE FEED.

A SUCCESSFUiT EXPERIMENT.

ON MR WHEELER’S FARM

No doubt many of our readers interested in agricultural pursuits will 1 remember a co-operative experiment being carried out at Rotomauu on Mr A. IT. Wheeler’s farm, viz., the growing of maize and the conversion of the crops into ensilage/ The stack was built in April, 1016, under the direction of Mr Dibble, Government expert. It was not required last winter and the stack has just been cut into with the most satisfactory results. There is only a waste of from four, to six inches around the sides and on the top, and the cattle take to it readily. The stack was built in an open paddock with no protection of any sort, and lias been exposed to the elements since April, 19 Id. A foot of earth was placed on the top upon completion, and last summer grass was growing there three feet high. The general opinion expressed was that the whole thing would be a heap of manure. It has been amply demonstrated, however, that green fodder can be preserved in this way and apparently kept for any length of time, and that the climatic conditions obtaining in this district have no detrimental effect. When we consider the risk of making hay in many seasons and how often it loses a large proportion of its food value before it is fit to stack, the labor and anxiety is out of all proportion to its value. On the other haiid, any green crop may be cut the moment it is fit, l’ain or shine; it may be immediately stacked, and the stacking may go on, whatever the weather conditions may be, for several days or for three weeks. No thatching is required or expensive barns, while no food value is lost and there is 110 anxiety of saving the crop. With the abundance of succulent growth produced in this district during the summer months there seems to be ro reason for any shortage of cattle feed during winter months when it cau be secured for future use in the simple and inexpensive ensilage stack.