ADVANTAGES OF SILAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1930, Page 2

ADVANTAGES OF SILAGE

V The value of silage is not fully ap- ) predated in Australia, remarks the . - Australian” of a recent date; if it [ "as there would be a silo on every , farm where live-stock is kept. Apart , from the nutrients it contains tin's suc- , culent feed li'ids in keep.ng animals in thrifty condition so that they will make the most of their feed. Mine© jc furnishes at any time of the year a uniform supply of succulent feed nearly equal in palatability and nutritive effect to the pasturage of early summer, silage is unexcelled for dairy cows, beef cattle, and sheep. With an abundance of silage and legume hay the amount of concentrates that must oe purchased or grown may be greatly reduced. Silage is especially valuable lor breeding stock and young animals, keeping them in better conditions than if wintered on dry forage only. By tlie use of maize silage, combined with other cheap roughages, dairy cows may gain steadily all winter at small cost, and by spring they will be in condition to make the best use of pasture. Over a large part of tbs United States silage is a recognised means of lowering the cost of producing milk and meat. In an address to North Coast fanners the New South Wales Director for Agriculture (Mr I

A. 11. E. McDonald) referred to. the benefits of silage. Fodder crops were not always . available when feed was , scarce in pastures, but with a silo farmers could conserve their crops when at their best, and utilise the silage when most indeed. The number of animals could thus be increased fluring summer, with the assurance that they would be maintained in good condition through winter, and when spring arrived they would be able to take full advantage of the flush of feed in the pastures. The silo should lie a more important factor in Australian agriculture than it is.