TALL FESCUE SILAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5079, 24 January 1927, Page 4

TALL FESCUE SILAGE.

EXPERIMENT AT ORONGO. Officers o'f the Department of Agriculture are now conducting an experiment at Orongo to determine the qualities of ensilage made from ergot infected tall fescue. It is thought that the heat generated in the making of the silage may neutralise the poison, and the purpose of the experiment is to ascertain whether cattle fed on such ensilage fare better than cattle grazed on ergot-infected tall fescue.

Under the supervision of the department’s instructor for the district, Mr Woodcock, a quantity of ensilage was made last week. It is understood that it is the intention of the department to bring some ca.ttlc from an outside district. Some wlil be fed on silage alone, others on silage ami clean pasture, and others on silage and ergot-infect-ed pasture. The 'feeding will be under the supervision of the district office) of the Live Stock Division, Mr RDenize.

Opinions are held that even if the poison is not neutralised in the en-silage-making process the experiment may prove that it is sound practice to feed silage. It is a very succulent food, and will act as an aperient. Experience on the settlement has shown that cattle will winter fairly well on ergot-infected tall fescue provided there is a growth of water-grass, or other growth that will cause scouring. Ergot poisoning accounts f°r about >5O per cent, of the cattle o'f the Orongo district annually. Cows only slightly affected drop in butter-fat, yield very quickly.