VALUE OF ENSILAGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1239, 30 April 1914, Page 4

VALUE OF ENSILAGE.

SOME GOOD ADVICE. One of the strongest advocates for ensilage is Mr W. Dibble, of the Agricultural Department, and during the past year or two he has been holding demonstrations in both islands. He pursed the matter further before a gathering of farmers at Apiti, and in the course of an interesting address said that it should be an inducement to grow ensilage, from the fact that from one-third to one-fourth more stock can be carried on a given area, and kept in a healthy thriving condition. It will also enable dairy-farmers to have a longer milking period out of the cows by letting them calve earlier during the spring. Continuing, he said “ I would recommend ensilage be given to cows before they calve, once daily, averaging 3olb each. It will be found that they will calve much easier, and also be inclined to have a much better flow of milk. After calving give each cow from 30ID to 401 b daily, with a dry fodder of some kind, especially during the cold and showery weather of spring-time. In the summer mouths there is no necessity tor dry fodder being fed with ensilage. It will also pay handsomely to provide a cover fur each cow after calving, especially during cold wet weather. 7'be cover should be taken off every fine day day. If left on for any length of time without removal the cow loses so much of her coat that the benefit from the use of the cover is lost. Settlers on the Mataura Islands are carrying out an experiment in ensilage, versus roots. The last report says the bullocks are more contented and and do better when fed on ensilage in a clean paddock than when being turned on to roofs to help themselves; also that calves on one farm fed on ensilage had wintered better than calves on a neighbouring farm that had been wintered on turnips. A further trial is to be carried out during this coming winter and ensilage has been made on several farms for the purpose.” Dealing with crops for ensilage, he said : “ Apart from grasses and clovers there are lucerne, maize, sorghums, millet, oats, and oats and tares, which make a valuable ration for feeding to dairy cows. These can be made in the stack form, I would recommend maize put in drills 24 to 27 inches apart and worked through the drills with a cultivator ; also oats and tares when chaffed or cut into lengths, as the above make an ideal food for producing milk of a first-class quality. Oats and tares may be sown for preference iu this district owiug to frosts. Sow iu autumn two bushels Triumph oats aud one bushel winter tares or vetches. Manure with bonedust aud superphosphate in equal quantities from 2cwt to 3cwt per acre; then sow in December and feed in February if necessary, or earlier, if the need demands.” Mr Dibble recommended also the growing of lucerne and experiments of silver beet for cows.