ROGGING CATTLE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 170, 2 May 1916, Page 4

ROGGING CATTLE.

The Best Method of Increasing Milk Yields.

A writer in the Melbourne " Leader" the other day referred to the satisfactory results in milk production which had accrued from rugging his milch stock. " Previous to adopting the rugging system," he said, " I tried various plans, such as giving the cows hot feed at night and morning, and putting up windbreaks, but the cost of production was not reduced, nor was the yield increased. Then I covered my first cow. I was so surprised at the result that I had to go over the tests again and again to make sure of the result."

Judging by the tenor of this writer's remarks, one would imagine that " rugging " cattle was purely experimental, and that the Melbourne man had discovered a system as novel as it satisfactory. But such is not the case. Bugging cattle is well known to many owners of dairy stock, and it would be hard to find a man interested in cattle and who has tried it who would not sing its praises. Besults have proved beyond doubt what rugging cattle will do; for milk yields have been known literally to increase by leaps and bounds through the exercise of what, after all, is merely a little judiciously bestowed care.

Mr Stuart, chief inspector of stock, speaking to the "Farmer and Settler " this week said: " Bugging cows is undoubtedly the best method of increasing milk production. To put the whole thing in a nutshell: Animal heat is maintained at the expense of nutrition, and it is obvious that if cattle are rugged and their animal heat thus preserved, more nutrition remains for the elaboration of the milk. I have nothing to say against giving hot feed to cattle or putting up windbreaks. Both preserve warmth, and consequently tell in favour of big milk yields, but ' rugging' is of first impoitance, and though I regret to say that many farmers are likely to regard it as something new in dairy farming, I can assure you that it is a recognised system, long past the experimental stage." Mr O'Callaghan, the dairy expert of the scientific branch of the Agricultural Department, writing on this subject some years back, gave the following hints to those who wished to adopt the system:—(l) Bug the cattle at night, and do not wait for extremely severe weather to set in; i2) adjust the rugs wheD necessary so as to save their being torn, and remove the rugs in the morning during milking time, save on very cold aud wet days, putting them on again at night; (o) after heavy rain remove the rugs and allow them to dry in the sun before replacing on the cattle; (4) during wet weather remove the cattle to high sheltered ground where they will not have to lie down iu water, when the rugs, as well as the cattle, would become wet.

To the "Faimer and Settler " Mr O'Callaghan said that in his opinion "rugging" was an important and necessary precaution. His experiments had been sufficiently conclusive to show that there is a decided advantage to be gained by "rugging " dairy cattle during the winter months.

Practically ever cow in New Zealand will show a profit on the cost of her winter rug, but there is this danger to guard against. The rugs should not be allowed to remain on the cows for long periods when they are wet, lor then, instead of keeping the warmth in, they are letting it out and lowering the animals vitality. Bugs, like everything else in stock management, must bo used with intelligence.—" Farmer and Settler."