FEEDING COWS IN AUTUMN.

Shannon News, 31 March 1925, Page 1

FEEDING COWS IN AUTUMN.

The lactation period from January to about the middle of May plays an important; part in the New 'Zealand dairy industry, for during those months a cow should give approximately one third of her total yearly yield. It is becoming more and more recognised that in the past, dairy farmers in this country have too much relied on grass alone a'nd by doing so have greatly reduced the average of their annual production. With a regular rainfall such as we experienced during the present season resulting in an almost continuous growth of pasture, the lack of supplimentary fodder may be less felt, a’nd it is a season such as the present that, makes the average dairy farmer take a risk on future occasions.

January-May is the most critical feeding period of the year, for-as every dairyman knows-if cows are allowed to go dowh in milk, no feeding will bring them back again. It is safe to say that even in the best of seasons, pastures only are insufficient during these months, and a supply of green forages is. essential if the milk yield is to be kept up. Lucerne, millet and rape are required during late summer feeding, followed by maize, soft turnips and mangels during Autumn, and hay and swedes for the winter.

Although it is only ’natural that the milk flow of an in-calf-cow should decrease, the falling off, of the average dairy herd from February onwards is far greater than it should be or is necessary to be. How many herds make an excellent show early in the season, and after New Year begin to go off rapidly, sometimes even in spite of good feed. It is simply because during previous seasons, when a drought sets in perhaps, or no green feed was provided, they were allowed to go off for the want of supplimentary foriage before the proper time and after 2 or 3 seasons adopted the habit of starting to dry. off from January onwards. This habit of drying off early in the season is quickly acquired, by young stock particularly.