PREPARING FOR WINTER.

Shannon News, 20 April 1928, Page 1

PREPARING FOR WINTER.

DON'T WAIT FOR THE PINCH. He is a wise farmer? who anticipates and provides for bad times, and yet, through the Hawke's Bay at aiy rate, little enough advantage appears to havevbeen taken of; the abundant growth of feed this summer to provide winter rations should the weather be cold and wet. On every hand, grass paddocks have gone to seed with rank growth unsuitable for stock- , for want of the effort whieh would convert this surplus feed into hay or ensilage.

Those who have not the surplus feed to make into hay or ensilage can make valuable provision for their stock with root crops which, whatever the sqason here may be, will be valuable for fattening stock, or can bo .sold at a good profit. It is poor farming to wait until the pinch' of winter comes before thinking of provision for the animals i« your care.

Should we experience a hard winter hoggets especially will not do well unless special feed such as turnips ana good short grass are provided, to emsure them the best possible treatment. Many farmers rely on the % rank summer and autumn growth which is left over to carry their sheep through the winter. It is certainly wonderful what an old ewe or a wether will eat and survive on if it is com-, polled to eat or die, but after such rank grass has been exposed to the elements for some months there is very little real nourishment left in it. ft certainly serves to fill the stomach of he sheep, but usually produces digestive troubles and scour from which the animals take some time to recover in the spring.

With the knowledge we now have of the value of short grass as compared with long, cattle should occupy an even more important role on the farm than formerly in order that the feed may be kept short and in the condition in which it will provide most nourishment for sheep. No doubt cattle will be difficult to procure at a reasonable figure this autumn for it ia already gradually being recognised that their services will be invaluable in keeping the pastures fit'for sheep, but even at a comparatively high price they are likely to more than pay for themselves.

It is to be hoped that the optimistic farmer who believes that all will be well and that the feed will continue to grow throughout the winter will find his optimism justified, but, at the same time, it will do no harm to anticipate ;and as far as possible provide for a cold, wet winter in which the stock will need all the extra care which is given them.