CARE OF DAIRY COWS DURING WINTER.

Shannon News, 23 July 1929, Page 4

CARE OF DAIRY COWS DURING WINTER.

DRYING OFF PROCESS. ( By Agricultural Department) The seasonal production of milk in the dairying centres of Now Zealand is at a low ebb at the present time. The majority of the dairy herds are dried'off and the cows are enjoying a much needed rest from production. There are several methods of drvingofT cows, some owners preferring one method and some preferring another. The main object should bo in all cases to leave tho udder in such a condition that the tendency for inflammation'.in the organ is reduced to a minimum. The usual method is to gradually . in-; crease the time between each milking. In the case of some high producing animal considerable difficulty is experieuced at times in. drffing-off the animals. It would appear that nothing short of starvation in these rare cases is sufficient to prevent milk-secertion, and in such cases it .is more desirable to continue milking’throughout than to dcpr.ve the animal of a sufficient food supply. The pregnant cow whether ‘ producing or not has to meet the demands of a developing foetus besides maintaining her condition, or as is more to be desired the building up of a deficit as, a result of the last sen sou’s production, and also a-reserve for the subsequent season’s production. When these points are considered it wiU be .seen that the maintenance of tho food supply during the winter months is of first .importance. As. the growth of ' grass in, the winter is of mauv canes ’ is not sufficient to " meet demands auxiliary supplementary feeding is necessary. In many cases roots and hay are the only supplementary foods ■ available but of later years’ there is more and more ensilage being used for winter feeding. Good ensilage as a foodstuff is superior in feeding value to roots alone and about equal to roots combined with a, liberal allowance of good hay. Inferior ensilage on the other hand has a low food value, due to the effect of harmful acids of ferinoh

tatioh. In connection with the winter • feeding of dairy cows especially where roots or cliou-mollicr form the major ;• portion of the.ration there is a danger of the trouble known as ‘‘ red-water ’ ’ occurring. This trouble is apparently duo -to too much bulky watery food and can bo prevented by combining hay with tho root ' ration. Moreover the ’ cow is more benefitted and maintains better condition when roots are not used to excess and when fed in conjunction with a quantity of well-saved hay. Lucerne hay or clover hay is more 1 valuable on account of its. containing a higher percentage of calcium and protein, very necessary elements . in the development of the unborn calf. Frosted roots are dangerous as they may cause severe indigestion and bloating. Balance the Ration. Occasionaly trouble is experienced when feeding ensilage to cattle, and here again the excessive nse of ensilage alone is in many oases the cause of the trouble. An attempt should be made to combine hay with a watery food such as ensilage, roots, and chou-mol-lier. In far too many cases no attempt is made to balance’the cow’s winter ration on account of a universal short; age of concentrates, < but where avail ■ able a small daily ration of a concentrate'rich in protein such as'some of the recognised cattle cakes should .be used. From feeding experiments which have been* carried put it has been shown that the extra return in milk yield from cows receiving a concentrate ration has more than paid for the increased cost of feeding. There is also the satisfaction that an attempt is being made to balance a ration f which is otherwise much too bulky with an excess of water and starches. It is a noteworthy fact also that in town supply herds where concentrate feeding in • winter, is necessary to maintain the milk-supply, many troubles. to which dairy cows are prone, are not so prevalent..

In connection with mangold feeding of cows occasionally it is forgotten that these roots require to be stored .for some weeks before feeding in order to prevent loss from an otherwise valuable root crop. If the above points are borne in mind a considerable reduction in the winter mortality of dairy cows from digestive troubles should be effected. Feed Well. Almost every winter cases are reported of cows dying from paralysis before or after calving. After investigation it is quite apparent in some cases that the animals have not received sufficient food during the winter. If cows are worth keeping it always pays to feed them well. A scarcity of winter feed is merely a question of mismanagement of the balance between summer -and

winter requirements. It is always safe to provide a quantity of hay in.excess .of apparent requirements. Any excess may be held over or may be fed with advantage during the spring months. A saving of winter feeding may be effected by the provsion of shelter and wmrmth. During the digestion and absorption of food a certain amount is ro quired to repair waste/ to maintain • condition, to provide for the developing calf and to maintain the heat of the body. If then the heat of the body is maintained by the provision of shelter from ground hedges, or by the uso j of covers for the cattle, less food is required for heat production with a consequent improvement of condition in such animals.

Need For Shelter. In certain bleak districts or areas subject to flooding during the. winter months enough attention has not been paid to the provision of adequate ihelter. In many cases also the method adopted of feeding out hay in the paddocks is a wasteful method. A portion is lost through being trodden into, the ground, and destroyed by rain. Hay fed out of movable hay racks would be an advantage over the usual broadcast method.

The feeding of dairy cows over the

dry period is therefore of some importance from the point of production in a subsequent season. Particular attention should be paid to this season at the time t obuild up condition and reserves with a view to warding off attacks of disease. The animal’s resisting powers are reinforced by good feed and as a consequence one expects less trouble from paralysis and other ills which occur about calving time.