FIFTY FARMERS DISPLAY PROFITABLE WISDOM

Shannon News, 27 December 1929, Page 3

FIFTY FARMERS DISPLAY PROFITABLE WISDOM

Triumph for Ensilage

DEPARTMENTAL ADVICE IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE

Throughout the Alanawatu tnerc was a decreased output of milk and cream during the month of August, as a result of a delayed grass growth. There are a half-hundred farmers, however, who are reaping the' reward of a little forethought last spring; dairymen who realised the value of ensilage and when the grass failed to come away, were nevertheless able to give their cows an abundance of succulent feed. Their piofitable experience should be a lesson to other farmers. Delayed Growth of Grass. The current season, with the spring growth of grass delayed because of the weather, has emphasised the value of the practice of saving ensilage from the surplus pasture growth which usually occurs on farms during November and December, even after provision has been made for the normal hay requirements of the farm. Last season, within easy radius of Palmcrston North, about 50 farmers saved ensilage,-the majority of them doing this for the first time. All but three or four of these were quite successful, and further, those very few who failed to know the cause of their failure and will not again make the same mistake. Within the past few weeks especially, those who have made ensilage arc very pleased at having done so, for i! lias proved of great value in carrying along satisfactorily while.the pastures Lave been unusually quiet in growth. During the past few months, ensilage has been fed with good results in the Manawatu both to. dairy stock and to sheep. It has been found in the Manawatu, as in other .places, that sheep do not take to ensilage readily at firstjj and it becomes necessary to keep the sheep on short rations for a few days as a means of inducing them to commence on it. Once they have started tin the ensilage, however, they develop a readiness to consume the supply of it fed out to them. One farmer running about 1000 sheep fed his ewes on ensilage right up to lambing time and expresses himself, as well pleased with the results. He fed in the vicinity of 21b, a day per ewe and at the present time, his lambs are well forward and his ewes looking very well. Early Action Called Tor.

Ensilage particularly calls for consideration at the present juncture, for many farms offer suitable sites for pit? or trenches for storing and if ensilage is to be stored in these during the current season, their construction must be proceeded with at an early date, so as to have them in readiness when the surplus grass growth becomes available in November or December. It should be borne in mind that a great deal of potential benefit of the practice of en silage making is missed if the worfc is not carried out as soon as the gras* growth "is at a suitable stage for ensi lage production; For instance, ensilageproduction carried out as early as pos sible results in a very valuable fresit leafy second growth on the area from which it has been saved, but if production is unduly delayed, this valuable' second growth often may not be obtained. Further, the early saved ensilage is likely to be of better quality in that it will possess less fibre or woocliness, which is quite: a consideration if it becomes desirable to feed to dairy cows during late summer or autumn. The pit system of saving ensilage or modifications of the pit system, offer certain distinct advantages; e.g., it ob viates the necessity for purchasing equipment for hoisting the green material. On the other hand, suitable sites are not always obtainable. These and similar matters are all considered in a new bulletin on ensilage being published by the Department of Agriculture within a few days. Copies of the bulletin may be obtained free of charge on application at the nearest office of the Department of Agriculture,

Becoming Popular. Judging from inquiries coming to hand, it seems probable that the number who will make ensilage in the Manawatu during the present season will be much greater than last. The almost invariable success of the halfhundred or so who made ensilage last season is acting as an example to many others for the present season.

The prospects of increased ensilage production is very gratifying, for during the past two seasons, there has been a marked increase in the use of phosphate for pasture top-dressing: the best accompaniment of phospnktic topdressing of pastures is close grazing and the practice of ensilage production often greatly assists in maintaining a closely grazed condition' of grassland during a critical period of the season. In other words, general ensilage production is a step towards the realisation of the maximum results from the top-dressing of pastures. This phase of ensilage production from grassland is at times but obscurely grasped. The method of making from surplus grass growth is a radically different economic proposition from ensilage production in which forage crops are grown especially for

the purpose and in which, consequently, there is considerable extra direct cost of the material from which the ensilage is to be made. rrom all Soils. Profitable and successful ensilage production was carried out last year over a wide range of conditions in the Wellington district—heavy clays,, sands, rieli alluvial flats all provided their quota of farms on which ensilage was successfully saved. Both the pit and the stack system of saving were satisfactorily adopted and there were a few instances of the successful use of oils. No longer can it be said that, ensilage is faew to the district and that it is something about which there is no local experience. There are now very few farmers who cannot obtain within reasonable distance, the experience of fellow farmers in respect both to the saving and the utilisation of ensilage. Interchange of ideas will disclose that the labour difficulties attaching to it are more in the nature of a bogey than anything else, particularly if modern labour-saving equipment is employed. The present need is for immediate consideration of the proposition, so that everything may be ready at the right time if it is decided to save ensilage. Apart from the bulletin already referred to, the department will furnish all available advice on application.