CULTIVATION RESULTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 212, 26 November 1927, Page 27 (Supplement)

CULTIVATION RESULTS

INTERESTING EXPERIMENTS MORE STOCK PF.R ACRE Interesting findings have resulted from a series of experiments carried on over a number of years in the Harper Adams Cotiege, England, to test the possibility of maintaining cows entirely on cultivation land throughout the year. The results of the whole series of

experiments shows that milk production can be practised with success upon cultivation land. Careful records of costs were kept, and the acre returr from cultivated and grass lands compared. „ ... . « The best acre of arable land in one test yielded 1.035 gallons of milk, while the best acre of grazed land yielded onlj •>52 S 5 gallons. The average yields oi milk from an acre under soiling crops

was 499.4 gallons, against 195.5 gallons from the grass land. Tho general conclusions may be summarised its follow: Dairy cows fed on a succession of forage crops, suitably chosen and correctly arranged, can be successfully maintained upon arable land during the summer months. With careful management stock can be kept in perfect health under this system, but greater care and skill are necessary than when cows are pastured, especially as regards the feeding of the crops, the greatest danger being in a sudden change from succulent 'o comparatively dry fodder. More stock can oe supported upon a given area of land when kept on the soiling system. At least three Limes as much stock can be maintained by soiling. Some experimenters have claimed that four or five times as many can be kept. Great possibilities are opened up by tho partial adoption of such methods upon any dairy farm. Many successful dairy farmers have been practising such methods for a number of years. In all of our dairying districts land values are high, and the return obtained from grass lands alone is not sufficient to provide the dairy farmer with an adequate income after interest upon invested capital and all other expenses have been met. While the cost of production per unit is considerably higher the net returns show a good margin of profit while J rates, taxes, etc., remain the same. | Judgment in the selection of fodder I crops would be required, and naturally | climatic conditions would largely influence the dairy farmer in his choice, but there is still room for much im- : provement in this direction in New j Zealand's farm lands.

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