FEEDING THE COWS.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4464, 18 September 1909, Page 4

FEEDING THE COWS.

41 Mast dairymen,” says Mr Donald burner, a well-known New South Wales breeder, “ think they are giving (heir cows an adequate amount of feed, when their ignorance of the eating capacity of a cow is often responsible for an insufficient ration, and a consequent depreciation in the yield.” After the morning’s milking the cows at Mackenzie’s Flat—Mr Tur-

aar*s farm —are given a load of lucerne hay, which is scattered freely about in a paddock at the back of the milking-shed. The ground used for the purpose is gently undulating, and, as there is a good fall, which enables the water to get away quickly, it is always comparatively dry under foot. The hay is distributed over such a large area as to cause the cows to split up. This avoids congregation within a limited state, which would result in a large proportion of the hay being trodden in and destroyed. As it is, the ground is licked dean after every feed, and the waste is infinitesimal. When the morning repast is finished the cows are put on to one of the lucerne pad docks, where they remain until it is time to muster them for the evening’s milking. After that is over they are agafa fed on the lucerne hay, and allowed to remain in the paddock in which it is given to them until the morning*