FORAGE FOR COWS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 25 February 1913, Page 7

FORAGE FOR COWS

(Hv T. W. Lonsdale, in the tural .Journal.)

A question which otten proves perplexing to the dairy farmer, and one which requires .serious consideration, is how t:> prorido a supply oi' early spring forage lor in-c;ilving cows. The subject is of vital imparlance. :v-> each spring numbers of cows drop their calves before the ordinary paslures are producing more thai) stifliciiM'.t to maintain liie. At such times the value of artiiieial feeding is inestimable. Numerous crops ai'e well adapted for supplying tin 1 dairyman's requirements, and the virtues of several have already heen expounded by tho writer.

A plant which has not received the attention it merits for this purpose is chou mollier, though it has formed tho subject of numerous favourable reports. As forage for dairy cows it probably excels. An important experiment in this connection- has been conducted at the Moumiahaki Experimental Farm, the . primary object of which was to test the value of various forage crops for fattening lambs for the early market. On the 29th March, 1912. several acres wore sown with rape, Hilda .;ah\ thousa,lid-headed kale, silver-beet, and chou mollier. The seed was sown on ridges 26in apart, and the plants wore afterwards singled to, roughly, about loin apart. The crop was horse-hoed late in the autumn and during the early spring, but very little cultivation could be iriven owing to continuous .rains. With the excontiion of isilvciiMhcot (which' was sown at the rate of Olb of seed per acre) the other varieties of forage received 31b seed per acre. Tho manure, 3£cwfc per acre, was similar throughout, being hasic superphosphate. 3 cwt; .sulphate of potash, -Jowt; and nitrate of soda, J-c;wt. Chou mollier produced tho heaviest crop, and on the 16th September, when stocking commenced, the approximate yield was 20 tons per acre. Tt was not so readilv. oato'i as rape, though as cow-feed it certainly apnenred nre-emi.nent.

Considering that chou mother thrives. during tho winter, is easily cultivated, transplants readily. nml •rives a wonlt!t cf feed during ihe enrlv spring, it will amply renav lii 1 farmer to give it a trial next autumn.