COW FODDER FOR DRY WEATHER.

Waipa Post, Volume II, Issue 53, 17 October 1911, Page 4

COW FODDER FOR DRY WEATHER.

STATE FARM EXPERIMENT. [By Primrose McConnell, in the Journal of the Department of Agriculture.] An experiment has been carried out at the Moumahaki Experimental Farm at the request of the Eltham branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, the fodders experimented with being chosen by the union. The object was to discover the fodder most suitable for tiding cows over the dry season without the labour and expense of cutting and leading off, as is necessary when maize is grown. The three fodders selected were Bhuda kale, Thousandheaded kale, and rape. Onefifth of an acre of each was sown in No. 2 paddock, which this season has been entirely devoted to variety crop experiments. The

seeds were sown on 18th October, on raised ridges 26 inches apart, at the rate of 2%lbs per acre. The fertilisers used were sown at right angles to the fodder rows, a month previous to sowing the seed.

All the fodders made a rapid growth, and by Ist January the rape and Thousand-headed kale had reached a height of Bft, and were dense in proportion. The Bhuda kale, though not so tall, yet weighed a heavy tonnage to the acre. It can be easily understood that to turn cows on to a crop of such proportions would mean an enormous waste of ioclder. seeing that probably as much would be trampled under foot as eaten. In a smaller crop, of course, the waste would not be so noticeable. BAD EFFECT ON MILK-FLAVOUR. Tii feeding of the fodder to the cows was commenced on the 17th January, and carried out for thirty-six days. The milk yield was weighed morning and night. Each fodder was tested by the same cows and fed to them for a period of six days at a time only, so as to eliminate the effects of a change of weather as far as possible. During the whole thirtysix clays, however, no rain fell. At the end of each six days, feeding with a different fodder was immediately proceeded with. The weight of the milk during any of the six days on any of the fodders is an average of the last three days only, as the first three days would be more or less influenced by the previous feeding. The fodders were carted off and fed to the cows immediately after the morning's milking, each cow receiving about 70lb. All three fodders gave a very pronounced unpleasant flavour to both milk and butter, and the latter was of very inferior quality, THOUSAND-HEADED KALE THE BEST. The Bhuda kale gave> the highest average milk-yield; on the other hand, it yielded much less weight per acre. Taking all good and bad points of the three fodders into consideration, the thousand-headed kale undoubtedly stands at the top, as far as this experiment is concerned, as it has yielded the highest average of milk, and has proved itself a good drought and parasite resister. For my own part I consider that none of the above fodders, when fed to cows, can in any way' be compared to maize or millet, even when you take into consideration the fact that the maize is a heavier drain on the soil, and must bear the extra cost of cutting and leading.

VALUE OF MAIZE-FEEDING

When the experiment of the above fodder was brought to a close the cows were immediately put on-to the maize. The effect of the change was magical; in two days there was an increase in the daily average milk-yield per cow of 2%1b., and the quality of the milk and quality and flavour of the butter became perfect. Thirteen cows were fed on two-fifths of an acre of maize for two months. Two acres giving a similar yield would carry a large In rd through a lengthy dry period. The Early Red Hogan and Eclipse varieties are two of the best fodder maizes, and the cows readily eat every part, even the hardest of the stalk. The Red Hogan variety, in spite of the long drought, has" reached a height of lift. JAPANESE MILLET. One acre of Japanese millet has been grown here this season, and gave an average of 22 tons of green fodder per acre. This fodder is rapidly corning to the front, and in many instances, in Australia in particular, it is taking the place of maize. It is credited with giving a greater milk yield than maize, is hardier, not so easily injured by the wind, and, what is of greater importance, yields a good aftergrowth. Some growers allow the millet to reach a height of about 3ft, then turn the cows in. When this system is adopted the crop may be eaten off three times during the season. Millet, like maize, should be sown in rows 30 inches apart to admit of after-cultivation.