AUTUMN FEED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 March 1941, Page 3

AUTUMN FEED

PROVISION FOR STOCK. VALUE OF SPECIAL CROPS. The problem encountered during the autumn period on the farm are associated with the provision of suitable feed for all classes of stock. Dairy cows are naturally falling off in production but a further loss of production due to poor feeding should be avoided. The feeding of hoggets at this time of the year requires special attention so that they may enter the winter under the most favourable conditions. i The of the ewe flock also ! demancls consideration. Owing to the . falling off in supplies of skim milk and whey, a further supplement requires to be fed to the pigs, especially io those pigs which have Io be fattened before die wiiiie:-. The feed required al this tirn’c c.f the year is mainly in the iisinre cf grevii feed to :-.uppk'mci.it the failing grass supply. Special c-rops which liave been previously sown for ibis period and which may m>w be effectively utilised are green niaiz.,- tmd green mil'.-t, particularly for dairy cows, soft immips. and chon nioellier. The final cut of I lucerne may be fed out green. V/itli j the turnips arid ehou moellier, good | clover or lucerne bay or oatsiwaf chart' | may bo led out to advantage. Fe-r slud j stock pc-:':: : ; are a e;-op which is now I available. Cm gras.'laiid farms good, silage :md hay may require io be i'ed j out new or in near fiilu.-e. Temporary i pastures and pastures cut earlier fori nay or seed frequently provide- good [ green feed at this time. For pigs, crops 1 available now are pens, barley, chon moellier. soft turnips, second grade potatoes, and early pumpkins, carrots and artichokes. To provide feed for the late autumn and early winter, some provision can still be made. Special catch crops of green feed oats or barley may be sown now and will be ready for feeding out within six weeks to two months of the sowing date. Temporary leys of Italian ryegrass or Western Wolths and red clover may also be sown in March or April but in the colder districts sowing too late in March or April is not to be recommended.