FURZE OR GORSE AS FEED FOR FARM STOCK.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1524, 11 April 1882, Page 3

FURZE OR GORSE AS FEED FOR FARM STOCK.

ATe Awamutu correspondent writes :—: — Sonic writers in The Field have lately been advocating the use of crushed gorsc as feed for horses and cattle. And it appears that some fanners at home are in the habit of keening farm horses exclusively on gorse. It is argued that as gorse contains much less water than roots, or fresh grass, no fodder is needed with it ; and that its nutritive properties are sufficiently high to keep horses in good condition. Mr Fraser Tytler says ;— On first making trial of bruised furze as feed for farm horses, he gave 18 ]r lbs to each animal per day, with 3 lbs 2 oz of oats, and as much straw as they cared to eat. (Subsequently, he cultivated more gorse with the view of depending on it almost entirely in the winter foddering of eight horses, aix of which got 28 lbs each per <l<iy, aiul the other two from 20 lbs to 22 lbs Corn w;is withheld during the short days of winter ; but in spring, when they had heavier work, half allowance of oats, or 3 lbs 2 oz each per day was given. His statement of results is as follows : Notwithstanding that the allowance of oats was thus materially lessened all through the season, the condition of the horses was equal, if not superior, to what it had been during previous years, the quantity of corn withdrawn appearing to be more than compensated by the additional 10 lbs of gor&e. A Welsh farmer writes than in his neighbourhood the whole of the farm horses are kept on gorse throughout winter with the addition of a little oats only. From the ai tides in The Field it appears that the subject is now attracting much attention in England. The sowing down of worn out paddocks with gor&e is recommended, and the quantity of seed per acre to be used given. A writer in the Highland Society's Journal says : — I consider that, economically, there is no food more suitable than furze for yearlings and calves, dining winter. It holds a middle place between hay and roots, the first being too dry and indigestible for their young organs, and the other too laxative. They are ravenously fond of it. A remarkable effect of this feeding is, that store cattle will coat and be in condition to meet the early markets a month sooner than usual — as grass beef I mean ; and I find my own experience in that respect confirmed by many gentlemen. Furze has a peculiar sanative property on ill-thriving beasts. One gentleman had an unhealthy heifer, so bad that he had determined to part with her at any price ; but, on my recommendation, he tried her with a course of furze. In two months she entirely recovered and ultimately turned out as well as any of his lot. From the above extracts it would appear that the new chum who is represented as having lately made the mistake of sowing his turnip seed on his bank, and the gorse in his paddock, was, after all, following the latest style of higU farming.