WORKATRUAKURA

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20739, 24 February 1939, Page 8

WORKATRUAKURA

CONTROL OF PASTURES CHECK TO FACIAL EOZJEMA HON. \V„ LEE MARTIN S ADDRESS "One of the features of the work of the Department of Agriculture in the last three years has been tiir* development of Huakura as an experimental farm.' said the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. \V. Lee Martin, when speaking at a Held day at Ruakura to-day. “This development has by no means finished, but the work already being carried out lias a deep significance to the farming community.

“Perhaps the chief interest at prose the elaborate investigations which are being made into facial eczema, a disease which took heavy toll of our stock in the early months of last year," said the speaker. "L'n i?r a management committee comprising three representative farmers, and three officers of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the largest single investigation into any single farming problem is being carried out. L'p to the present, climatic conditions have hindered the attempts to induce the disease artificially, but the committee has already issued a valuable report on pasture ment as a means of preventing the disease, which has received wide publicity, and I hope every farmer haa seen this valuable announcement. If he has not the Department of Agriculture will be pleased to supply him with a copy. Dairy Cow Nutrition "I recently agreed to another experiment being carried out at Ruakura in connection with dairy cow nutrition. Serious disorders In dairy cows in the Waikato are generally attributed to unbalanced grass consumed at certain seasons of the year. Grass staggers, bloat and milk fever cause serious losses each year and

unbalanced grass is usually blamed. It Is now proposed to make a systematic examination of pastures throughout the year under different forms of grassing management. Investigation will also be carried out on the composition and feeding value of hay and

silage, the use of concentrates, and

other nutritional factors affecting the health of our dairy 6tock.”

The winter feeding trials for pigs, which were started in 1938, yielded valuable practical information for the farmer, and these were being continued,” said the Minister. The results of these trials would no doubt be a wonderful guide in the production of high-grade bacon on a payable basis, and surely one could not expect a better result. The pig feeding trials also included sow nutrition and litter feeding. Control of Feed Flavour “We are also Investigating bull fertility and experiments are being made into the possibilities of artificial insemination. Reports of this work will be issued from time to time. We have already had valuable results in connection with the grazing trials for '.hr* control of feed flavour. These trials have si'own the value of winter spelling of pastures as a means of checking the clover dominance of pastures inthe spring, and the results of this work should do much not only to check feed flavour, but also to eliminate some of the stock troubles which are associated with clovery pastures at the beginning of the growing season.” Chilled Beef Production Chilled beef production was also A being studied at Ruakura. The aim 7 of this work was to vary the dates of calving in order that calves would be born when there was a surplus of grass which was not required for sheep feed. Information on the rate of growth at various periods of the year was being obtained, and an endeavour was being made to formulate a standard of carcass measurement for the correct type of carcass for the chilled beef trade. Experiments were also being conducted at Ruakura in connection with ragwort control and other work was being planned from time to time by the management committee.

“1 wish to express my gratitude to the members of the management committee for the valuable work they are doing," concluded the speaker. “They are the link between the department and the farmer, and they have been a tower of strength in our various investigations."

SYRIAN CABINET

FORMED BY FINANCE MINIBTER

United Press Assn.—Elec.

Received Feb. 2 <4. 3.15 p.m.) DAMASCUS. Feb. 23 Lufti Ilaffar, Minister of Finance, has formed a Cabinet.

Yesterday it was reported that the Syrian leader, Mazfiar Pasha Raslame, had failed to form a Cabinet.