THE LAND.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 212, 6 September 1924, Page 20

THE LAND.

GREATER DAIRY PRODUCTION. Herd testing is undoubtedly essential on the modern dairy farm, but it is only half tho battle for permanent efficiency in production. Breed is an essential to success, but not the only one. It 13 only one essential; the other, of equal, if not greater, importance in the actual circumstances is feed. Obviously, one must have the cow before one can feed it, and thus one must give breeding the first attention in the selection of a dairy cow for feeding, and to produce milk at a profit. From this arises the leading questions :—Are dairy farmers in the business to make the greatest possible profit, or just Euflicient profit to keep things going. Are they content to be the slaves, or do they wish to be the masters of their business? It is for them to think it over, and come to a definite decision. The direct cash value of dairy blood in a milking cow is her inherited ability to give the largest possible yield of milk from the food consumed. This ability has been bred and fed into her ancestors on both sides. The modern dairy cow is a made animal, an artificial product of the animal kingdom, brought into useful existence by the intelligence and judgment of man. In nature there is unceasingly operating a natural law. This is known as the law of reversion, in obedience to which every improvement on nature made by human hands and brains has to be kept up to the standard realised by constant effort, or it will quickly begin to go back to the primitive condition. Therefore a good dairy cow requires to be sufficiently and correctly fed in order that she may not only do her breed justice at the milk pail, but maintain her breeding quality. The science of feeding is simply the prevention of waste of nutriment in the

to be expected that it is as palatable as either clover or lucerne hay. Soil that will grow any of the other crops of the farm will grow Sudan grass sucesafully. It is not very particular in this respect. Sandy soils, with a reasonably degree of fertility, will grow Sudan grass well. It is a plant that demands both a warm soil and warm settled weather, so that early sowing is useless. Sowing should always be delayed to about the time for putting in maize. However, the earlier sowing has an advantage, because if the crop is to be made into hay, better weather may be expected. Not less than 251b of commercial seed should be sown to tho acre, and unless it is of low vitality, not more is necessary. It may be sown with any drill which will feed the seed 'successfully. The seed bed should be as well prepared as it is for grain crops. Care should be taken not to bury the seed too deeply; an inch being sufficient. Although it may be mown when the field is in full bloom, it is better to cut it just when the plants are beginning to head. The hay will be of a better quality, and it will also allow the second growth to make greater progress. With a full stand, from two to throe and a li»lf tons of cured hay should be secured. Being a crop that recovers qmckiy, Sudan grass may be used as a supplementary pasture, although-the better system is to cut and cart it out for' feeding. If the crop is pastured, cattle may bo turned in when the plants are about a foot high. It should not be grazed too closely, for it would then require too much time before it provides the second feeding off. Sudan grass will be considerable relish by both horses and cattle. However, it does not make the best hay for dairy cattle, since it lacks somewhat in palatability, and, in addition, it is low in digestible protein.