FARMER AND STOCKBREEDER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 211, 7 September 1927, Page 21

FARMER AND STOCKBREEDER.

SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING.

rOB, FARM PROFIT.

ENSILAGE A PRACTICAL SOLUTION.

That dairy farming in New Zealand •* at present conducted does not give *n adequate return on the money and «w»ur invested is generally recognised. The with of many has been a reduction in land values, but the conviction that the remedy will be found in more scientific farming is steadily gaining ground. Of recent years the value of breeding at a means of increasing production has been recognised. However, the benefit has not been as marked as one would expect* the reason being that the unprofitable cow, identified by testing, has evaded destruction by finding a place in the herd of the less progressive farmer. This fact will serve to show how every ■ period..of progress- claims its..victims, and tiie email -farmer would be -well advised to be wary of such pitfalls and endeavour to keep abreast of the times. ■ Now that the Government has realised toe value of testing, by granting a •nbsidy, it has a golden opportunity of !. ' getting rid' of this menace' by insisting- - on the branding of cows below a certain :;: standard of production. No doubt this \ will do much to improve dairy herds, 7 and in the near future we may expect ,' to see cows with under 2001b butterfat • production classed as unprofitable. °:i According to figures supplied by the ■ New Zealand Co-operative Herd Testing Association the average production in New Zealand to-day is about 1701b per :«. cow, so that the position is not satisfac- •: tory. By increasing the average to '-.;; 2501b the dairy industry would benefit . to the nxtent of at least £6,000,000 a I &jeh a possibility as this should y > &ghly encouraging to farmers, and sgt ilso prove the value of the- industry to country in general. We see the importance, then, of breed- * ing in producing stock capable of m materially increasing the present fe average. The next question which must v receive serious attention in this country : is that of supplementary feeding. Up "■■■ r to the present this phase of farming has been much neglected, a study of .test '—i figures showing that during the n>?Tlc'"g, i' season the great majority of cows are g not Adequately fed for more than three *-_. months. In order to maintain the 'M Btandard of production of which she is g capable the high-producing cow must be *]'_ fed .to the maximum of her capacity, g otherwise her constitution Cannot Stand the strain, and she will show a steady decline in production. A study of the ■ accompanying graphs, which represent actual resuiLs, will amply prove this. '

(Specially Written for the "Auckland Star.")

Our farmers would be well advised to make early use of the experience in other countries, where it has been found highly profitable to feed. " At first sight this may appear a formidable proposition, but fortunately there is an easy solution within reach of everyone—make ensilage. If the value of good ensilage could be shown in actual figures it is safe to say there would not be one farm without it. There is nothing surer than that its use will become general. It will keep up the milk-flow as no other feed will, and bring animals through the winter in first-class condition.

Temporary methods of storing may be Used, and certainly anything is better

Record oTeow whieh has DettftTiMiSeed ration. Production eteady from May to September. December ration not well but rectified in January. The figure* in the margin represent pounds of • butterfat per month.

than nothing, but the concrete silo will eventually be adopted, as it has been elsewhere, after mucn experimenting. In order to arrive at the quantity required, allow 401b (a cubic foot) of ensilage per day per cow and a liberal allowance must be made for wastage in the case of the stack. For instance, in the case of a herd of thirty cows, with a feeding period of, say, 100 days, 50 tons of ensilage would be required. It may be well to mention here that ensilage induces thirst, causing the cows to drink more water, a very desirable thing.

It is understood, of course, that the results of supplementary feeding will be greatly minimised unless an ample and convenient supply of good water is available. Too much importance cannot be attached to this. With the natural advantages of a mild climate and an

Note steady decline In production, showing plainly the necessity for supplementary feeding. The figures in the margin represent pounds of butterfat per month.

abundant rainfall, producing the most valuable grass pastures in the world, assistedJ»yvan active policy of breeding, culling and feeding, New Zealand has an opportunity of attaining a position second to none as a butter producing country. A bright prospect indeed opens

out before the fanner who will recognise these facts and help himself to the utmost by working along these lines. With a more profitable industry enhancing the value of his security, he may then expect the Government of this country to assist him to the utmost, and the time need not be long before dairying is lifted from the drudgery of a struggle to a pleasant and profitable business.