UTILISATION OF FEED FOR DAIRY COWS IMPORTANT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 43, 26 September 1949, Page 6

UTILISATION OF FEED FOR DAIRY COWS IMPORTANT

The needs of dairy cows vary with their age, their level of productivity and the stage of lactaftion. A milking cow’s feed requirements, provided she is calved not later than when active pasture growth commences, follow, closely the normal fluctuating curve of pasture production through the year. The problem is' to make the varying needs of the animal and the irregular production of pasture coincide as closely as possible, sq that full advantage may be taken of what is the cheapest and most efficient food for dairy cattle. Various principles are involved in meeting this problem: Cl) Attempt to extend the growing season of pasture, by using improved strains of pasture species, topdressing, drainage, shelter and improved management; (2) store the surplus pasture as hay, silage or autumn-stored grass; (3) utilise the best of this stored feed for those cows with the highest level of milk production, and therefore with the greatest feed requirements; (4) provide ; additional feed where stored pasture surplus is insufficient in both' quality and quantity by wintering off the farm, growing root crops and lucerne, etc.; and (5) endeavour to reduce the labour usage as much as possible', by making the cow do her own “harvesting.”