AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19736, 28 September 1929, Page 17

AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN.

WINTER FEEDING OF CATTLE. (Prepared in conjunction -with Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln, and Economics Dept., Canterbury College.) (No. IV.) An animal requires a certain amount of feed for bare maintenance. This is commonly called its maintenance ration. If the animal is to work, grow, or produce wool, milk or progeny, it must have an added amount of feed, and this added part is called its production ration. The farmer's profit comes only from the production ration. A perfect food consists of: fibre to keep up body heat; starches, sugars and fats to provide energy for internal work, such as digestion and breathing; proteins to repair body waste and produce profit; minerals to assist the utilisation of all the other food constituents. While fibre fed in excess is harmful, starches, sugars, fats and proteins may be fed in largr quantities without harm, and, beyond the minimum supply, these constituents may, more or less, replace each other. No one constituent can be reduced below a definite minimum without causing the animal to lose condition, or to decline in production, this being specially true of proteins and minerals; excess of any one constituent cannot make up for short supply of any other, To give an animal more fibre or starchy food when it wants protein is like giving a steam engine more coal or oil when it wants water. Summer and Winter Peed. During summer, cattle feed chiefly on growing grass, which contains sufficient fibre, plenty of sugars, plenty of proteins, suitably mixed, and adequate minerals, especially when manured with lime and phosphate; and the high production of the cattle is explained by these qualities in the grass. But, during the autumn, grass quality deteriorates, and during winter and early spring there is no grass growth. In autumn inferior quality reduces production below the natural ability of the cow. In winter, when production ceases, both the quality and quantity are capable only of maintaining the animal at a stand-still, and in far too many cases the ration falls even below the maintenance level, and the animal has to call on its reserves of fat, and even muscle and bony skeleton, to keep itself alive. If we feed a cow on a bare maintenance ration, and at the same time call on her to carry a calf, it is clear that she must use up her own tissues to form those of the offspring. . . A large number of dairy cows beginning the milking season i- August or September are in a very low condition, and the flush of spring feed is used, not for the production of milk and butterfat, but to build up the muscle fibre that has been used as a reserve of food during the winter. What is Wrong With Our Feeding? This undesirable condition of dairy cows coming into profit shows that there is something wrong with our winter feeding. The feed is either not sufficient in quantity or wrong in kind, and the purpose of this Bulletin is to show where mistakes are most probably being made, and to indicate how they may be overcome. Autumn and winter feeding deserves attention because: — 1. Autumn and Winter Feed Contains Too Much Fibre. The bulk of autumn and winter feed consists of mature grass, and research work during the last five years has demonstrated that grass that has reached maturity, or hay cut from such grass, contains fibre in excess. It is distinctly low in oroteins, which are needed to repair the body waste of the cow, and to build up the body of the calf, and ' + is low in minerals, which are nc lu<l for its bones. Animals fed ou., oh rough grass are bound to go back in condition, no matter how much they are given, just as an engine is bound to stop if we give it only water when it wants coal or oil. The faults inherent in rough grass can best be corrected by keeping the grass short. This can be achieved by grazing during summer only what can be kept short, and saving the rei ai..der as short hay or ensilage. Both of these feeds can be saved with profit, and if fed in autumn would allow the cows to enter the winter in much better condition than they do at present. This matter was emphasised in Bulletin No. 2. 2. Grass Growth is Wasted. Kecent work at Lincoln College has shown in figures the extent to which we waste the grass we grow. We waste it during, summer and so go short in winter. Parts of fields that are mowed each fortnight -throughout the year showed that 70 per cent, of the growth takes place in spring and early summer, 25 per cent, from January to April, and 5 per cent, from May to August. Or, put another way, the grass on the observation field would have carried the following number of cattle per acre in each separate month: —

The number of stock on a dairy farm cannot be varied at different times of the year to any great extent, and so farm practices must either go on as at present, wasting feed in summer and starving our stock in winter, or must be modified by an approach to the intensive grazing method outlined in Bulletin No. 2. 3. The Necessary Additional Winter Feed is Not Provided. Hay haß been unpopular because it is costly and inconvenient to make, and because it has been looked upon as a feed for merely holding stock, and not as a money producer. This is partly true, but the following table shows that hay and other supplementary fodder fed in winter probably giveß an economic return. The table has been summarized by Lincoln College from information collected through a large dairy company, from its Buppliera in all parts of Canterbury.

The above table shows that the average production from well-fed herds is as much as 55 per cent, more than that of poorly-fed herds. The increased production, due to the addition of hay, is significant, but it is significant also that the addition of roots gives a further increase. This j is because the roots supply starches J and sugars which are not present in ■ sufficiently large quantities in the | fibrous hay. If the hay were made out of grass, * cut at a younger stage of growth-, it would contain less fibre and more protein material, and so would probably supply all the animal's needs, especially if it were supplemented bj*a picking of young, fresh grass. A sufficient ration for a cow for three months would consist of half a ton of hay and two tons of roots. 4. Spring Milk Production Is liow. The difference between the grass-fed herds and the better-fed herds, shown in the last table, could possibly be due either to low producing cows or to later calving, and the consequent shorter milking season of the grass-fed herds. To show what part these factors play, the following table is supplied, showing the details of the average number of pounds of butterfat per cow produced each month, and of the number of cows in milk each month expressed as a percentage of the total cows milking in the best nonth. The figures for the percentage of eows in milk in the early part of the season are nearly the same, so that later calving of the poor herds is not a factor. In December both groups attain their highest production. Compared in this month, the herds in column three gives 3.21b of fat per head more than herds in column one, or, at this rate, 28.81b of fat more for nine months. To this extent only the greater yield may be due to better cows. But the herds in column three have actually produced 611b more for the nine months, and the difference between 281b and 611b, which is 331b. is undoubtedly due to superior antumn and winter feeding. At Is. 6d. per lb, this increased production is worth 495. 6d. per cow. Insufficient winter feed has left the low-producing herds in such a state that grass is used until December to repair lost body tissue, and their maximum production is delayed nntil December. Better winter feeding makes earlier production possible. 5. Absence of Suitable Feed Shortens the Milking Season. Referring again to Table 3, it will be seen, in the second and fourth columns, that, of the total number of , cows, only one-third are milking in August, one-half in September, and four-fifths in October. Through late calving, production is lessened till that of the first three months is equivalent to that of only 1.6 months, and the effective milking season, instead of being nine months, is only 7.6 months. Absence of feed is most certainly the cause of this, even with the best herds, and if those who now feed well can

do so profitably, it is almost beyond argument that further feed ean be provided in August and September to make up for the present deficiency. A very good indication that winter feeding pays ie the fact that men with high-producing herds rarely revert to the winter starvation practice of the low-producer. 6. Weakness in Winter Oauseß Liability to Disease. Apart from its effect on subsequent production, insufficient winter feed mUt be held largely responsible for many of the ailments of the dairy cow about which, as yet, we have very little definite information. Milk fever, calving troubles, paralysis, bone chewing, depraved appetite, are all put down to', mineral deficiencies. Except with abnormally high-producers, these deficiencies tend to disappear when stock get enough to eat. The feeding of mineral licks to under-fed stock can not be recommended. The subject of minerals is, however, too extensive to be dealt with here, and is of sufficient interest to warrant a separate bulletin. 7. Winter Feed Contains Too Little Protein. It is apparent from Table 2 that the use of more winter feed, in the shape of hay and roots, increases the butterfat production in the following season. Both mangels and hay are low in protein, and while it is not safe to say that more protein should be used with every, herd, it can be said with absolute certainty that its use would be profitable where cows lose flesh in white*. Up to the present the only feeds rich in protein have been linseed cake (which is seldom used here) and green feed. Five of the best herds quoted in Table 3 had green feed in August and September, and three of these are giving more than 2801b of butterfat. There is now available a new, convenient,' and concentrated source ot protein. This is the meat meal which the freezing companies began to make in 1927. It contains over 60 per cent, of protein, and the use of half a pound per cow per day during June, July, August and September would make all our protein-deficient winter feeds nearly twice as valuable as they are at present. Without perhaps being aware of it, we recognise the value of protein in the prices we pay for various feeds. Based or analysis and consequent food values, when oats can be bought at 3s. per bushel, linseed cake is worth £-9 per short ton, and good oat straw about £4 per short ton. Linseed cake is very rich in profcein, and consequently is bought at high prices, while straw is very low in protein, and is bought at low prices. When used with sufficient roots and protein, straw is an excellent and very cheap winter feed at £1 per ton, and while many in New Zealand despise it as a result of incorrect usage, its worth is recognised where it is properly used. Feeds should not be bought if they can be economically grown, but meat meal is in a class by itself because it supplies the material that is missing in most home-grown winter feeds. It puts an entirely new value on even the feeds that we now consider just about useless, such as straw, straw-chaff, potatoes, etc. Meat meal is an acquired taste, and some care is necessary to get cows to eat it at first, but once they start, they eat it eagerly. It warrants enquiry by everyone who milks cows, but particularly by those who provide winter milk for town supply. A suitable ration of slb of meat meal per cow per day at £ll per ton would cost ss. per cow for 100 days' feeding. In conclusion, it is freely admitted that there are other factors controlling

herd production in Canterbury. We are rare, however, from the information that has already been collected, that the points discussed above are of major importance. Production of the average herd in Canterbury is capable of great improvement. This improvement can be achieved by better grass management, more winter feed, and the use of more protein. This Bulletin is published early in the season, so that farmers may observe their production now, and make preparations where necessary for next winter's feed. Information on methods of winter feeding, particularly of meat meal, may be obtained on application to the Director, Lincoln College. The 15 Canadian farmers who will take part in the Empire visit to New Zealand next year under the auspices of the British National Union will leave Vancouver (according to our correspondent) on February sth, arriving at Wellington, New Zealand, on February 23rd. The return journey will be made on the s.s. Makura, sailing from Auckland on March 25th, and arriving at San Francisco on April 11th. TOP-DRESSING WHEAT •CROPS. Farmers should lose no time in topdressing their wheat crops with one cwt of Sulphate of Ammonia per acre. Government trials have shown that this practice is highly profitable, increases np to 11 bußhels per acre having been secured. On backward crops, particularly those looking yellowish, Sulphate of Ammonia will work wonders. Limited supplies of I.CI. Sulphate of Ammonia available from merchants. —1 CAKE OP THE COW. Never let the eow suffer with Son Teats or hard and inflamed Udder. When such trouble develops, the improved treatment, SYKES'S ANIMOL, should be used. SYKES'S ANIMOL ia a scientifically based preparation formulated to destroy bacterial growth; a prevention, and an antiseptic soothing healer for Sore Teats, Udders, Cow Fox, etc. It quickly allays any local inflammation, and stimulates a healthy action of the skin. SYKES'S ANIMOL is sold everywhere at 1/6 per J-lb. tin. —5

Table 1. m^^^ ■■■^Mi Pose ible Grazing Actual Grazing Month Cow re Per Acre 3ows , Per Acre August 0 0 September .3 0 October 1.0 .5 November 2,0 .5 December 3.5 1.0 January 1.-3 .5 February .3 .5 March ;6 .5 April .6 .5 May .3 0 June 0 0 July __ 0 .i 0

Table 2. Effect of Different Winter Feeds on Summer Production of 83 Canterbury Herd*. Kind of Winter Fe«d Xy. lbs. Butter-fat per Cow 1937-88 1 1928-29 1 . i — Grass only Grass a ad Hay Grass, Hay and Root! Grass, Hay, Roots and Green Feed 137 183 [ 191 205 ij 207 230 ] 205 244

Table 3. Five Herds Fed 13 Herds Fed on Grata, on Grass i Hay, Boots and Green Feed 1 i 2 3 4 2b. Fat Percentage ol lb. Fat Percental* of Months per cow cows in milk per cow cows in milk each month each month per month •sob. month August 9.0 33 28.7 83 September 19.8 47 30.5 60 October 26-* 87 36.7 80 November 33.0 SS 87.4 94 December 33.4 100 as.s 09 January 28.2 100 84.3 100 February 24.0 98 27.6 100 March 31.0 90 25.8 99 April , 17.0 82 21.0 ' 99 Total 211.8 • 278.5