Page 26 Advertisements Column 3

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21198, 23 June 1934, Page 26

AUCTIONS. R MATSON AND CO. WINTER FEEDING OF DAIRY COWS. TOURING the winter feeding period the cows should be led a little above their maintenance requirement, consuming about one ton of grass or its food equivalent per cow per month. Each cow will therefore require approximately three tons of feed for tne three months during the period she is drying off and dry. To cut down the maintenance requirement and underfeed the cows during the dry period is one of the greatest mistakes made by many dairy farmers in this country. Many dairy cows are in poor condition at the close of their lactation or milking period. These cows need to put on weight before calving, if the milk yield is not to be seriously reduced next season-. If the cows are well done by during the winter they will milk better, and will give more milk at the beginning of the season than comes from the food consumed as production requirement, the balance of condition above normal weight .being turned into milk products. The danger of overstocking becomes evident during the winter period. The dairy farmer is often able to make full use of September to December period of maximum pasture growth by carrying too many cows, but on these farms there is a serious falling off in the milk production of the January to May period when the feed supply > available during the winter is insufficient for the herd. This results in the cows being brought in again in poor condition, so that they are unable to start the season with the maximum yield of which they are capable. The period May to August is a most important one for the dairy cow. She has to recoup her strength after the strain of the milking season, build up a healthy calf with a good constitution, and in addition make reserves for milk production for the following season. This means adequate feeding. If the mangel crop is pulled and pitted too early imperfect ripening will result, and the roots will shrink too much. When harvested, the roots are best pulled by hand, the tops being twisted off by a quick jerk of the wrist and the roots dropped between the rows. It is advisable to leave the roots lying on the ground for about three weeks to ripen, after which they should be collected and pitted. The storage place is best made in a wellsheltered place, such as under an avenue of trees, the ground snould be dry, and it must be fenced off from stock. The heap should not be made too high; a convenient height is about five feet, on a base five feet wide. When finished, the heap should be covered as a protection from frosts. In the case of a large area in mangels, the roots may be left standing in the ground until a few weeks before they are required for feeding. It should be remembered, however, that unripe mangels are a dangerous food for dairy cows liable to cause purging and digestive troubles. All roots fed out should have been pulled and allowed to ripen on the ground for at least three weeks before they are fed. The mangel root when in the ground is sensitive to frost, and except in very mild districts the crop is better harvested and stored.

ALL COWS IN CANTERBURY SHOULD BE COVERED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, especially those being milked for winter supply. In other countries, with warmer climates than we have in New Zealand, the dairy herd is housed the whole time it is in profit. Admitting that we have not the shed room nor the time and labour to go in for intensive ac- I commodation for dairy herds in Canterbury, nevertheless our farmers are all in a position to supply each cow with a good solid cover to protect it from the winter cold. MATSON'S are in a position today to supply farmers at wholesale prices with COW COVERS from 6/6 UPWARDS, according to quality. For those whose herds are | starting to ease off in their returns, we can safely say that by the judicious covering of the in- | dividual cows, a big comebac 1 ; in the milk supply will be noticed. MOST THRIFTY LAMBS. Prevalence of unthriftiness and "bad doing" in lambs through stomach worms lends interest to the following treatment recommended by the veterinary science department of the Cardiff (Wales) University:— Put the sheep in the pen for 18 lo 24 hours without any food. Make up a 1 per cent, solution of copper sulphate (bluestone) as follows: —Dissolve Jib of copper sulphate in a pint of water (boiling). Make up to three gallons with cold water, i.e., add the pint of copper sulphate solution to two gallons and seven pints of water. Keep the solution in an earthenware vessel, not in a met?l or enamel one. , After starving the animals, dose as follows according to age:—Lambs three . months to one year old, x-24 tablespoons; sheep ovei; one year, 3-5" tablespoons. 1 See that the sheep have no waver ax any time during the day they are dosed. , . . , . Repeat the treatment in a fortnight if necessary, after which once a month is usually sufficient to avoid serious infestation. The above quantity is sufficient for dosing 100 sheep. Although lambs generally suffer most from the effects of the stomach worm, which is so small that it is seldom identified except by the expert eye, it is recommended that the ewes be drenched as well, so as to reduce the infestation of the pasture and consequently later troubles in the lambs. MAKE FULL USE OF THE j GRASS. ' AVOID DIGESTIVE TROUBLES. | PREVENT SCOURING. I I | After thoroughly dosing your j Hoggets be sure and remember | to put out a block of | "THE DOCTOR IN IHE PAD- | DOCK," in the shape of a 501b block of lODISED SULPHURISED LIXIT. This tends to keep your stock in perfect condition, and is a bonebuilder. OBTAINABLE FROM YOUR OWN AGENT, or: H. MATSON and CO.—THE N.Z. DISTRIBUTORS. H, MATSON and CO.