GROWING GRASS WITH RAPE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22304, 19 January 1938, Page 13

GROWING GRASS WITH RAPE

METHOD OF COMBATING TAPEWORM Varying views on the value of growing grass with rape as feed for hoggets have been expressed by farmers in Temuka. This practice was recommended by Mr A. M. Paterson, formerly Government veterinarian, in a lecture at Temuka recently. The grass sward prevented the sheep licking the earth and contracting tapeworm, said Mr Paterson. Mr W. Moore, of Waitohi states that he has not had satisfactory results from the mixture. Farmers to whom he had spoken had called it a “death trap” he said. In wet weather the grass was too soft, and rust developed in drier seasons. In his opinion the risk of mortality was too great to make the suggestion practicable. Mr A. J. Davey agreed that the likelihood of deaths from rust was considerable. From his experience, however the sowing of grass was a valuable insurance against dry weather. During the drought a few years ago when the rape did not germinate the grass had carried him over the season. Had he sown rape alone the sheep would have had very little feed. From the property of Mr A. Herron, Pukerau (Eastern Southland) (whose performances in the production of fat lambs have been recorded . before)) 1001 lambs in a total of 1350, which represented the progeny of 1050 breeding ewes, have been drafted. The draft returned the very fine average ! weight of 35.761b with only three sec- i ond quality lambs. The similar draft 1 for last season was 1127 lambs with an > average weight of 37.781b with no sec- < onds. This year’s returns are highly ( satisfactory when it is considered that ’ the season affecting this particular j locality has been a most disappointing i one in respect to pasture- growth. hj