GROWING FEED FOR DAIRY COWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 470, 31 March 1909, Page 5

GROWING FEED FOR DAIRY COWS.

The same troubles which perplex New Zealand dairy farmers who wish to provide surplus feed for their dairy herds, also reach oho dairy farmers in other countries. A Canadian dairy farmer writing recenty sa:d: "To provide a suitablo fall pasture for dairy cows, especially in seasons as dry as the one through which wo have just passed, is a serious problem. Ten years'ago, this matter was less serious than it is to-day. In those days, progressive farmers l sowed, soveral acres of rape on summer fallow. This was sown in drills about the s»mo as turnips, only at a later date, generally about July 1. Tho rape was cultivated till about Soptember 1. At such a time it was about two and one-half feet high. 'Then the dairy cattle, as well as all young, stock, were turned in on it for an hour or, two after each milking. They, soon got their fill in such a pasture, and were then turned out. "Of late years, our cheese-makers object to handling milk produced from such fodder. One by ono all ;the factories have succeeded in barring such milk from their vats. Since that timo the price of cheese has gone up. The quantity, howevo.", had gono down, so the farmer is really no bettor off, and gets no more money at the end of the season than he formerly did. I would not advocate going back to tho old way, but until we can get something better than what we have now, to take tho place of rape and turnips, for fall feed, we will never be able to provide suitable fall pasture. "On several occasions, I have sown clover with the spring grain, and have had some success in securing pasture from Frequently it would have a heavy top when the grain was cut; but what,are wo to do when we are advised that it is not to the benefit of the clover to pasture it the first fall? I have also tried sowing mangeb for fall feed, but mangels are an uncertain crop. This year they did well to make half a crop. This last fall, I commenced feeding some corn,' of which I had.a good crop, about September L The cows milked well on this so long as it was green. After it was cut and in tho shock, it got so dry that tho flow of milk went down. When I harvested my mangels, I piled the tops in heaps t and fed a wagon-load night and morning 'in the field. This made, excellent feed so long as it lasted. A couple of acres of mangel tops, however, go hut a short way in a largo dairy herd. , "A few years ago, at our annual meeting of the cheese factory, one of our buyers advised the growing of pumpkins to take the place of turnips and turnip tops. A number of patrons tried it, but met with indifferent results. The cattle would not eat them unless they were fed in the stable, chopped up with the spade and some meal sprinkled on them."