MILKING VALUE OF LUCERNE

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1108, 22 April 1911, Page 8

MILKING VALUE OF LUCERNE

"IMPROVEMENT EFFECTED IN YIELD." A few weeks ago inquiry was made from tho Wairarapa concerning lucerno growing. Besides tho information given at tho' time in The Dominion, tho following, from the "Australasian," on the milking value of lucerno should be of interest: — Tho: nutritive elements contained in lucerne are to some extent a fluctuating- ; quantity. Tho quality of a cut is largely dependent upon tho judgment and experience shown in curing the crop. A practice adopted is to cut the sward as flowering commences, though often the condition of tho nodes at the base o'f the stool' aro a better indication that harvesting should not be delayed. The development of' the nodes shows that n now growth is about to be made, and, consequently, if this starts before harvesting is commenced, considerable quantities of small useful growths are removed, and the growth of the succeeding £Top is retarded. After cutting, the windrows are left to lie for a day, after which they are raked and cocked. iThe curing process is largely governed by the state of the weather, but ordinarily the cocks are left to stand' for-three or four days, or until the hay: becomes fairly brown, before stack-; ing.'.'Ono grower believes that by curing the crop slowly, more nutriment is stored in the hay, which, when intended for feeding to dairy cattle, is an important factor... Unfortunately, in this particular instance, no records have been kept by which a definito comparison, can be made of tho feeding values of lucerno and corn silage on the milk production. His experience, however, suggests that a considerable improvement was effected in tho yield from the herd.. .When fed-on'lucerne the milk yield increased perceptibly, and, owing to the greater richness of the cream, it wad found necessary to give the screw of tbo separator a few turns to enable the cream to run Later, when feeding was restricted to maize silage, the herd showed a disinclination for its feed, and alterations : had again to bo made, to provide 'for the decreased density of tho cream. Moreover, during a fairly long.period,, when the milking herd" was fed continuously on a lucerne diet, the yield was maintained at its-full height without variation. A few toes more are to be planted this season, which will be used entirely for feeding tlie dairy cattle.. The farmer considers that with its aid he will be "better able to continue a larger flow after the flush is over) and to largely do away with the dwindle which occurs towards the middle •of tho spring months. Prior to feeding, the hay is saturated with boiling water.