PROVIDING ADEQUATE FOOD SUPPLIES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 302, 17 September 1936, Page 16

PROVIDING ADEQUATE FOOD SUPPLIES

Farmers Should Save Mere Hay While it is true that over the past 10 years the acreage saved for hay in New Zealand has more than doubled, still competent authorities agree that even with a further doubling the supply would still be inadequate for stock requirements, states an article issued by the Fertiliser Advisory Service. To-day the Dominion is carrying the greatest number of stock, both sheep and cattle, in its history, and it is unfortunately true that a good percentage of them are insufficiently fed, especially in periods of pasture scarcity. Experienced dairy-farmers aim at providing about three-quarters of a ton of hay per cow'. As well as supplying valuable winter fodder, hay is most useful to counteract certain stock complaints on the dairy farms. For instance, when fed in the spring hay tends to minimise the ill-effects of over-lush feed. Dairy cows need some dry feed for their digestive processes. There is some evidence that a ration of hay-tends to prevent the trouble known as ’’grass staggers.” The same may be said in the case of cows feeding on clovery pastures, which, as is well known, so often cause “bloat” in cattle. Some dry feeding in spring may also assist in lessening feed taint in cream. The importance of more bay on most dairy farms is a "very strong one. It is equally so on sheep holdings. The scouring of hoggets in a growthy autumn, tending in some years to heavy mortality, ean he minimised by the feeding of hay to the young sheep. It has recently been found that the incidence of facial eczema, one of the complaints prevailing in recent years in some North Island districts, can be very much lessened. In fact, cures can ; be effected, by the feeding of hay to sheep when these are on the type of pastures leading to this trouble. The value of feeding hay to sheep in winter, either in combination with roots or alone, hardly needs stressing. This spring the growth of pastures is early and' abundant so that the stage is set for the cutting of a much greater acreage of hay this year. Stock owners should not anticipate next winter being as mild as the one just experienced. The beet insurance for next winter’s stock feeding is a good supply of hay saved this summer, and saved in a state of good quality by early cutting and in substantial amounts by adequate manuring.

To be seen at the present time in a paddock together at “Totara Park,” Orini, Taupiri, the home of the Piri Land Company's large Friesian stud, are rising yearling sons of the following highrecord cowsTotara C.R. Buttercup, 10791 b. fat (four years) and 10501 b. (five years) ; Totara Sylvia Colantha (10241 b. fat); Totara Veeman Lulu, 946 lb. fat at junior four years; Totara K.P. Prudence, 9091 b. fat, and Totara C.R. Muskrose, 7781 b. fat. This is a splendid collection, especially as each bull is of the same high standard on type as he is on butterfat backing.