WHEAT STRAW AND MILKING COWS.

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 137, 9 June 1917, Page 10

WHEAT STRAW AND MILKING COWS.

Wheat straw has a tendoncy to cause cows to show a decrease in their milk supply, and for that reason (says a writer in the Wairarapa. Daily Times) it is not advisable to allow them to feed on little else.'particularlyat this time of the year. Cattle prefer solid straw Tuscan wheaton straw to that of otheT kinds, and they will stick about the stacks and the hea-ps of chait' and cavings very consistently. The straw of one. variety of wheat is not more liable than another to dry the cows. The solid straw Eeems to be sweeter and to contain, more food, and therefore the. cattle prefer, it. If molasses is dissolved and sprinkled on the straw it certainly helps, because the super sugary diet is, heating, and anything that tends to main.-' tain the heat of. the body must tend to keep up the supply of milk, particularly in cold wintry weather. Cows will do all right in tho winter if given roots, such as swedes mangolds, and carrots, with as much hay'Jor straw as they care to chow, at: C;aremust be taken, however, to see that thel mangolds are. ripe. If they, are fed. to an animal before they are properly matured they will cause scouring, and in the case of cows the milk supply may go off matexially if immature mangolds are used. If the mangolds. are stored for somo time, or are not fed till niter the middle of winter, they will be found to be excellent food in every way. If the roots, mangolds or swedes, can 'be pulped they may bo fed with wheat, chaff, and there is no better mixture. than molasses pulped or chopped mangolds and chaff, whether of wheat straw or oat straw. ■ No doubt oat straw has' not so much of a-drying-offi effect as wheat straw. It will be found, however, that in winter time, when Toots and dry stuff are given, the flow of milk will decrease, partly owing to tho feed, and partly to ' the colder weather. The. test will remain practically the s-aniG unless the cows have been' a lengthy period in milk. Green stuff, if it can be procured, is no doubt a, .great help in winter time to dairy ■ cattle, and ensilage is also a capital form of food. Ensilage should be made more commonly than it is.' Thore is less labour concerned in ensilage making than there is in hay making, and there is very little to learn regarding the manufacture of ensilage. Almost any kind of green skiff may be used, and it can be made in any kind of weather. .Ensilage and lucerne will • yot figure vory largely in our farm operations and supply of feed. •

The value-of awede turnips as a vegetable is not generally known, and it is of particular interest just now, when there is a remarkable scarcity of potatoes. An English paper received by the last,mail says: "Swede turnips have been for many years the most, popular vegetable among the working-classes 61 Scotland, Wales, and the North ot England; and during the past three or four months people all over the kingdom have been using them largely. Indeed, so great .has been the demand for swedes lately that they have been selling at no less than three-half-pence a pound in West End shops, and at as much as a penny in provincial centres. Growers have been making as much as £6 a ton net. The food Controller has fixed the maximum price of three-halfpence per pound- on swedes,, so that the latter may be said to have attained the dignity of a food product of first importance. As a table dish the swede is undoubtedly a long way the • best of all the turnips. It is more nourishing than the garden varieties of the latter, more appetising in flavour, and contains iess waste matter in the form of water. Boiled and served in thick slices (or mashed) with gravy or butter it makes a delicious dish, and one that during the present potato shortage has proved a boon to tens of thousands of families."

Canadian Ayrshire cows are keeping up the reputation of the breed as producers of large flows of milk. It was welcome news (saya tho Australasian) when Jean Armour, a cow bred in Canada, made the first Ayrshire record of 20,0001b of milk in a lactation period. A new Canadian record has now been made by Grandview Rose, a five-year-old cow owned by Shannon Bros., Cloverdale, 8.C., that has completed her year with the record of 21,4221b of milk and 9001b of fat. She was duo to freshen again early in April. The Victorian record for Ayrshires is 12,0221b milk and 5851b butterfat in nine months on natural, pasture.

The Lincolnshire Red Shorthorn herd of Mr: John Evens, of Burton (Eng.j. is of worldwide fame, as the owner has for many years made a practice of keeping- , milking records. At,the dispersal sale in' March, this herd realised over £7346. rr an average of £70 for 105 head! The best price waa 200 euineas paid by Mr. P. : Jones', of Derby, for the cow Royal Starlight Bth. The same breeder secured Rose-mary 4th for 112 guineas, and another at 108 guineas. For Ilia Majesty • the King, 160 guineas, 110 guineas, and 100 guineas wore given- for throe good - cows. Four bulls averaged £90.16s 6d.,