THE FARMERS' COLUMN.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 123, 18 June 1881, Page 4

THE FARMERS' COLUMN.

CARE OP STOCK.

During the winter months cattle, particularly milch cows, need extra care, feed, and attention. In bush districts they are turned away from the homestead during winter, and, if the run is good, they find shelter and food in the forest or valleys, and come out in the spring in good, fresh condition. But where cows are confined within enclosed paddocks, where there are no clumps or belts of trees to which they can resort for shelter during stormy or cold weather, it will be found profitable to house and feed them well. The influence of wet, cold, and frost combined has a tendency to make pasturage poor and short. There is little substance in the grass, and therefore cattle cannot get the nourishment they require to keep up their condition through the winter. Unless they have extra feed in the shape of roots, green oats, or hay, the milking cows soon dry off, and are therefore unprofitable until better weather arrives and the grass makes a fresh start. "Naething for naething," is an old proverb, and if cows get nothing to make milk of, they will of course, give no milk in return. Henoe the importance of dairy farmers having a good stock of oaten or meadow hay, and also a large supply of roots, especially mangolds. Where a farmer has a stock of potatoes, for which he cannot readily find a market, he might find it worth while to feed them to his cows, if he has no other roots, and' if the flow of milk is fast diminishing. Practical farmers in the old country generally reckon that if potatoes can be purchasd at from £2 to <£3 a-ton, they will pay to be used in feeding cattle. The following, from a Californian paper, will give an idea of the benefits of feeding with these tubers :— " The frost and generally cold weather has prevented feed from Swing, and but few dairymen are king more than a half pound of butter to the cow, except when they

feed potatoes. James Eobinson, of Big Valley has fed 1500 sacks of potatoes to his cows this season, and is, and has for a long time made fully one pound to the cow. Mr. Gerike last year was milking twelve cows, which he was feeding with plenty of hay, and was able to make fifty pounds per week. He started in then and fed potatoes also, and the following week made 100~ pounds of butter. He fed 21 sacks per week, or three sacks per day. Selling his butter at 16 cents per pound netted him, clear of freight, commission, drayage, and sacks, 40 cents per sack, or equal to 65 cents per sack in San Francisco. This year butter is worth 25 to 30 cents per pound ; hence the folly of a man having cows and sending potatoes to San Francisco to be sold from 50 or 65 cents per sack, and paying for the sacks and all other expenses." Unless potatoes are sliced or pulped, there is, of course, some danger of the cattle choking, as there is also danger of attacks of flatulency if they are fed with large quantities at first. But both of these dangers may be overcome with proper care. Cabbages, of course, are excellent food for cows. But for winter fodder, along with hay, the favourite food in many districts is green oats. They are sown after the potatoes are taken out, and they generally come on so as to be cut in June or July and last through the winter, if a good crop. For cows newly calved, bran and sharps make capital feed ii mixed with water. Cases might be mentioned of cows yielding quite a payable quantity of butter when so fed. The North British Agi'iculturist recommends bran-tea # iov milch cows if a large yield of rich milk is desired. The amount of this drink necessary is an ordinary pailful at a time, morning, noon, and night. It is prepared by mixing in warm water, in which a little salt has been dissolved, bran at the rate of one quart to two gallons of water ; and it is asserted that the effect is that the cow will give 25 per cent, more milk, and will become so accustomed to the diet as to refuse to drink clear water unless very thirsty. Whether it would pay to purchase bran for the purpose might soon be tested. At all events, if cows are to be profitable animals, and if the milk and butter supply is to be kept up, they must be well fed and taken care of. — Auckland Herald.