Autumn Utilisation of Crops

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7198, 22 April 1930, Page 9

Autumn Utilisation of Crops

The first winter is a trying and critical time with young farm stock. Ilenco calves and hoggets should receive the best, possible attention, especially in respect to feeding.' • With this in mind calves should be induced to commence the eating of hay or ensilage or other fodder strange to them before they really require it. By doing this a possible setback at a critical stage will be obviated' in that it will not be necessary for them to undergo a sudden more or less complete change in diet and that at a stage when they have became somewhat poor in condition. Further, they should, be supplied as long as possible with clean, short, fresh pasture. Likewise, if it is at all possible, hoggets should be turned on to fodder crops before they have become low in condition. Further, this should be done gradually, allowing them a run on suitable pasture so that their digestive organs will not suddenly be called upon to function on a completely changed diet. In the feeding of hay, ensilage and roots, tho following points aro worth keeping in mind:— 1. If done on the poorer parts of a field the feeding of such fodder will ordinarily tend to improve the soil of those parts. 2. If at all possible foeding out should not "be done under wet conditions which will result in poaching of tho ground. 3. Hay saved at an over-mature stage may contain seeds of valuable pasture species which, if scattered and trampled in, may germinate, establish themselves and produce highly beneficial thickening of an open, weak sward. When turnips are to occupy an important place in the winter feeding of hoggets, the hoggets should bo the first stock put on to each break of turnips, to be followed after the tops have been eaten off by any sheep that arc being fattened, and then by the breeding ewes when the turnips have been grubbed to make it more easy for the sheep to cat the portions which remain.