ENSILAGE FOE SHEEP

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 133, 8 June 1935, Page 12

ENSILAGE FOE SHEEP

How One Farmer Fed His Hoggets SWEET LUCERNE USED Ask a sheep-fanner why he docs not make ensilage, and a very probable answer is “the sheep don’t like it.” Admittedly there may at times be some difficulty in getting sheep to commence eating ensilage, but it is an excuse which is not a valid one. The following method adopted by a farmer in the Taihape district who had trouble to get his hoggets started on ensilage is of interest to Hawke’s Bay sheepmen who may experience similar distaste on the part of their sheep. 'file silage being utilised is made from lucerne, but, unlike the usual material from this source, is almost dry, and approximates the nature of heavily sweated hay. There is an entire absence of any fluid exuding from the pit, and the silage, although quite green in colour, has a very pleasant aroma. Absolutely no difficulty has ever been experienced in regard to hoggets acquiring a taste for this material right from the start. The method of making this class of silage consists of mowing the lucerne and leaving it in the swath until it would be considered ready for cocking as for hay. At that stage it is filled quickly into the pit and covered. There is no doubt that the resultant product is a very fine fodder for sheep. The method employed is indicated by the fact that the whole paddock on a recent occasion was cut, and when ready for raking onc-linlf went into the ensilage pit, the remainder being raked and cocked for curing as hay. The latter was a splendid green sample in the stack, it is stated.