NEW CATTLE FODDER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 5 February 1942, Page 3

NEW CATTLE FODDER

GOOD LIVE WEIGHT INCREASE ON STRAW PULP Brittain's farmers are obtaining excellent results will, the fodder now being produced by the new caustic soda straw-pulping process on over 250 farms in the United Kingdom. Experiments at the Midland Agricultural College with eight pairs of Dairy Shorthorn steers weighing between 5 and 7£ cwt. showed that those fed with processed straw achieved over the 71 days of the trial an average liveweight increase of 1.791bs a day, an advantage of .71bs per day, or 64 per cent., over those receiving untreated straw.

Even more striking were the results from a test with 20 young dairy cattle, -7-20 months old, at the National In-

slitute lor Research in Dairying'. Each of the animals given soda processed straw with the ration increased l.lTlbs a day. against .471bs for each one fed with straw soaked in cold water only, a gain of no less than 148 per cent.

Similar results have been obtained in other experimental centres, and trials confirm that pulping so improves the feeding value of cereal straw, chaff and cavings that the products can be used to replace part of the hay. corn or roots in rations for meat and milk production. ' The processing plant of concrete or brick can be erected by local builders at a cost of about £3O. Running two batches a day it will produce 1.4001bs of straw pulp from 4001bs of straw, enough to supply 28 animals with 501bs per head daily, and it only takes an hour’s light work to put through each lot.