WINTER FEEDING STOCK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18356, 23 March 1923, Page 16

WINTER FEEDING STOCK

GROWING CATCH CROPS.

BT W. 3.

LOSS THROUGH LACK OF FOOD. SUPPLEMENTING PASTUBES.

The importane» of growing catch crops for feeding to sheep and dairy cows is now so well known that it may aeem presumptive on a writcr's part to dictate to the ordinary practical farmor what crops he ahould grow for his particular requirementa. Notwithstanding this, however, a reminder as to the advisability of providing a supply of aucculent food for «tock in the season may not be grudginglv »cc*pted even by the practical rud weU-akilled farmer, as the question of providing winter feed for stock is one thai calls for a deal of forethought, not anmixed with anxiety, «pecially in unfavourable seasona when tho root crops in many districts provo a partial or total failure. Turnips are usually tho mun standby on medium and the lighter classea of aoil, for wintering sheep and to røme ertent for cattle, while on ti* heavier land and where dairying or intensive farming is practiced. the mangel is the mainstay for feeding to dairy and other cattle, also for sheep and pigs. ; At this eeason the quetion arisea as to whether the roota already sown are ampi© enough for the roquirements of the stock to be Wintcred. Another question ia whether roots by themselves, or when supplemented by the ordinary pastures, are sufficiont and suited to all classea of stock to be carried. Dairy cows or sheep as tha case may be, are simply for the purpose of turning aucculent foods into milk and butter-fat, in the former and in tflie latter to thgi production of wool and meat. The detter these machines are kept supplied with fuel the bettor will be the resulta. It tåkea a certain amount of this food for the- unkeep of the animals. Take the dairy cow as an instance. It. is only after these demanda are fulfllled that milk secretion tåkea plaee to any extent. En other words all food consumed by the cow over and above that required for the maintenance of their bodies is the farmer a profit. Therefore practically speaking. the greater amount of digestible food the cow can be induced to consumo the greater will bo the farmer's profit.

Importance of Pood for Milk Yield. It does riot pay to keep a cow idle any more that it does to keep A horse idle, or any otlher animal on the farm. Foed tho dairy cow well and providing she is of the right kind there is no animal that will do its work more faithfully and profitably than the dairy cow. She &hotid never be stinted of succulent food during the whole of the milking period, not even for oily day. This applies to winter as well as summer dairying. If for instance there is a scarcity of food, or if the food is unsuited to her requirements at any time during that period, there will undoubtedly be a reduction in the milk yield for the rest of the season. Most dairymen know that if there is a shortage of feed at any time during the lactation period, even though it be only of very short duration, it will reduce tho farmer's income considerably. In some instances perhaps through shortage of feed, or neglect to give a proper change, or regulate the diet at the proper time, the cows begin to show a decided falling off in the milk flow. The fanner when he discovers his error, immediately puts them on to better feed, or carts roots, hay, or other foods available to them in the pastures, in the vain endeavour to bring them back to their former perfoi-m----ances. This is seldom if ever accomplished, for in most instances, though there may be a slight improvement for the time being it seldom succeeds in bringing them back to what they had been before receiving the chock. Liberal Allowance. What a dairy fanner should do and if he aims at success what he must do', is to feed his cows liberally with suitable milk producing food from the very commencement up to the end of the milking period. This is the only means by which to get satisfactory results. Generally speaking there is not sufficient care taken of the dairy cow during the time she is not in milk and if she is stinted at this season she will not be so good as she should be next milking Season. A cow more readily acquires the habit of falling off than she does to improve in her milking qualities and unless she is kept up to her most, she will without doubt, go back.

Cape barley is the quickest growing I of the fodders in general use at present and provides the largest bulk of autumn and earlv winter feed. It is palatable and reac.ily eaten by sheep and dairy cows. This cereal can. be sown from the beginning of January to the end of the present month in most localities, February, however, seems to be its favourite month. It germinates quickly and grows rapidly ones above ground. It is ready for the first feeding off in about four to fire weeks after sowing. One thing worth remembering about cereals, especially Cape barley or Emerald rye, when sown for green feed is that they should never be allowed to grow too rank They are more palatable in the young stage and if allowed to get too rank before feeding off the sheep and cattle are apt to eat them out in patches and never do so well as when they are /it on the crop at a younger stage. A succession of sowings is better, therefore, than drilling in a large area at once Early sown Cape barley gets spindly and if not kept fed down, runs to shot blade. Even the later sowings are inclined to get spindly and on this account is not so suitable as o»ts to have over for spring feeding. When a crop gets spindly it not only produces less bulk but the feed ia of an Inferior quality.