FEEDING FARM STOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18762, 16 July 1924, Page 14

FEEDING FARM STOCK.

WINTER MANAGEMENT, BUSINESS METHODS NEEDED. CHOICE OF FOODS. EY W. 3. The feeding' and management of farm stock will be one of the .principal items of interest that will occupy the farmers attention for the next two or three months. On well managed farms suitable fodder and root crops will be .amply provided for the stock during this; season of the year. But when we take into consideration the favourable conditions afforded us in this country it is surprising to note that there is comparatively little provision made for the feeding of stock daring the close season. Foz; a farmer to have stock without making ample pro-

vision for keeping them in good condition is an unpardonable piece of mismanagement on his part. To be successful the farmer must be a shrewd business man and make farming his business. Now let us fer the moment picture him as such. The farmer is a business maitJand the farm he occupies is the place of business and the manufacturing plant of the farmer. In other words the m farmer" is the manufacturer as truly as the man who makes a plough or builds up machinery of any kind. As the manufacturer of machinery uses timber and iron as raw material and produces machinery as the finished product so the farmer uses the elements of nature, assisted by drainage (where necessary) and proper cultivations and manure as a fertiliser, the plant food of the soil as raw material, and from them produces grain and hay as finished products. Again he may carry the process of manufacture still one step further, and by feeding the grain and hay etc., to produce beef or milk, or when, fed to pigs or sheep will produce pork or mutton as the finished product. The Parm as a Factory.

The farm therefore, is the manufacturing plant and should be as well suited to the type of farming that the farmer wishes to pursue, as the shop that the manufacturer builds is suited to his business. So if everything is not well suited to each other on a farm, there will either be deficiency in the producing capacity of the farm or the finished article will lack perfection in which case there will be a leakage in the method of management. There is nothing that this applies to in a mote marked degree than is depicted in the raising and fattening of Btock. If stock is allowed to get low in condition for want of sufficient or suitable food, seldom does it turn out profitable to the farmer, but more often ends in dead loss

In some instances there may be plenty of food of a kind, but it is either unsuitable to the stock for which it is intended or is of such inferior quality as is often grown on sour uridrained land that stock, especially sheep, fail to thrive on it. This is especially the case with lambs or hoggets. There is often great fatality among hoggets during the latter part of winter and early spring, owing to the feed not being suited to them, which usually brings on aiKmentary and other troubles. When sheep are reduced to this state there is no treatment so effective as a complete change of diet, which should bo of a nutritious nature. It is far better than dosing them with medicine, thoßgh in extreme cases, where for instance the animals become bloodless, or anaemic, a dose of Cooper's worm tablets will generally prove beneficial. Value at Varied diet.

In addition to the medicinal treatment a change to more suitable feed should, if possible, be given stock which are in any way run down. This is where the valno of catch crops comes in, for if sown at the right time they afford the farmer an excellent opportunity of giving his stock a complete change of food which it would not otherwise have, and unless in extreme cases the remedy, if taken in time, will usually be all that is necessary. It is well to remember, however, that tho change should not be made too suddenly, but should be given gradually, mnch damage is sometimes done through not observing this-rule. This rule should be observed in all cases, not only with lambs or hoggets, but should be applied to all classes of stock.

If stock are accustomed to a certain class of food and a sadden change is given, especially if the food is of a palatable nature which lean, half-starved stock are inclined to eat rather greedily this osaally brings on indigestion and in turn induces sconr and other troubles. Many farmers do not seem to realise the value of Btraw as stock food for winter use. It is quite common to aeo large quantities of straw burnt every Beason which should be utilised as stock food. This can either be chaffed and fed to stock in this way or fed whole. The latter is least expensive though more wasteful. There are two principal methods of feeding straw to stock, one is by spreading ifc lightly along the ground in a grass field, and allowing the stock to pick it up and the other is to feed it from racks. These racks can be made portable or as a fixture. Backs for Straw.

A useful fixed rack that will be handy for feeding hay or straw can be cheaply made by putting in two rows of posts with a few straight saplings nailed or wired to them. Three rails on each side are usually sufficient for cattle or horses. Another useful cattle rack can be made as follows: First take four posts 10 feet long, dig four holes, about 2 feet deep, 8 feet apart each way, thus forming a square 8 feet by 8 feet, next secure four rails 2. feet from the top and 6 feet from the ground, dig a narrow trench along the centre of the square, then nail saplings to the top rail on either side with the other end resting in the trench, fill in the trench and ram the soil well round them.The distance between the saplings should be about 6 inches, the number of saplings required will depend upon the thickness of same. Cross pieces can be nailed across the posts forming the end of the racks. A rack of the above dimensions will hold a good dray load of hay or straw. Tho stock will pull the fodder through tho bars as they require- it and there will be very little waste. One or more of these racks can be made to suit the number of animals to be fed therefrom, or the rack may be made on similar lines, but extended to any length required. These racks, if possible, should be placed in a well sheltered spot. Portable racks are usually built on skids, or sledges. These, however, are usually made of sawn timber and need a more skilful man to perform the work, but if properly built will last for many years with reasonable care. They can be moved about at will, and placed in different positions to get suitable shelter and to distribute the manure that accumulates round about them. For ordinary use, however, tho fixed racks suit the purpose and the cost is trifling.