MINERALS FOE STOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20385, 14 October 1929, Page 3

MINERALS FOE STOCK.

FREE-CHOICE FEEDING.

fc RESULTS OF INVESTIGATIONS.

An investigation extending over foul seasons, to establish whether dairy cowa would voluntarily consume necessary minerals from a self-feeder on a free-choice basis, is dealt with by an Australian agricultural paper. The result of the trial suggested that either the rations supplied were not deficient in calcium and phosphorus, or the bonemeal and ground limestone were so unpalatable that the cows refused to eat them despite any craving they may have had for the elements.

Cows of moderate to good production ability, and their daughters, were chosen for the test. They were confined in barns and dry lots throughout the test. The ration used . consisted of mai«o silage, legume hay and a grain mixture. During the first two years, finely ground limestone and common salt were placed in separate compartments. Tho third year bonemeal was added in a separate compartment. Both this product and tho ground limestone were mixed with salt at tho rate of four parts to one part of salt.

When no mineral supplement was fed in the yard, hone meal and salt were incorporated in the grain mixture at the rate of 1.5 per cent. each. When supplements were fed, 1 per cent, of salt was added to the ration. It was found that 1 per cent, of salt in the grain ration did not satisfy the craving of the csittle for this mineral. When they were allowed salt in a self-feeder they consumed rather larger quantities of it. No particular desire for the tWo other mineral supplements were manifested when they were offered free choice. This caused the people in charge of the experiment to conclude that either the ration was not deficient in calcium or phosphorus, or the products were so unpalatable when offered free-choice that the cattle refused to eat appreciable amounts of them.