INTENSIVE GRAZING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20425, 29 November 1929, Page 7

INTENSIVE GRAZING.

AN ENGLISH EXAMPLE. '

> A farm that has attracted wide interest in England is that"of Mr. F. Savage, in Surrey. The soil is a retentive rather deficient in lime, but well supplied with sub-soil moisture, • and consequently not greatly affecteci by long periods of drought. Although the rotational system of grazing' is adopted, no attempt fias been made to divide the pastures into small plots. The fields vary in' fcize from -5 to 12 acres, and Mr. Savage has found that even flushes of rich young grass can be obtained throughout an extended grazing • season, by the nanipulation of the stock, and the judicious use of the mowing. ; machine. '•

Of the total of 80 acres of -grassland, .20 acres of unreclaimed land are let off as rough grazing, and the remaining 60 acres carry 30 dairy cows, 2 horses, 12 breeding sows, running out. until they farrow down, and 600 head of poultry. Sufficient hay is also gathered for the live stosk in winter. _ When with the apapproach of winter, the cows begin to lie , in at night, from 50 to 60 sheep are grazed round the pastures until the end, of February. In pursuit of the main object to support the largest possible head of stock • with a minimum of -feeding stuffs, a system of manuring- has to ensure growthcin.addition to bulk and quality. Each pasture receives from 5 to 10 cwt." of dime every third or fourth year, and a similar quantity of basic slag at the' same '-interval, though not in the same year. The ..basal manur- ■ ing was completed this year, by the application of 2 cwt. of 30- per cent, potash salts per acre, to the slagged 'pastures? As there is no arable land on th» farm to produce !roots- for tbe 'winter or catch (Crops for the summer, the winter feeding consists entirely of Concentrates and hay, while the summer grazing! has to be so manipulated as to.ensure (1), a constant supply of grass suitable for the maintenance of, milk yields from April to November (the - English lactation period), and (2), 'a maximum acreage of grassland for hay.. To achieve these objects, Mr. Savage divides his grassland into the following three categories: (1) Pastures for rotational grazing; (2) meadows .set permanently aside for hay, and (3) pastures for either of the preceding purposes, according to the demands of the stock or season. If the last-named are to bo suitable for grazing during the critical period extending from niia-June to tne , , end of July, their growth ™ist be checked at the outset so that they may be taken for midsummer grazing or, a late cron of hay •'« the case requires. 4s soon as droppings are sufficiency dry to be movel they are spread by S care being taken,, to place the nianu'rft where It »V most - required :to ; enS uniform : quality and-groxvth of herbage and tho absence of unapalatable tufte The extra trouble andv^cost- i«- ...,. volve'd by this method 'is .considered o be amply repaid by the . finer . quality . cf the resulting hgrbaga.