IN DEFENCE OF SILAGE

Opunake Times, 26 August 1947, Page 4

IN DEFENCE OF SILAGE

GOOD WINTER FEED There is among farmers a good deal of bias against the making of silage, but why this should be it is difficult to understand. In the first place, well-made silage is a good food for milking stock. It provides a means of conserving grass when it still has a high feeding value. It is not so liable to damage by weather as is hay, and though the losses in food value in ensiling are considerable they are no heavier than in hay-making, particularly if the hay is affected by weather or left to become over-mature. Harvesting is spread—every acre of silage cut in November is an acre less of hay to be made in December. There is greater flexibility in paddocks being taken out of, or returned to, the grazing rotation, while the aftermath is so much better from early-cut silage than it is from late-cut hay. The main objection to silage is the heavy lifting involved, but it must be remembered that silage is handled only once to" the stack or pit. Though hay is lighter, it may have to be handled as much as three or four times, according to the system of hay-making, and the weather conditions. On top of this, there is the anxiety of getting in the hay in reasonable condition. From the aspects of both farm and pasture management, silage has a great deal to recommend it in districts of uncertain haymaking weather and abundant pasture growth.