PASTURE GRAZING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3959, 28 January 1930, Page 16

PASTURE GRAZING.

VALUE OF YOUNG GRASS

AUCKLAND. January 22. Important principles in regard to pasture grazing, disclosed by research at. Cambridge University, were mentioned by Mr F. Milner, rector of the Waitaki Boys’ High School, who arrived at Auckland by the Ulimaroa. Dr Woodman's discovery that grass yielded its maximum nutritional value, both in protein and mineral content, while in the young and tender stage was destined to revolutionise grazing methods, Mr Milner said. Already farmers in the south of Scotland, who had been quick to utilise this method by adopting a system of tri weekly rotational close grazing in subdivided paddocks, had increased their stock-carrying capacity twofold and threefold. ‘ The newly-appointed Governor-Gene-ral of the Dominion, Lord Bledisloe, is chairman of the Imperial Grasslands Association,” Mr Milner added. “ He is notably impressed by the possibilities of the Cambridge discoveries. At Manchester he said that farmers who had adopted the new method of pasture grazing were

carrying up to seven and a-half sheep to the acre. It is recommended that grass should never be allowed to exceed four inches in height. It is at this stage that its full nutrition value for milk and meat is accessible to the animal. In the longer stage and as hay so much fibrous cellulose surrounds the cells that lignification debars the animal from assimilating the cell contents.

“The Imperial Chamical Company is so impressed with the discovery that already it is working out the commercial possibilities by placing dehydrated pressed briquettes of young grass on the market,” added Mr Milner. “ I was shown briquettes which had been stored for three years, which on immersion in water regained the colour and appetising odour of freshly-cut young grass. Needless to say. stock devour these briquettes with avidity.”