FOOD VALUES AND FEEDING

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXXII, Issue 59, 7 May 1924, Page 3

FOOD VALUES AND FEEDING

—■ LECTURE BY MR A. H. R. A MESS

At the rn/iolinrj of die Stratford Jersey Cattle Club yesterday, presided over by Mr F. Hanford; Mr A. H. R. Amess. M.A., delivered' ! an interesting address to' members 1 on “Food Values and Scientific' Feeding.” At the-outset, Mr Amess sai l it was of great importance to breeders that special attention should he given to feeding as “half the bbfei'd goes down the animais’ throat. It was very necessary, therefore, that special attention ('should be given not only to breeding but to feeding to produce good results. Certain animals do not “do”|so well as might ho expected owing to the fact that they had not been' fed properly. Science was regarded “as the handmaid to all arts,” and in thi s respect had been of inestimable value in connection with agricultural advancement. In years past; success 1 had been obtained without much scientific knowledge, but with science to help, success could be more readily obtained than in the past. By the aid of science, success was acquired quicker. The breeder should use all the knowledge he could get. ; Mr Amess then spoke of the nature of organic and inorganic substances in food, and at some length, and with the aid of diagrams, explained the various foods for consumption by cattle. in this connee-

(ion, he 'mentioned that in order to feed an animal properly there imr.t he a balanced quantity of fool. With regard 1 to the feeding by clov-

ers. the lecturer said there was more value in the white variety than red .clover. Green substances contained more water than dry feeding stuffs. With regard to the digestion of food by animals, one factor which Shbnld not bn overlooked was the mechanical distribution of food —the finer it was, ground, the easier v t would he assimilated, and mixed foods were hotter than those given separately. The farmer should kno *• how much food an animal could do wdll on. Pal a I ability of food, too, meant a great deal to an animal, and Mr Am ess gave instances which had come under his notice where cattle ate those foods which 1 attracted it. The individuality of an animal made a great difference, as some animals \ycre naturally “good doers.” The lecturer dealt with the maintenance of rations and the amount of food which would keep an animal in a stationary position. This would differ in different animals. Cows wanted a, different food to growing calves. The latter needed more proteins than adult animals. Referring to pedigree dairy cattle he was afraid that in Taranaki cows were allowed to use the ordinary pastures too much, and other food requirements were not so much considered a s they should'be. This province, he thought, was inclined to produce cows a little under size. Beyond Wanganui, animals were larger. Replying to Mr Amess’ observation, Mr Ran ford said they had to remember that the reputation in New Zealand waj. built up by small animals, and when they were told to breed big animals the advice wanted qualifying- , , After a few questions were asked and satisfactorily replied to. Mr Amess was heartily thanked for his interesting address.