THE HOME PADDOCK

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3812, 23 September 1936, Page 2

THE HOME PADDOCK

GENERAL. THE BEST HAC. It is unfortunate that meadow hay, the most important of all feeding on the farm, should be the most variable in composition and feeding value. Its protein content may vary from about 7 to 13 per cent, according to quality, the fibre at the same time ranging from as much as 33 to as little as 20 pel- cent, and the oil from 3 to 1.5 per cent. Together with this variability in chemical composition runs a corresponding variation in digestibility, a circumstance that exerts a far reaching influence on feeding value. Manifestly it is desirable to inquire into the. causes of this variability, since an understanding of these factors will help the farmer in his attempt to assess the feeding value of his hay crop. The main causes are threefold. (1) Herbage containing a high proportion of such species as bent grass tends to run off more readily into a coarse and fibrous condition than glass composed mainly of such species as ryegrass and rough stalked meadow grass. Where the herbage contains a good mixture of clover, the hay will be enriched in protein and lime and will have an improved feeding value. (2) Bad weather, especially just before the hay is ready for carting, exercises a marked depressing effect on Loth palatability and feeding value. Rain leeches out considerable amounts of the valuable carbohydrate and mineral matter, with a consequent increase in the percentage of fibre. Even under favourable conditions the losses in hay-making may amount to as much as one-quarter of the food nutrient originally present in the herbage. Rainy weather, however, magnifies these losses enormously. (3) The stage of growth is a primary factor of importance, since it is within control of the farmer, who all to often strives after bulk at the Expense of quality. The research work at Cambridge (England) has shown that the earlier the cut the richer will be the hay in protein, the poorer in fibre and the higher in digestibility and nutritive value.

Young grass was found to possess the characteristics of a concentrated food, a discovery which formed the basis for Dr H. E. Woodman’s proposals for the artificial drying of such herbage for feeding in place of concentrates in winter.

As grass approaches the stage at which it is usually cut for hay, the fibre is tending to become woody, arid if this change is allowed to proceed too far the digestibility and feeding value of the herbage decline' rapidly. Hay from such herbage must necessarily be poor in protein, rich in fibre and of low feeding value. HINTS. RIDGING WITH THREE FURROW PLOUGH. Open the furrow with the last breast and when you come back split it with the first breast. The second breast will run idle and the last breast will Close one side of the ridge in. REPAIRING CORN DRILLS. Old corn drills sometimes give trouble by reason of the metal spouts which convey the corn from the seed box to the foot being worn. These can be replaced by cycle inner tubes. Cut off the tubing to the desired length and slip one end over the small spout which just protrudes from the seed box. The other end of the tube should just touch the ground. This tubing allows free passage for the corn, but will bend easily to allow feed of drill to be raised. The tube should be se cut so as to avoid having the valve hole in the length through which the corn passes. FOSTER MOTHER FOR CHICKS. An old copper turned upside down on a ring of bricks, allowing space between the bricks for the chicks to run'under, makes a useful foster mother. An ordinary stable lantern will give ample heat. A small hole drilled in the copper bottom will make an exit for foul air that may rise from the lamp. A curtain can be tied round the rim of the copper to prevent draughts. HOME-MADE CHIMNEY COWLS. Three or four worn out pails inverted otie over the other on top of the chimney stack will effectively cure a smoky chimney. Extra holes may be drilled in the bottoms or sides if there is not sufficient for the smoke outlet. These stay quite firm. SHEEP WITH SORES. Tie one end of a short length of thin cord round each hind leg, above the hoof. Tile sheep will be able to walk in comfort but the cord will prevent the hoof being raised high enough to reach the sore place. FOR MENDING HARNESS. If you do not own a vice to hold It with while you stretch the leather together, take two staves of an old barrel of equal length. Fasten together at one end with a small hinge. Bore a hole halfway up each stave, then place a bolt through both holes. Put on the bolt a nut, or better still, a thumb nut. BRIGHTER LAMPLIGHT. To improve the light of an oil lamp cut a v-shaped notch out of the wick above the burner.