SUMMER FEED FOR COWS.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13506, 28 August 1912, Page 8

SUMMER FEED FOR COWS.

In ,his. annual report to the shareholders of the Rangitikei Co-operative Dairy Company, the chairman of directors, Mr James G. Wilson, sounds a 'very neco&ary note of warning in regard to the feeding of dairy stock. He I says:— j "Your directors-would again strongly jvrge.th© suppliers to make preparation ;for summer feed for cows, against the prospect of a dry season. Last year, after a very dry fine winter, we had a splendid summer for dairying, and the summer food was not needed. This year the winter has been cold and wet, and on the laws of averages there is therefore much more likelihood of a I dry summer this year. Mai/,e lias been found to be the most suitable crop for this: purpose yet tried, but it requires a complete manure, and your directors will bo glad to order' both seed and manure suitable for the crop for the suppliers if they wish it. If not needed it is easily made into ensilage for winter food."

This advice cannot be reiterated too often, especially in these days, when there is so much activity in regard to I herd-testing, and the use of purebred ; bulls bred on proper lines. The realisation of necesity of practising these modern methods of breeding only profitable dairy cows, is all important, but no matter how effective the system of breeding may be, it will prove of little avail if, the. necessary fuel is not provided for tho milking-machine" types of cows evolved. Tlioto is> much wisdom in the trite saying that "half the breeding goes down the mouth," but if proper feeding is essential, as it undoubtedly is, to the best development of an animal, it is e?en more important if a deep-milking cow is to produce to its maximum capacity. The American have put-up some astonishing records -with dairy cows, but tbey provide all the food, regardless of cost that the animals can eat, while British farmers secure- great yields from their cows, but at considerable cost for artificial food-stuffs. In New Zealand '' there is no need to feed anything but pasture, hay and roots to obtain records equal to the beet America, can produce, as proved by the yields of the leading cows in the Holstoin herd of the Department of Agriculture, where under a liberal supply of grass, with green maize in the dry summer months, remarkable records have been put up, especially remarkable, when the cost of production is considered. It would bo interesting, in this connection, to have tho actual cost of producing the milk and butter-fat yields recorded for some Yankee cows. In following Mr Wilson's advice, to provide maize to supplement pasture —a system which would bo greatly strengthened by the making of lucerne hay—the dairy farmer has a cheaper basis than would be possible in any other part of the world.—"Advocate."