RESERVES OF FEED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19959, 17 November 1934, Page 15

RESERVES OF FEED

SOME SUMMER WORK WHERE FARMING FAILS Many unsatisfactory financial results in farming may be attributed directly to lack of adequate or suitable feed during those critical periods when the amount of feed directly available from pastures is below the requirements of the stock that could be carried profitably as the result of suitable adjustments in the feed supply, remarks the writer of the Farm Extension Service notes issued by the Fields Division and Plant Research Station. The field work done in early summer greatly influences the distribution of the feed supply for the following year. Hence some consideration of this work seems timely. During November and December, pasture utilisation should be designed to avoid as far as possible the development of flowering or coarse growth on pasture under grazing—as grass growth becomes more mature it becomes correspondingly more fibrous, less nutritious, and less digestible. In addition, bottom sward-forming species such as white clover may be hampered seriously. And, further, the more pastures are allowed to become tall and stemmy the more do they fall off in respect to their output of leafy herbage during a considerable and critical portion of the producing season—i.e., during late summer and early autumn—whereas pastures which have not developed to the flowering stage are characterised by a more continuous and great production of leafy feed. .Much of the undue development of coarse summer growth of pastures would be obviated were ensilage exploited to the optimum extent, and at the same time valuable reserves of feed would be built up. Probably some who should practise ensilage still hesitate to do so because of the belief that it is either unduly laborious or that it calls for special experience. While it can be made laborious, it also can be made a light task, and a main objective should be the elimination of all tedious, unnecessary effort. The work relative to ensilage can be lightened greatly by intelligent preparation, for which there is still ample time on many farms. Conveniently located ensilage pits or trenches may be made. It is significant that in leading grass-farming districts trenches have grown in popularity in recent years. This is because suitable locations for trenches, which are really modified shallow pits, can be found on most farms. Experience shows that drainage is not of special moment in selecting sites for trenches, although, of course, a really badly drained site would be avoided. Trenches appeal to many because they, can be made so readily and cheaply with horse labour. Further, not only do trenches reduce the labour of handling the heavy green material, but they allow of its being so well compacted by trampling, etc., that the wastage is reduced to a practically negligible quantity. Detailed information about the construction of trenches is available from local officers of the Fields Division Ensilage No Worry Ensilage, far from being an intricate process, is considered by those with experience of it to be as a rule simpler arid productive of much less worry than is haymaking. After very little experience it is possible to dispense with the taking of temperatures in determining the progress that it is advisable to make—additional green material should be added to that already gathered as soon as the latter commences to sink in height because of the ensiling process. If this rule is followed temperatures in the vicinity of 100 degrees Fahrenheit will develop, and silage of a greenish to a yellowish tint usually will result. To follow this rule when the stack system is employed, if the weather is mild and there is not excessive water associated with the green material, it is usually necessary to proceed daily with the ensilage; but if the weather is cold and green material contains much moisture because of either the weather or the stage of its growth, then it is likely to be advisable to refrain from bringing in green material on occasional days, especially in the early stages. In pits and trenches where the partial exclusion of air may check the rate of the ensiling pibcess, slower gathering of the green material is likely to be suitable than in the stack system. The production of the greenish to yellowish type of silage involves less loss in nutritive value in the actual ensiling process and results in a more digestible type of forage than does the production of brown to black silage. Even when care is exercised, late harvesting of the crop is likely to beget undesirably dark silage unless the work is speeded up relatively to the procedure which suits for green, succulent material. Wool Outlook The carry-over in New Zealand wool is estimated at between 60,000 and 70,000 bales of greasy wool. This is less than formerly but a strong and healthy trade revival is necessary to give a more healthy tone to the sales. Weather Conditions Southland and Hawke’s Bay have been experiencing dry spells of weather. There was only half the normal rainfall in Southland during October and lately the weather has been exceptionally fine and warm.