WATER CONTENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21244, 14 January 1939, Page 13

WATER CONTENT

GRASS AND ROOTS IMPORTANCE OF DRY FOOD All farmers are aware that water comprises the bulk of green grass, but it is doubtful whether sufficient allowance is made for the Increased quantity of water existing in the grass during a continuance of wet weather, as compared with the amount of water usually existing in grass during fine dry weather. It is still more doubtful whether in changing stock from a ration consisting mainly of grass to a ration including a large proportion of roots, such as turnips and swedes, sufficient allowance of dry food is provided to compensate for the much larger quantity of water contained in the roots compared with the much smaller proportion of water contained in permanent pasture. Sheep under normal conditions seldom desire to drink water, except during long continued periods of drought, and grass is much the more natural food under the circumstances. Turnips or swedes are of such a watery nature that some dry food should be added if the animals are to be expected to put on flesh and fat when exposed to cold weather. In every 1001 b respectively there is the following amount of dry material —namely, in turnips only 8.96, in swedes 10.33, in mangolds 11.93, in meadow grass in wet weather 16.38, and in meadow grass in ordinary dry fine weather 27.601 b. Anyone can. therefore, understand that both cattle and sheep require a certain amount of additional dry food when out on grass during a long Kjell of extremely wet weather.