FEED TAINT CONTROL ON DAIRY FARMS

Te Puke Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 63, 18 August 1939, Page 5

FEED TAINT CONTROL ON DAIRY FARMS

For quite a number of years feed taints have occasioned some concern on dairy farms in the Bay of Plenty. With the considerable amount of maize cropping and cultivation for soft turnips and swedes, fairly extensive areas were kept under the plough in the earlier stages of development. This enabled such Weeds as land Cress to invade the pastures and thrive under the ideal conditions that wore provided for them. As the popularity of cropping Waned, more areas of permanent pasture were established. Where pa spa lum was included in these mixtures, a fairly close sward developed, and land cress was quickly eliminated from the pasture. This was most marked in Te Puke and Katikat-i districts, although, in parts, they still suffer from land cress where new pastures are laid down. In the Tauranga district, however, where much cropping is done on small holdings, where dairying is relatively unimportant, land cress continues to thrive. When this weed is eaten by milking cows it imparts a strong mustard-like smell to the milk. This cannot be driven off under heat until very high temperatures are reached. Consequently factory treatment of the cream can effect little improvement, The remedy is obviously one that must be applied on the larm. Where, cress is known to be bad, as in young spring sown pastures, milking cows should not graze on such areas within three hours of milking. Investigations carried out show that such a period safeguards quality, while no loss in production results from holding the herd in oven a yard or a field with little growth for the three hour period, before milking, .

Remedies, however, need to go a little further. In sowing down after cropping, many farmers sow m the spring, using a very diverse . mixture, which contains inadequate quantities of rapid sward forming constituents;/ Both these practices are faulty. The practice of spring sowing does not’ provide a suitable period for grass and clover establishment before the young cress gets away. Consequently cress smothering of the pasture species is not uncommon. .

With regard to the mixture, it is not uncommon to find a dozen' or more species included with red clover .a prominent constituent, and ryegrass of relatively little importance. In fact some mixtures have less than ten; pounds: of ryegrass and eight or more of red clover.' The result is . that reel clover smothers all other species in the first season and cress has a free hand thereafter, 7 A simpler mixture,.; Using a bushel of certified perennial. ryegrass,' three pounds of certified white clover, with cocksfoot, paspatuin, etc,, to bring the sowing to 40 or. 45 lbs per acre, would be iar more satisfactory. For permanent sowing on cress infested areas, red clover might, well be omitted. In laying, down pastures, therefore, tl.ie practice should be to sow simpler mixtures in the autumn, and manure, them well at the outset. Feed taints will occur from other, causes. For instance such factors as swampy water, tainting weeds such us watercress and penny-royal, turnips, excess of clover, will all cause feediness of varying types. . The obvious remedy. for. .some of these will consist of excluding the herd from sources of taint.

With regard to excess of clover in pastures, in addition, to practising the controlled grazing that was recommended for cress infested areas, the production of a better balance of grass to clover will assist in rectifying the position. It is known that close grazing will encourage clovers, while lax grazing will lead to grass domination. A grassy sward is also known to produce taint free cream. Therefore, by delaying grazing until the growth reaches say six inches, and feeding it back to the three-inch stage, there should be an improvement in the quality of produce. Incidentally, this method will result in no loss m actual production over a period. Briefly stated, then, the following points may be stressed in recommendations for feed "taint control on the farm: (1) In sowing down pastures on cress areas, always sow in the autumn with simpler mixtures. Use more certified) ryegrass to get a quick cover, and omit red clover entirely. Above all, be liberal with fertiliser, (2) Control grazing so that the herd is . not on . cress or dowry fields within three hours of milking, . (3) Where clover is strong, practise more lenient grazing to encourage grasses. Let growth get away to six inches, and graze, hack no more than three Inches. (4) Keep stock away from swampy water, tainting weeds, and tainting crops such as turnips. • At the present time further investigations are being carried out with a

view to clarifying other points concerning feed taints, but observation of the above points should assist to improve the grading of cream this spring.