SHORT GRASS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20110, 31 March 1928, Page 24 (Supplement)

SHORT GRASS

MAINTAINING QUALITY CHEAPEST FORM OF PROTEIN By a series of elaborate experiments carried out principally at Cambridge University, it has been ascertained that if we can keep our pastures really closely grazed, the grass produced does not deteriorate after the first flush, but maintains its high quality throughout the growing season, ana represents the cheapest form of protein obtainable. Moreover, the digestibility and mineral content are also maintained. Mr W. Gavin, C.8.E., M.A., writes about an interesting conference nt Cambridge in the Morning Post, which, he says, •‘may be termed well-nigh historic; it will, at any rate, be regarded in the future as a land-mark of agricultural research and progress. “Thus science confirms at last the practice of the best graziers, which has been based on the sayings that ‘ what grows in the night should be eaten next day. 7 And it condemns with no uncertain voice the grazing that is the rule almost everywhere else. Waste Feed. “To let grass grow to maturity is definitely to sacrifice the cheapest protein food that is obtainable. Not only do we lose by the tremendous fall in value of the grass so growing, but this very grass prevents new young shoots rich in protein, from being produced. “It may well prove to be profitable to send the mowing machine over all portions of fields not cliicicntly grazed, simply to bring about a new growth of young shoots. The shoots are, in fact, the fanner’s cheapest source of protein—the cheapest factory in the world for the conversion of inorganic into organic nitrogen.

“For these reasons the early cutting of hay also is of far greater advantage than has hitherto been supposed, and-well repays the extra difficulty of limiting and the Joss of bulk. Indeed, in 'some the latter may be an hdjvantage. >

“Th?re are, of course, many practical problems to be sol and the capital cost of fencing land in small paddocks, and laying on water to enable sectional grazing to be properly canned out, requires much study. ‘* it appears probable however, that, for the first time in the world’s history, supplies of cheap nitrogen are in sight. Cheap nitrogen, applied to grass land, can be converted into cheap protein in the young growing sheets or

“If close grazing can be put into practice, then these young shoots can be converted into beef, mutton, milk, or wool before their value is dispersed by the maturity of the grass. Furthermore, Professor Wood has already iniated experiments in storing the surplus of these young shoots in the form of pressed cakes, for use in winter. The New Outlook. “This, then, is the picture that the latest advance in knowledge conjures up. It is idle to suppose that there are not many practical difficulties to overcome. It is equally idle to imagine that they will not be overcome, and at no distant date.

“Except in a few districts our pastures and meadows revive little attention; they are just ‘there;’ they

happen. The new knowledge that is now emerging will quickly force us to look upon grassland in a different light, and in self-defence to devote as much attention to its control andjuanagement as we do to that of other crops. 7 ’