WASTAGE AMONGST STOCK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 45, 22 February 1936, Page 7

WASTAGE AMONGST STOCK

MINERAL DEFICIENCIES AND PARASITES CONTROL MEASURES RECOMMENDED. “The, results of recent research in nutrition have emphasised the importance of the mineral content of the diet. Lt is now realised that serious losses may occur in stock farming through the use of rations ’deficient in one or more of the essential mineral elements.” In these works Dr. J. B. Orr, introduces an address on “The nutritive value of pastures” delivered at the Agricultural Organisers ■Conference held at Cambridge, in April, 1927. The address from which the above quoted introductory remarks are taken, summarises in a convenient form the findings up to that time of research workers in various parts of the world. Ln the intervening eight years further research work has served to confirm the statements made by Dr. Orr in 1927. Stock Wastage To-day. Judging by the amount of wastage taking place amongst live stock to-day, it appears that the time is opportune to draw attention to the tremendous importance of quality in-so-far as the feed of sheep and cattle is concerned. During the past week our attention has been directed by four separate sheep farmers to the difficulties they are 1 experiencing in getting their lambs away fat. In two cases the weights of even the first draft were disappointing, and in the other two cases the chief trouble was too large a proportion of weak, unthrifty lambs. One man was afraid his land was developing bush sickness, but an inspection of his stock quickly dispelled that idea. In each case a fairly exhaustive examination of the pastures took place and in each case the conditions were much the same, namely:—Too much feed for the stock being carried. It was also quite obvious that this feed surplus had not just, happened overnight; it had been there for some weeks as the condition of the pastures clearly indicated. It was expained that not only did a large number of lambs fail to put on condition, but a good many were well forward a. month ago had lost much weight and now could noT bp. considered as anything but stores. Parasitic Infection. An examination of some of the poorer lambs found on these four farms, suggested worms as being a factor responsible for their unthrifty appearance. A certain amount of drenching had been done hut this was not marked by any appreciable improvement in condition. As a matter of fact a rapid improvement could not reasonably have been looked for. for the simple reason that all the pastures were in that condition that they must have been sheltering millions of worms in which case the lambs were taking in a fresh supply with almost every bite they ate. Life Cycle of Sheep Worms. It is stated clearly T.y Mr. ID. A. Gill, Superintendent Live-Stock Division, Wellington, that worms do not mu It.ply inside the animal, livery wurm found inside a sheep has reached it from outside and represents a larval worm taken in by the sheep along with its feed. The female woims lay numerous eggs in the stomach of the sheep and these eggs are pas: d out on to the pasture. Under suitable conditions of moisture and warmth, the eggs hatch in two or three days and a larvae merely develops a little further and then moults or sheds its outer covering, continues to deve'op and moults a second time. After the second moult the larva is ready to infect another sheep. If weather conditions are ideal for the parasite, each of the two moults will take two or three days and if the weather is adverse the moulting will take longer. State of Pastures. Further on in his article on sheep worms which, by the way, appeared in the August, 1935, issue of the N.Z. Journal of Agriculture, Mr. Gill states that if there is enough moisture—even a thin film of dew is sufficient—and mild light, the infective larvae crawl up grass blades and stay there waiting for a grazing sheep to pick them up. Strong light drives them back to the roots of the grass and to the soil again. What practical advantage can we take of this knowledge of the life history of these parasites? asks Mr. Gil], In the first place, he says, in answering his own question, it indicates the need fol very careful sheep-pasture management. It is inadvisable to let sheep pastures become too long. If pastures become long, more especially in damp localities, they provide just the shelter from sunlight and the drying effects of wind which helps the parasites to survive during their more delicate stages. Sound Advice. Here, then we have a sound reason offered for keeping pastures down to a safe length during the summer months. I’arasites that are responsible for severe losses amongst lambs are capable of being controlled, at least to a substantial extent, in that they re act to the pasture —control measures adopted by the grazier. Reduce the amount of surplus feed, let the sunlight into the bottom of the pasture, carry a greater proportion of cattle perhaps, and you simultaneously reduce the risk oi worm-infection in the lambs. Another Aspect. What has sheep-worms to do with the mineral content of the diet? We started to write about mineral deficiencies in the food and became sidetracked on to sheepworms. We followed that lead merely to point out the importance of pasture control from another aspect —we now come back to mineral deficiencies. Land that has been farmed for many decades is very liable to be short of one or more mineral substances necessary for the complete sustenance of animals. In some cases of mineral deficiency the ill-effects are only too obvious, but* in other cases they are not so clearly defined and take longer to develop.* For instance it would require the most constant vigilance on the part of the owner or shepherd to detect the instant when a lamb ceased to thrive and started on the downward course. Actually the most reliable indication of this happening really concerns the pasture; in fact the man who studies his pastures closely will receive warning of impending danger in time to avoid it.

Close Grazing. Dr. Woodman, an English scientist of world-wide repute, slates that: 4 ‘Closely grazed pasturage possesses a much higher feeding value than has hitherto been thought. Its drv matter possesses the character of a protein concentrate of high digestibility and nutritive value. Under a system of close grazing and where rainfall is adequate and well distributed, this high nulriti\i> value may substantially be maintained throughout .the whole grazing season. That closely grazed pasturage is able to meet, the demands of the farm animal for lime and phosphate is made apparent by considering the case of a dairy cow y:elding four gallons of milk per day. Such an animal requires .IT! i ounces of lime and 31- ounces of phosphate in its daily ration. Assuming that the animal consumes 3(libs, of dry matter per day on young pasture, then such an amount of correctly manured herbage will contain about 6 ounces of lime and 5 ounces of oliospliau-. Pasture Speciss Net Important;. Equally good results from the, standpoints of chemical composition, digestibility and nutritive value have been obtained in two different seasons, on two widely differing pastures, one of! which, because of its greater proportion I of what are generally considered to be superior species, would have been expected to yield much better results than the other. In view of these facts, states Dr. Woodman, it is difficult to resist the conclusion that the botanical composition of a pasture is of secondary importance, and that management, involving not only efficient stocking and close cropping, but also adequate manuring to ensure density of herbage and vigour of growth, is the primary factor determining the nutritive van: of pastures. Lower Feeding Value. 'To make the position perfectly dear, it should be pointed out that whilst closely grazed pasture has a feaJing value equal to oil cake, the same pasture allowed to get away to seed would scarcely maintain stock in a healthy condition. So much so is this the case' that strong recommendations are now , made to cut hay at a much earlier stage of growth than is customary. Instead ' of waiting for a hay crop to reach full' maturity and put on more weight, farm- ' ers are advised to cut earlier whilst the crop is leafy and although by so uoingi they may sacrifice weight, they will as-j suredly be gaining more in increased : feeding value. Tlie Practical Side. We are assured beyond any doubt 1 that shorter pastures are best, the two' outstanding reasons given being: (1) Long grass provides the ideal cover for sheep worms, and (2) The longer the grass is allowed to grow before being grazed, ‘he poorer i it becomes in feeding value. It is desirable then from the stami ; points of worm control and maximum 1 feeding value that pastures be kept: reasonably short, especially for growing ; sheep. Just how is this ideal condition to be arrived at? It is not possible lo | bring in more stock just when if is I wanted and dispose of it again when no longer required. That sort of policy: must end in disaster. The that can be done on easy country is to con-; fine the stock to '.teh area as ’hey can lcs*.v*» font.if’ uj the

balance for cutting. It is poor Ui'Tiiinj to spread the stock out over the whole farm and leave them to do lii-ir to keep down the feed. Where it can be used, the mown is an excellent aid to better pastjr? tortrol and if farmers would only realise, they can often make the feed right tor lambs by running the mower ever a| paddock. On dairying land, topping the. pas-tures is the easiest means ol keeping the grass right. Winter Capacity. The common bugbear to farmers, of course, is that old problem oi winter carrying capacity. It is only in t'-c summer time that there is any dlnicul'.j with surplus feed, as the slo x populii tion is regulated wholly by the winter feed position. If grass gro.vdi was only even throughout the year how much more simple it would all be! The problem must be tackled at the winter end in an endeavour to impro’ •; the winter carrying capacity' of the grass country. Top-dressing is the mo.-’ effective means of doing this. Autrmn top-dressing with superphosphate or basic super or a mixture of superpli >sphate and lime will definitely improve the winter feed position by aiding the (pastures to make quicker recovery after grazing, by specially stimnl-iii ig the more vigorous and better qumi y species such as rye and clovers, arid by so improving the percentage of essential minerals in the grass that a quantity of teed will suffice for es.di , anima’/ March or April top-dressing ! should make a favourable impress-m on tie feed p sit : .-r that winter, ; nd although it will still be reflected in the grass the following summer, the greatly increased head of stuck carried through the winter, together with the greater natural incease, should be better able to control it. Pasture control is the most difficult job on the land and at the same time the most important. It is the mineral—rich young grass, caught at its leafiest s-tage, that is most easily converted into milk, meat and wool and so that he may keep as much of his grass country as possible in that young leafy stage, a farmer is justified in using every means of control within his reach—stock, mower and fertiliser —particularly fertiliser as that is the greatest of all known ing fert’.