ENSILAGE NOTES.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XIII, Issue 5, 20 November 1916, Page 397

ENSILAGE NOTES.

W. DIBBLE,

Fields Inspector.

It is satisfactory to note that progressive farmers in the dairying districts are taking an increasing interest in ensilage, and are proving that the profits from ensilage-fed cows are much in excess of those yielded by cows fed on hay at similar periods of the year, also that ensilage can be made by improved methods almost as cheaply as hay.

An excellent example of ensilage-making and its benefits has recently been afforded at the farm of Mr. J. E. Meuli, Okaiawa, Taranaki. A 22-acre paddock in 1914 was stumped, ploughed, sown in swedes, and fed off. During September, 1915, it was again ploughed and sown down to oats, grass, and clover at the rate of bushels oats, 18 lb. cocksfoot, 5 lb. Italian rye, 5 lb. cow-grass, i| lb. white clover, and 1 lb. alsike per acre. Early in 1916 the growth was cut and made into stack ensilage, the size of stack being 30 ft. by 30 ft. by 9 ft., estimated to contain 190 to 200 tons of cured ensilage. Eight bags of salt were used in the making. All necessary implements were used in the operations, including a Manitoba stacker for hoisting, and ten to twelve men assisted in carrying out the work. The cost of making the 22 acres of crop into ensilage —for labour and material —was about £29 : say, 3s. per ton.

The stack was opened up and fed daily to 170 head of stock, commencing on 15th June and finishing on 10th September, 1916. The healthy condition of the stock showed the value of feeding ensilage, and I certainly have not seen a herd come through the winter in better condition this year. It ' may be noted that all the cows of the herd, 141 in number, calved without any assistance whatever, and in every case the afterbirth' came away clean within a few hours. At the beginning of October only nine cows and heifers had not come into profit, and these were very close to calving. The bulls before being turned in with the cows in the previous spring had been fed on ensilage. Out of the herd fifty cows and heifers were put in a paddock of 7 acres during July and August last, and fed solely on ensilage (apart from pasture pickings) for eight weeks, the quantity given to them being one two-horse load daily.

The fact that the herd at the home farm, which was not a selected herd in any way (the fifty-six head including thirteen two-year-old heifers), produced 16,632 lb. of butter-fat • last year, or an average of 292 lb. per head, must be considered very satisfactory, and proves that the animals did well on the ensilage provided for them during that season also.

In the writer’s opinion ensilage can be fed with advantage to dairy herds from the months of June to October, . and then again from February to April. There is no material conserved that is more similar to the natural herbage than first-class ensilage, and it tends to keep the cattle healthy. Owners would experience less trouble with various ailments in their herds if the cattle were fed liberally with ensilage at certain times of the year when necessity demands. There are ,still farmers who consider that a cow which has been through an exhausting milking season and is carrying a calf can be turned adrift and look after herself until she comes into profit again. But this is, of course, a quite mistaken idea. The period in question is the time when the cow should be fairly treated, in order that she may come in in good form for the ensuing season, which for best results should not be later than July. By getting an early start a much longer ‘milking season can be obtained from the herd.