The Journal of Agriculture.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XV, Issue 4, 20 October 1917, Page 179

The Journal of Agriculture.

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND. 20TH OCTOBER, 1917. EXTENSION OF CROPPING AND FODDER CONSERVATION. TO MEET ANTICIPATED WAR - EMERGENCY INCREASES IN STOCK CARRIED. .

Contributed by the Fields Division.

MANY inquiries have been recently received regarding special provision for wintering stock, > particularly in view of the accepted possibility of a more or less compulsory carry over ” of certain classes. It is understood that after February next there may. be a limitation in the numbers and kinds of lambs admitted to the freezing-works. Should this prove to be the

case it will, of course, mean that a large proportion of the season’s crop of lambs, which under ordinary circumstances would have been disposed of, will have to be maintained on the farms. It is hoped, however, that few of the Southdown ' and Shropshire cross lambs will be left on hand. ■ Apart from the unsuitability of this class for carrying over, inability to get them into the works would be a serious blow to the more intensive form of sheep-farming towards

which New Zealand has been trending, and would adversely affect that class of the sheep-farming community which is least able to withstand the consequent losses.

Unfortunately, it has been only during the last few months that fears of a really serious space-shortage have become general. This has been clearly shown during the past winter in lowered values for ewes in lamb to dark-faced rams, as compared with prices for the same classes even prior to tupping-time. One hears here and there of farmers who have - hitherto raised early fat lambs . having used Romney rams on their ewes this year. It is fairly certain, however, that this has not happened to an extent which would appreciably ease the situation so far as early fat lambs are concerned. Undoubtedly the early-fat-lamb breeders will consult their interests by pushing the season's crop forward to the works as rapidly as possible. Rape, if not already sown, . should be got in with the least possible delay —about 1 acre for every forty ewes with lambs to be fattened being the average requirement. . -

If the available' space becomes exhausted it is clear that lambs in considerably increased numbers will have to. be carried ; while the forecast of the future shipping and storage situation would appear to warrant the assumption that other classes, both sheep and cattle, may have to be carried forward in greater numbers. Further, the not insignificant outlet for surplus stock provided by . newly grassed bush-burns will. also be restricted. Last year the bush-burn area suffered a reduction of approximately 60,000 acres. This year, as judged by advance orders for grass-seed, a further reduction of some 80,000 acres may be looked for, thus making extra demands upon available pasturage and crops. Such restrictions in normal stock movements cannot fail to be reflected , throughout the whole stockraising industry, and it is for every farmer, according to the extent .to which 1 his ordinary carrying-capacity is likely to be affected, to readjust his plans for. the future carrying of his stock.

It is impossible within the limits of a Journal contribution except in the most ♦ general > terms —to give suggestions regarding cropping to meet the varied necessities and circumstances of farms throughout the country. A brief review of cropping in relation to stock requirements, qualified where necessary, may, however, be helpful in some cases in arranging cropping programmes. Farmers wishing detailed recommendations for specific circumstances and requirements should communicate with the Division.*

While it is sheep-feed that is chiefly in the minds of farmers in’ the present connection, the claims of dairy stock should not be lost sight of. Mixed farming is fairly general, and as a rule abundance of feed for one class of stock spells ample for another. Let us

therefore consider the needs of the former in the first place. Over the greater part of New Zealand, on good land, three crops are of outstanding importance for dairy stock : these are lucerne, maize, and mangels.

Lucerne provides green feed in summer and early autumn, and hay of the best kind for winter use. For the present purpose it lacks two essentials as a forage - namely, rapid establishment and winter growth. Spring- and summer-sown lucerne is generally of little account in its yield of forage until a year has elapsed. When autumn-sown under favourable circumstances, satisfactory yields may be expected in the following summer. Anyhow, it is never too late to make a start with lucerne. Its value has been so amply demonstrated that to have lucerne land and no lucerne almost amounts to bad management. There is time to establish it now before the real pinch comes. The Fields Division is always prepared to give prompt advice regarding its requirements and culture. It has been stated that lucerne is of little account in providing green feed in winter, but its value as hay for all classes of stock during this season can hardly be overestimated.

Mangels are a crop of great value for feed for dairy cows, and also for ewes during July, August, and September. On good soils they ate a more certain crop than swedes,' and. if they require more cultivation the total yield of, digestible dry matter per acre of a well-grown crop of mangels will on the average exceed twice that of swedes as ordinarily grown. . The fact is that easy methods of growing turnips and swedes have been against proper attention being given to mangels. Plenty of seed (at least 5 lb. per acre), rolling the drills after sowing, and early attention to weeding and singling are points very generally neglected. As a rule long reds are most prolific, but for harrowing out and feeding in the paddocks where grown the globe varieties are specially suitable. -Fallow ground may be prepared and the crops sown up to the middle of November. It is well not to risk late frosts by too early sowing, although the early-sown crop has an advantage if it escapes frost. Fairly good crops of mangels are sometimes grown on clean ground by drilling them in November 14 in. apart, using 4 lb. of seed per acre.

. An acre of a good crop of mangels should be ample provision, as supplementary feed in winter and spring, for fifteen to twenty Cows or a hundred to a hundred and 'fifty ewes. A proportionately, increased area should be sown to provide for ; any additional heifers which may have to be carried next winter. On cold clay soils with tenacious subsoils mangels are not at home, nor is," their cultivation south of North Otago so generally satisfactory. Under these circumstances swedes can generally, be found to successfully replace them, but the area should be then more than doubled, as the winter

growth of pasture is much less where mangels cannot be grown satisfactorily.

Maize is not surpassed on suitable land as late summer and early autumn feed for dairy cows. On good soils and in good maizegrowing localities 1 acre to every twelve to fifteen cows is on the average a suitable provision. Three sowings at intervals of a fortnight, commencing about the beginning of November, should be made in the North Island. It is doubtful if forage maize has a profitable climatic adaptation farther south than Christchurch, and even there one late sowing in December is as much as is advisable. Surplus maize forage is excellent ensilage material.

Where forage is required for a large head of stock, or for conserving as ensilage, the difficulty of handling such bulky material in the absence of a maize-binder is considered an objection. Under these circumstances Japanese millet and Sudan grass, which can be dealt with by the mower or binder, may be grown. Both of these crops, especially Sudan grass, are suitable for grazing also. They have the same climatic adaptations as maize, but can be grown fairly well under a wider range of conditions than are necessary for good results with maize. Not less than 20 lb. of seed should be used if drilled, or 25 lb. to 30 lb. if broadcast. The yield is about one-third that of a good crop of maize.

Another crop which, under fajr average conditions, may be made use of for late summer feed is tares. Sown at the end of October or beginning of November, at the rate of 2 bushels per acre, they provide bulky nutritious feed in January. They survive droughty spells better than cereals and crucifers, and are not subject to diseases or pests. Their use must be deferred until flowering, as grazing reduces the yield of forage to such an extent as to render their growth scarcely worth while. The seed is expensive, and the saving of seed for home use is thus almost a necessity.

Where lucerne is not available the saving of as much meadow hay as possible should receive the attention of every farmer according to his opportunities. It may be safely said that the provision of hay in New Zealand is generally quite inadequate. There should be a minimum reserve of half a ton for every grown beast. If circumstances should not necessitate the feeding-out of this quantity it will keep, and sooner or later will come in to avert what would otherwise be serious loss. This has been demonstrated time and again at the Department’s experimental farms. Violent fluctuations in the prices of live-stock, which are inimical to the security of farming, can be to some extent averted by general ample provision of hay.

Attention to these desiderata for heavy stock should at the same time ease the position considerably as regards sheep. Special provision for the latter class of stock must be mainly in the direction

of an increase in the turnip and swede breaks. An average crop of turnips or swedes should carry stock at the rate of fifteen to twenty sheep per acre for three months, but when fattening is not aimed at and the stock are run off regularly a crop would go much further. It is where roots, particularly swedes, are a risky or doubtful crop that the chief difficulty presents itself. What to sow in autumn to take the place of roots or to make good partial failures with the root crop is a question which frequently exercises the minds of farmers ; and where additional stock have to be carried it is a question requiring special consideration.

Among crops of the same family as turnips and swedes thousandheaded kale occurs to one as of limited suitability. Sown early in March oh free, well-drained land it produces suitable feed for sheep, especially if a run-off is provided, but it is of little service before August. The crucifers generally are not . vigorous growers even in the comparatively mild New Zealand winters. . Chou moellier, autumnsown, is even later than thousand-headed kale. . Both chou moellier and thousand-head are suitable for sowing in November for autumn feed, carrying more stock than rape, if less suitable for fattening.

Turning to the legumes : while a mixture of tick-beans and oats is excellent for soiling dairy stock,, there is not much choice of crops for sheep-grazing.. Tares . maintain their dwarf winter stage until the onset. of spring, and it is as a rule well on in September before they show much growth. Moreover, as already stated, they do not make a satisfactory recovery when subjected to grazing in the early stages. Peas are still more useless at this period. The only legume which makes fairly good early winter growth is Egyptian clover or Berseem. Our experience with this crop indicates that it has possibilities, but these are more in the direction of its function as a substitute for lucerne and tares in supplying nitrogenous green forage for cows during winter than as a grazing-crop for sheep. In any case seed is not available in quantity.

There can be little doubt that it is among the . cereals and Western Wolths rye-grass that the best autumn seedings for sheepfeed are found. Whether for cow or sheep grazing, there are few crops that surpass Western Wolths or. Mammoth Italian for abundant palatable winter growth. Both withstand unfavourable' conditions in a greater degree than any other class of forage, and can be sown early of late. If it is desired to work up the ground again in spring or early summer, one of the cereals or a combination of these may be grown instead. . Probably Dun or Algerian oats and Emerald ryecorn are best suited for the time and the purpose.. The barleys require exceptionally favourable winter conditions for success. They should be sown only on the lighter class of soils. Wheat is good, but does not yield quite so much feed as Duns or Emerald rye before

being grazed out. Autumn-sown cereals as green feed cannot be reckoned to carry sheep at a greater average rate than twelve to fifteen per acre for a period of three months.

Whatever crops are selected for autumn sowing they should be got in early to be of any real value in carrying stock during winter. When rains are unduly delayed in autumn winter feed of this class is always more or less scanty. At best they must be regarded as catch-crops to replace failures or partial failures in the root areas. The immediate concern with the majority of farmers having extra stock to winter is with due preparation for mangels, turnips, and swedes.

Into further details it is unnecessary to go at present. The utilization of rape-ground, stubble, summer fallow, &c., calls for further consideration at a later date, when it is hoped that the position regarding the extent pf the need for increased .provision will be less a matter of conjecture than at present.

* The Director of the Fields Division, Central Development Farm, Weraroa.