Avoiding Mud and Dust in the Cow Dace

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 59, Issue 5, 15 November 1939, Page 420

Avoiding Mud and Dust in the Cow Dace

By

E. R. MARRYATT,

Fields Instructor, Animal Research Station, Ruakura.

This race is only 15ft. wide, but is used by only 12 cows. Wide races are better than narrow races, but they do not eliminate mud, and they make more ground unproductive. In most cases the amount of mud depends mainly on the soil type, whether this be natural or man-made. The more clayey the soil and the poorer the drainage, the more muddy becomes the race in wet weather. A well-drained soil which is sandy or gravelly is, of course, much less likely to become a mire. The race which is muddy in wet weather is usually

Every farmer is willing to go to some trouble to endeavour to reduce the mud and dust. The usual method is to spread sand or shingle in the race. On the feed-flavour farm at Ruakura we are trying to establish paspalum in the race. Our aim.is to change the condition of the race from what it is in the first two illustrations .

TO THIS—

MUD AND DUST WILL BE MERE MEMORIES—

Two methods of establishing paspalum are on trial. We have sown seed, and have also planted turfs. The seed was surface-sown at the rate of 60 lb. to the acre on December 2, 1938. Paspalum seed requires a very warm soil for germination. No cultivation was given to the race either before or after sowing, as the hoof-cultivation from the regular movement of the cows was considered to be sufficient. The seeding is a heavy one, but the germination capacity of paspalum seed is usually very low, and further, many germinated seeds are likely to be killed by the hoofs of the cows disturbing them before they can become securely rooted. Inside the circle in the second illustration is a young, but isolated, paspalum plant establishing from seed. That is our worst establishment.

HERE IS OUR BEST as at March 7, 1939

These turfs had re-established themselves perfectly by March 7, 1939, as can be seen by this example, and they now show

SIGNS OF SPREADING—