Use of Electric Fence in Feeding off Saved Pasture

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 79, Issue 6, 15 December 1949, Page 545

Use of Electric Fence in Feeding off Saved Pasture

By

J. M. HOPKINS,

Instructor in Agriculture,

Department of Agriculture, Levin. BREAK feeding of pasture growth to dairy cows by means of the electric fence is usually practised by farmers who are milking for whole-milk supply all the year round and who have to make special provision for autumn, winter, and early-spring feed. The production of winter milk, especially where reliance is placed entirely on grass and grass products such as silage, makes it essential to use the electric fence as a means of rationing off pasture growth. The method does not call for additional labour nor is the expenditure involved unjustified.

IN obtaining the maximum return from any saved pasture growth it is necessary to break fence such feed into areas small enough for all growth .to be cleaned up quickly, with a minimum of fouling by the stock. A similar procedure applies to crops which are to be break fed to stock, often by means of the electric —only sufficient area should be allowed for a ouick and full clean-up of the break. With daily breaking of saved pasture growth fouling does not occur to any extent, as only sufficient area of grazing is allowed for the number of dairy stock to be fed. Levin Farmer's System A Levin farmer, Mr. W. S. Long, has adopted a method of break feeding of

saved pasture growth which could be used on any dairy farm where saved grass is fed to milking dairy stock. On Mr. Long’s farm no cropping is done and reliance is placed entirely on pasture growth and silage for autumn, winter, and early-spring feeding to the milking dairy herd. The aim is to have a high level of feeding right through the year, with emphasis on the production of winter milk. On the 99-acre farm between 50 and 60 cows are milked during the winter and from 150 to 180 gallons of milk per day are produced. During the past 8 seasons between 40 and 50 acres of pasture have been cut each year for silage. Normally rationing of pasture and silage feeding are begun in late March or early April and are carried through

to the end of August. Ordinary rotational grazing is practised from September onward. The particular system of rationing pasture no doubt is exceptional, but because of its general simplicity and ease of application other farmers who are supplying milk for city and town supply in winter should find it valuable. Saving Summer and Autumn Grass A very early start is made with the saving of pasture growth on Mr. Long’s farm and normally grass saving is begun in late January or early February. In an average season the aim is to have on hand by mid-May up to 50 acres of pasture growth up to 9in. long and to have any areas which have already been fed off again making good growth. Pasture growth is built up by dropping from the normal feeding rotation any fields which can be spared. When growth in these fields is sufficiently long they are fed off daily in breaks made by employing the electric fence and the rest of the farm is spelled. Fed-off fields are cleaned up by dry stock or, if necessary, by topping them with the mower, and are again shut up. Aluminium Wire Used Because of its lightness and the ease with which it can be shifted, a single

aluminium barbed wire is used for break fencing fields; provided the single wire is kept tight it has been found to be sufficient to confine stock to breaks. Because the wire must be kept tight, it is always strained on to new breaks and, in fact, if no other fencing is being done, the strainer is left on the electric fence wire. The electric fence unit is of light, waterproof construction and all equipment, including the battery, can be carried in one hand. Square fencing battens have been used for stakes and have been found to last for long periods if 2in. lengths of 2in. piping are knocked over the tops of the battens. The pipe lengths prevent battens from splitting and cracking when being driven into the ground. On flat fencing 1 batten every 1| chains has been found to be ample. In breaking off pasture on rectangular fields a start is always made at a gate end, with the electric " wire running at any desired angle to the far side of the field. This gives a triangular break of suitable size (Fig. 1). Mr. Long fences off breaks of 1/3 to . 4 acre, which have been found to give an ideal ration for 50 to 60 cows for 1 day’s feeding— is, of pasture growth up to 9in. long. For the second day’s feeding the fence is shifted so that the angle of the fence in relation to the gate side of the field is the opposite of that of the first day. The positioning of the fence is altered in this way each day until the entire field has been rationed off. Silage may be fed out on the grazed breaks or it may be fed out on any other fields which have been completely rationed off.

With a square field a post is sunk in the centre of the field and a fixed wire strained from the post to the boundary fence. The unit is then placed at the post and the required ration of grass is given each day by moving the electric wire in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction round the field as desired (Fig. 2). Irregular-shaped fields can be break fenced in the same manner as square fields, but it will be necessary to determine the best position for the fixed post (Fig. 3).

The main requirements in break feeding of saved pasture are a light and simply-constructed electric fence unit which can be moved easily and a system embodying the quick, easy shifting of the break fence itself. Both these points are important and they are essential where a daily ration of saved pasture is fed to dairy cows. A light aluminium barbed wire break fence can be shifted by one man in a few minutes. With the number of dairy farmers supplying winter milk for town supply increasing each year, more attention must be given by these farmers to the provision of feed for winter milkers. Farmers use various methods for feeding off saved pasture growth, but often do not use break fencing. The system described, which is simple and easy to operate, could be adopted more widely; already several farmers in the Levin district are following it.

Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs

AFTER debating the subject freely for a number of years the New Zealand Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs has, with certain restrictions, agreed to allow country girls to be admitted into clubs. The restrictions, as decided at a recent meeting of the Dominion Executive Committee, are that girls are to be admitted only where there is an insufficient number to form a country girls’ club (the constitution of the New Zealand Federation of Country Girls’ Clubs lays down that 5 active members are the minimum number needed to form a club); that the girls are to become “independent” members of the Federation of Country Girls’ Clubs and “associate” members of the young farmers’ club; that the minimum age for girls admitted to young farmers’ clubs is to be 16 years; and that , the club concerned may decide whether or not it will admit girls. Land Settlement The federation’s land settlement subcommittee has prepared in draft form for the consideration of all units a land settlement scheme based on the land settlement policy already agreed to in general principle by the Government. After the draft has been considered by all units and redrafted by the subcommittee the final scheme will be put before the appropriate authorities. Realising that the scheme cannot be put into action until the needs of land settlement under rehabilitation have been met, the federation is seeking, as a measure of temporary relief, that the Government should put into immediate operation a scheme whereby, for the next 4 years, young men of proven experience, who were appealed for and retained in the farming industry during the war and who can find suitable farms, be provided with the financial assistance envisaged under the land settlement scheme. Activities The 1949. national debating contest was won by Te Puna Club (Auckland Council) when, at the final held at Ashburton, Woodlands Club (OtagoSouthland Council) was defeated by a narrow margin. Scargill-Omihi Club (North Canterbury) won the first national Y.F.C. miniature rifle shooting contest. Interest in the contest was keen throughout the Dominion, 146 teams from 35 districts being entered. The winning team scored 387 out of a possible 400 points. The Lincoln College Old Students’ Association scholarship for 1950 has been awarded to W. B. Browne, Upper Hutt Club. The runner-up, S. Murray, Cheviot Club, has been granted a similar scholarship by the Canterbury Frozen Meat and Dairy Produce Export Co. Ltd.

SHOW DATES CORRECTION

Dates of the Christchurch Flock Ram Fair shown on page 586 as February 16 and 17 should read March 16 and 17,