FARMING NEWSLETTER

Te Ao Hou, September 1960, Page 58

FARMING NEWSLETTER by W. J. PETERSEN The dairy herd will now be in full milk and the time has come to arrange for the closing up of pastures which are to be cut for silage and hay. When selecting a paddock for silage, care should be taken to ensure that it is one that has no bad harvesting features and is reasonably level and dry. For preference it should be a paddock on which the dairy cows have been wintered so it will be necessary to harrow the surface to spread the droppings and to scatter any waste hay that may have been left from feeding out. It is also advisable to topdress the paddock to ensure a quick growth, for to make the best silage the grass should always be cut and harvested when young and succulent. As grass becomes more plentiful, paddocks should be selected to be closed up for hay. It is always advisable to close up different paddocks each year. These paddocks should always receive the same treatment as for silage prior to closing. A most important job at this time of the year is the mating of the dairy cows. Before each cow is mated two heat periods or an interval of 30 days should be allowed after calving. Cows mated before this period are less likely to get in calf and chances of contaminating the bull are increased. Hand mating, i.e. by putting the cow in the bull paddock and allowing two services only, should always be practised. Accurate records should be kept, showing the date of service together with the name of the bull, for should breeding troubles occur, these records will be of considerable assistance in arriving at a correct diagnosis. If cows are returning to service these mating records can be examined to see if any particular bull is to blame. If so, a veterinarian or Livestock Instructor could be called in to take a semen sample for examination. If a new bull is required great care should be taken in his selection and if at all possible a young bull that has had no previous service should be purchased. Always avoid buying a bull at the sale yards unless you can be absolutely certain of his past history. Washing out cows seldom helps and may cause trouble if irritant fluids such as kerosene are used. It always pays to consult a veterinarian as soon as cows are noticed to be returning to service in unusual numbers. This should be done immediately as he will not be able to diagnose the cause of the trouble if left too long.