FOOD FOR DAIRY COWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2569, 2 August 1909, Page 6

FOOD FOR DAIRY COWS.

PAPER BY MR GILLANDERS, MOUMAHAKI.

<6 At the recent Dairy Conference at Palmerston North, Mr Gillanders, Manager of Moumahaki State Farm, read a paper on the above subject. He said in selecting food for dairy cows as his subject he had tried to keep in view the -growing value of certain crops suitable rather than the best food for the 2>urpose. -He wished them to clearly understand that he made no pretence of addressing thqm as an experienced dairyman. If they were to go Home and ask a dairyman in the vicinity of Glasgow what he found the best food he would reply by giving a- daily ration as follows : —Roots 301 b, hay 181 b, bean meal 31b, bran 41b, cotton cake 41b. That ration would be too costly here, as the. dairyman had to rely almost entirely upon what he could produce on his own farm. He would confine himself therefore to that point of view. There were two recognised methods for estimating the value of a food, the one by estimating the gain in weight of the animal fed, and in the case of a cow the flow of milk, and the other by estimating the value of the crop by chemical analysis. The analysis was the easier, though the former was the better, but it involved long and costly experiments. In. liis paper, therefore,-he would estimate the value of the foods referred to or the amount of dry matter they contained. Generally speaking, grain or straw contained from 8 to 15 per cent of water, while several root crops and igreen fodders contained as much as 90 per cent. This percentage of water was of no more use t-o- an animal than ordinary drinking water. The main elements of feeding value were albuminoids, fat and oil, supply of heat and force, and the- carbohydrates, including starch, sugar, green fibre, etc., also supplied heat, and assisted the mechanical work of the body. In Estimating the value of foods, therefore, ho would do so on a dry basis and on their nutritive ratio, and the analysis of crops grown at Moumahaki by Mr Ashton, the Government chemist. The first foods he would mention were tares and vetches, which were hardly receiving the attention in the Dominion they should. The- seed could be drilled in with the ordinary grain drill at the rate of two bushels to the acre. A mixture of oats or rye could be added with advantage. This crop could be used for green forage or converted into ensilage. On fairly good soil a suitable manure would be a dressing of superphosphates, say 2cwt. per acre. Maize or Indian corri was not so nutritious as several other green crops, but no other forage plant would produce so much per acre.

Maize or Indian corn was not so nutritious’ as several other green crops, but no other forage plant would produce so much per acre. It would also remain, in a fit state for feeding green for a longer period than tares or green oats- It could be sown with the ordinary grain and manure drill, or in rows, 30in to 3ft apart. He preferred it in rows. The tilling of the soil between the rows conserved the moisture in the soil, and enabled the plant to withstand drought much longer, and kept clown weeds. Mr Gillanders gave particulars of the kinds grown at Moumaliaki, from which it appeared that the Yellow Dent had the best feeding value, with Golden Beauty second, and Early Learning third. Tho mode of growing Sorghum was much the same as for maize, but its yielding capacity was less. Neither tins nor maize could withstand frost and most of it should be consumed by the first week in April. Kaffir corns were the best drought-resisting plants that could be produced, but they were not eaten so readily as Sorghum owing to the sweet taste of the latter, though it did not contain much dry matter. In the preparation of the. soil for these crops was a more important matter than many farmers supposed, for recent scientific investigations proved how much careful cultivation, with the aid of artificial manures, increased the value of tho crops. The manure for Sorghum or maize was phosphoric acid and potash with a little bone-dust in the following proportions: —Superphosphates l|owt, steamed bone-dust fewt, and muriate of potash |cwt. The varieties of Sorghum grown at Moumahaki were Evergreen and Cosmopolitan sugar corn, tho Kaffir c-orns, Jerusalem corn, Sorghum Impliee, and Saccharatum. Lucerne was a good forage in time of drought, and was good for feeding green or as ensilage. It would not stand close feeding, but would grow in almost any dry soil. Lucerne would not withstand severe frosts, and to cultivate it successfully the land must be well prepared and free .from weeds. It should bo sown in rows for preference, and in small patches only. Some of the sorts that showed good feeding value at Moumahaki were: —English, Hunter River, Hungarian, and Turkestan. When tho full value of the fertilisers placed in the soil took effect, up to fifty tons per aero was obtained. The roots went down fourteen feet. This fodder contained on an average of 28 per cent of dry matter. Millet gave fairly good yields, but not so good as maize or sorghum. Level rich flats were best adapted for this plant. It could be drilled in with the ordinary seed drill, and 40 to 501 b/ of seed to the acre. This fodder, however, would not keep green for a long time, and had to be fed" off early in the season. Cabbage was highly valued as a cow food in Britain, and had. been proved to be a useful fodder in New Zealand. It was liable, however, to he attacked by the turnip fly and required much labor. This fodder flourished best in clay soil, and it required liberal manuring from the farmyard. The best way to°sow was by means of a drill, 30in apart, and from 20in to 2ft in rows. A top-dressing of superphosphates, 2cwt., bone dust 4cwt., sulphate ammonia 4cwt., and 4cwt. of muriate of potasli. One of the best varieties was drumheads. Eclipse drumheads at Moumaliaki had been grown 34 tons to the acre, of early drumheads 28-2 tens to the acre, giant drumheads 234 tens to the acre. The nutriment value of this fodder was 52001 b to the acre.

Kale required much the same treatment as cabbage, and was best grown on a heavy, rich loamy soil. At the State farm 252- tons! to the acre had been grown of the thousand-head, and 214 tons of the Jersey kale. _ The percentage of dry matter was higher than in turnips. He advocated sowing to 71b of mangel seed to the acre, contending that it was better to spend an extra pound or two in seed than have weeds coming up. The best manure was from the farm yard. At Home the quantity advocated was lo tons of dung to 5 to 10 of dry manure. At the State farm they had grown from 25 to 50 tons per acre, on five tons of artificial manure alone. \ Mr Gillanders also mentioned carrots as a good fodder, and then advocated the making of ensilage as a good manner of providing winter food, mentioning maize, millet, peas, and surplus clover grass as the best fodders for making it. With the exception of hay, ensilage had the best feeding value.

In reply to questions, Mr Gillanders said in this country, where labor was dear, he would feed mangels whole, but they should first lie in the field three to five weeks to mature. Mangels newly pulled were net fit to feed t;, cfairy cows. He had never soaked the seed, but would give it- a trial as suggested by one questioner. Mangels that had not deeply rooted could be ploughed out, and fed after a few weeks, hut a better way was to take them out, cut off the tops, and then put them in a heap, covered with, straw. In the growing of maize it was better to cultivate between the rows to prevent the growth of weeds. On land fairly clear and free of weeds the seed could bo sown broadcast with a 13-coulter One of the questioners said he had crown maize lift high. Mr Gillanders said on the State .arm he had grown maize 9ft high. His object had been to grow it with the best feeding value. He had grown mangel seed successfully, but not turnip seed. On the motion of the chairman, a vote of thanks was carried to Mr Gillanders by acclamation.