Activities on Massey College Farm

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7026, 9 December 1932, Page 9

Activities on Massey College Farm

At the meeting of the Massey Collogo • Council, at which the Hon. Sii George Fowlds presided, reports wero rcccivod upon tho past two months activities.

The report of the principal (Professor G. S. Poren) stated: “With tho increased number of students working on the farm it has been necessary •to adopt a Tostor for farm duties. Each week two men go with the shepherd, two into tho milking shed, one of the pigs, and two with the carpenter. The remainder go with the farm foreman for general farm work such as cropping, silage, hay-making, etc. During the period under review the genoraJ farm staff has completed the ploughing for swedes, sown mangolds, chon moeilier, soft turnips, a part of the swedes, and a new paddock of lucerne and has made a considerable acreage of ensilage. The last stack of last year’s oats has been cut into horse feed. With the exception of one acre of mangolds, which has been re-sown, a good “take” has been secured with all the spring crops. The work as a wholo

is well in hand in spite of the very much greater acreage of crops and silage. The bulk of the latter has now been harvested, and a commencement has been made with the hay. In spite of the rather ‘growthy’ weather tho lambs have done well. A fair percentage are already fat and ready to go to the works. The beef cattle are all looking well, and as a result of two paddocks being shut up for hay have proved sufficient in number to keep the pastures in reasonable order. Post-and-rail wings have been erected on the southern side of the bridge over the Tiritea stream. This became necessary as tho cattle broke down the old temporary wings made of netting.” The Dean of Dairying (Professor W. Riddet) reported: “Throughout October and the first half of November pasture grew luxuriantly on the dairy farm. Thus, besides providing sufficient grass for the milking herd and dry stock, it was possible to make ample provision of hay and ensilage for winter use. During the past ten days, however, frequent drying winds have checked pasture growth; and at the present time there is a tendency for grasses, especially on tho lighter land, to run to ear somewhat prematurely. A few paddocks already have been topped, others requiring it are being similarly treated as time permits. Ensilage has been made by the general farm staff from 19 acres pasture, 3i acres lucerne, and 5 acres forage crops. Three acres of* pasture and a second cut of lucerne remain to be made into ensilage. Some 48 acres of

grass have been laid up for hay; and there are approximately 6 acres of accretion sown in oats and tares for hay. Additional winter feed is provided by 3 acres of yellow and soft turnips and 2 acres swedes, and approximately 3 acres of mangels. A good strike of lucerne has been secured in paddock No. 31 (approximately 9 acres). The seed mixture sown on the paddock, which was badly covered with silt in the August floods, has taken well, and the paddock is now being regularly used for grazing. Considerable time has been devoted to the dairy staff to clearing goat’s tub and lupins from the accretion paddocks adjacent to tho Manawatu River. The race leading from the farm road to the paddocks has been widened. “There are 101 cows and heifers in milk. When tested on November 14, the average production par cow for the 30-day period was 40.27 lbs butter-fat. Considering that the herd includes a number of cows which calved in April and May the production is quite satisfactory. The highest producing cow gave 1051 b butter-fat in one 30-day period, and 23 gave 30-day production of 501 b butter-fat or over. The health of the stock is good. Some 26 heifers and 2 bull calves are being reared.”