BY
V. R i d d e t , j&ssey A g r i c u l t u r a l C o l l e g e , P~lmerstton North,N,?,
Th? o b j e c t o f t h i s p a p e r i s
o f o r i g i n a l r e s e a r c h w o r k n o t t o iJresent t h e r e s u l t s o b u t t o i n t r o d u c e f o r d i s c u s s i o n a s u b j e c t o f n o m e a n immediate i m p o r t a n c e a n d one w h i c h i s n o t u n l i k e l y t o coml;;and ‘ e a r n e s t c o n s . idera t i o n i n t h e e a r l y f u t u r e , A l t h o u g h t h e P a p e r i s c o n c e r n e d ‘%ith w i n t e r d a i r y i n g p r a c t i c e s , i t s h o u l d b e c a r e f u l l y r e m e m b e r e d t h a t t h e s y s t e m i s b e i n g c o n - s i d e r e d o n l y a s a m e a n s o f s p r e a d i n g o u r d a i r y p r o d u c t i o n m o r e u n i f o r m l y t h r o u g h o u t t h e y e a r .
T h e Xeed f o r .i’inter It33 irying: A f e n ye3rs a g o a n y s u g g e s t i o n O . f w i n t e r d a i r y i n g v:zuld n o t be,considered by ev!?n t h e mDst ;jrom- i n e n t :dairymcn 3r l e a d e r s i n t h e Indus.iry. T o - d a y , i t ik b e i n g seriously considered b y m a n y a n d practised b y a fevJTJo The proba - bilitie: .and p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f t h e future9 therefore9 n e e d carei’ul a.nalys i s s o t h a t t h e n e c e s s a r y assistance t o f a r m e r s will be
a v a i l a b l e before, i f ever* t h e m o v e m e n t b e c o m e s widespread*
At %he moment, incrca sed p r o d u c t i o n i s DVE. rs hadol;:ed b y d i f f i c u l t i e s i n t h e d i s p o s a l o f prDducs. T h e impDsik.ion b y
i m p o r t i n g countries9 f i r s t , af h i g h tariffs9 a n d , later9 ofquotas, h a s m a d e the m a r k e t i n g o f prjduce d i f f i c u l t f o r e x p o r t i n g countdes;
a n d ’ p r o d u c t i o n i s correspsndingly -:davcring i n t h e balance 0 T h e r e p e r c u s s i o n s o f the,se s a m e neapons m a k e i m p e r a t i v e t h e c o n - s i d e r a t i o n o f thz -(wisdom o f o u r s e a s o n a l d a i r y i n g , The ‘Domin i 311 Indus try ha s been b u i l t u p o n i t ; a n d t h e T(Jhole p r e s e n t s t r u c t u r e f r o m p r o d u c t i o n t o m a r k e t i n g i s b a s e d o n it0 C o n s i d e r a b l e d e p a r t u r e f r o m ths p resent p r a c t i c e i f e f f e c t e d r a p i d l y w o u l d o b v i o u s l y sat
up 6 evere strain8 w h i c h , m u s t b e g u a r d e d a g a i n s t . B r i t a i n i s t h e only useful outlct for our dairy produce. B r i e f l y , t h e posi.bion a t t h e p r e s e n t - L i m e i s t h a t B r i t a i n u s e s fulljr 400pOOcF’ ‘ton5 o f ‘: ” imported’bu’c-t-?r annually
s uppl ied 267;
(407~100 t o n s i n 1932)9 o f rzhich Ne~~~.‘Zzaland 2nd A u s t r a l i a 22.2. The B r i t i s h s u p p l y o n t h e ma.rket i s o n l y a b o u t 279CO0 t o n s annually0 The g r e a t e r p a r t . o f ‘ t h e r e m a i n i n g ric-cd i s p r o v i d e d b y Denmarki New Z e a l a n d s u p p l y i s t e s s e n t i a l l y .Iea::0na19 a s m a y b e seen f r o m t h e g r a d i n g f i g u r e ’ s f o r t h e s e a s o n e n d i n g 3lrt Ju13~~1932.
Auguz t 00000000 G’ebruary o o o0 0 ,lO,$
i33t;;;Eer )oOOO ; ;5’t,
ILarch, April
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000~0000
November .OPO..
125;z
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00000000 6L.tL.j”
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Ue’c;mber OOOOO. 16 a$ June 00.000 .DD. 107;;
J a n u a r y 00.0 0 0 0 132;$ J u l y oDoeoooo’ lol$
T h e A u s t r a l i a n s u p p l y a lso i s s e a s o n a l , b u t to’l’czs sxtent t h a n Ne?j ZEa’land’E 0 A n n u a l l y , NeTil Z e a l a n d i s i n c r e a s i n g her ‘output, 2 n d , con@eQucntly, n e e d s to.extend h e r m a r k e t r a n g e . uean;;h il> 9 t h e r)ominizn pr educe i e mai-::ly s o l d i n - t h e S o u t h o f E n g l a n d : ‘ t h e t r a d e i n the I:i[idlande a n d N o r t h i s m a i n l y h e l d b y Continzn’ta,l
Competitors 0 Theee c o m p e t i t o r s , e s p e c i a l l y D e n m a r k , m a i n t a i n f a i r l y u n i f o r m production o f p r o d u c e ’ t h r o u g h o u t t h e y e a r a n d
~ugply a p r o d u c t with a f l a v o u r d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h a t charactsristic o f t h e Xev; Z e a l a n d p r o d u c t , b u t which d e t e r i o r a t e 8 o n l9ng storage0 Obvious lys i f N e w Z e a l a n d nishes t o e x t e n d h e r m a r k e t , s h e m u s t , i n a d d i t i o n t o advertieing the s u p e r i o r q u a l i t y o f h e r produce9 fD1131.1 aa f a r a s p r a c t i c a b l e t h e a c c e p t e d p r a c t i c e o f h e r competitors0 There i s TD:I~ a l s o f:,r t h e b e l i e f t h a t heavy p r o d u c t i o n a t p e a k periode h a s a d e p r e s s i n g i n f l u e n c e o n mar’ket v a l u e s b e c a u s e o f t h e u n c e r t a i n t y o f t h e f u t u r e i n t h e fiinds of b u y e r s f a r f r o m t h e Dominion, T h e C h e e s e p o s i t i o n i s . q u i t e different0 T h e r e i s m u c h l e s s n e e d f o r u n i f o r m p r o d u c t i o n o f i t b e c a u s e N e w ?,ealand.p Canada9 a n d . t h e united K i n g d o m pro.vide t h e b u l k o f supply n e e d e d
%y t h e market- C a n a d i a n a n d U n i t e d K i n g d o m p r o d u c t i o n a r e nearly e q u a l t o the New Z e a l a n d o u t p u t ; a n d t h e perioda o f p r o d u c t i o n a r e reciprocal.
i
-1; -$I ‘s
I - 2 -
.: .,
A s i s Well knoWnp- t h e D a i r y B o a r d v e r y e f f e c t i v e l y o v e r -
cme6 the’difficulty o f - u n e v e n s u p p l y . b y r e g u l a t i n g e x p o r t s t o euit m a r k e t nar;dsO T h i s p o l i c y p r o b a b l y h a s been o f v e r y m u c h g r e a t e r a d v a n t a g e t o t h e D o m i n i o n t h a n iz c o m m o n l y r e a l i z e d during, t h e r e c e n t yea TEo f ,rapid i n c r e a s e i n p r o d u c t i o n ; b u t , b y itsalf, i,t
i s v e r y d o u b t f u l w h e t h e r i t c a n c o p e w i t h t h e tiure pus-i t i o n
i f i n c r e a s e d p r o d u c t i o n . c o n t i n u e s 0 A t a n y rate9 t h e f i g u r e s shoT!i p l a i n l y t h a t d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d o f p e a k p r o d u c t i o n t h e r e already is factory a ccommoda tion p p l a n t a n d s t o r a g e r o o m a t p o r t s t o
i n c r e a s e p r o d u c t i o n r a t h e r l e s s t h a n loo,? i f p r o d u c t i o n t h r o u g h - o u t - t h e seaso;~! were made uniform.
,v’olves i n
S i n c e p e a k p-reduction in- some instancea terqorary m e t h o d s o f u t i l i z i n g p l a n t , i t p r o b a b l y :;7ould b e s a f e r t o e s t i m a t e t h a t e x i s t i n g p l a n t could de-al.j;:ith a n a d d i t i o n a l increase o f . 80%. I n t e r e s t c h a r g e s o n p l a n t , ther.efore, would b e r e d u c e d b y a p r o p o r t i o n a l amount.
Advantages of B a l a n c i n g $?roduction: T h e f i g u r e s i l l u s t r a t e t h e r e l a t i v e i n t e r e s t c h a r g e s a n d o v e r h e a d e x p e n s e s o f t h e
,A, ,per.iods o f h i g h p r o d u c t i o n a g a i n s t (Oct.-Jane) t h e p e r i o d s o f I HOW ‘producti.o’n.(June-July); b u t o t h e r i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r s a r e
i n v o l v e d 0 F i r s t l y , 6 tora.ge r a t e s .held o v e r .for s h i p m e n t .
need to be pa id pn produce Se condly, a s e v e r e ‘LC t r a i n i s impoz e d . o n t h e k e e p i n g q u a l i t y o f t h e buttera E x p e r i e n c e s h o w s t h a t i t
c a n s t a n d us: t o t h i s ; b u t r e l i e f f r o m t h e s t r a i n w o u l d r a i s e q u a l i t y . t o .an e v e n h i g h e r l e v e l ; b e c a u s e i t is Mel1 k n o w n t h a t a ny f a t v e r y gradualljr‘ c h a n g e s o n l o n g storage0 1 B y r e f r a i n i n g f r o m s t o r a g e e i t h e r i n N e w Z e a l a n d o r B r i t a i n i t w o u l d b e e a s i e r
t 0, expor t bu:‘- Lbber TJith a m i l d l y f u l l f l a v o u r w h i c h w o u l d euit
the’ Northern ma rketa Thereby, New Zealand could compete with
;;;;Fde,tal @@tintries D or9 a l t e r n a t i v e l y , s a t i s f y t h e B r i t i s h s a’ r;rhole for Empire produces, T h i r d l y , l a b o u r
e f f i c i e n c y a n d ’ u n e m p l o y m e n t a r e a f f e c t e d , ’ While a l l f a c t o r i e s h.ave a nucLcus pcrmancnt staff) there i s . a l a r g e f l o a t i n g popu- lation. t o co2e w i t h p e a k p r o d u c t i o n , T h i s la’ck o f c o n t i n u i t y ,’ of employment .ie i n c l i n e d t o i n s p i r e ttwork f o r w a g e s a n d hourat!
“ rather t han ‘all-round. ef ficie nc,y, T h e f a c t o r 2 a s a u n i t thus,’
‘1 l o s e s tha t interezt i n q u a l i t y e x p e c t e d .of t h e slzff f r o m t h e : m o s t j u n i o r t o . t h e m o s t s e n i o r employeer. . T h e r a n k s of. t h e
u n e m p l o y e d a l a o a r e s w e l l e d i n p e r i o d s e f 1oW p.roduction. ‘ I t i s I’ “especially..thE: y o u n g e r m e n a n d b o y s i n i n d u s t r y , thr,sac-
,..,’ wkio r e a l l y s h o u l d b e l e a r n i n g e v e r y asp.ect ,o~f t h e i r ‘ w o r k d u r i n g . .inipressionable years9 t h a t a r e m o s t affe,cted. Too f r e q u e n t l y ,
s h o r t seasonal e m p l o y m e n t faLs to t h e i r lot; a n d ’ t h e f u t u r e :,f t h e
>’ inelustry ic c o r r e s p o n d i n g l y l i k e l y t o s u f f e r . U n i f o r m p r o -
duction \i/ould i n c r e a s e l a b o u r e f f i c i e n c y a n d r e d u c e uqempldymtnt 0 F r o m a n a t i o n a l v i e w p o i n t , t h e r e would b e s e v e r a l a d v a n t a g e s ,
e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e employment,of labous i n d i r e c t l y a f f e c t e d b y 6 easona 1 f a r m p r o d u c t i o n , the employment ‘of labour d u r i n g t h e h a r d e r m o n t h s o f the. y e a r a n d a m o r e u n i f o r m s p r e a d throu&out &he y e a r of, t h e s p e n d i n g c a p a c i t y o f t h e farmer0
O n t h e s i d e s o f m a n u f a c t u r e a n d m a r k e t i n g , ;-iinter d a i r y i n g lclith t h e o b j e c t o f ma.king p r o d u c t i o n t h r o u g h o u t ;the’ y e a r
undoubtedly has many economic9 s o c i a l a n d n a t i o n a l advantzg e s o P r o d u c t i o n Aspect: T h e p r o b l e m mus t now b e viev!ed f r o m t h e az:!>ect o f producticn, P a s t u r e i n t h e f o r m o f a n y ’
‘ f r e s h grass; h a y , a n d e n s ilagep f o r m t h e g r e a t e r p a r t of t h e d i e t o f t h e N e w Z e a l a n d daiq- c o w t h r o u g h o u t t h e w h a l e y e a r;
i n d e e d , i t 1:;ould b e s a f e t o say t h a t t h e m o d e r n t e n d e n c y t h r o u g h - o u t t h e l:;hole o f t h e N o r t h I s l a n d i s i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f c o m p l e t e r e l i a n c e o n p a s t u r e a n d i t s products* U n f o r t u n a t e l y , p a s t u r e p r o d u c t i o n i s e v e n m o r e s e a s o n a l t h a n d a i r y c o w p r o d u c t i o n , ,
St.ill..more i m p o r t a n t a r e t h e f a c t s ,that,- f i r s t l y , .cow produc.tion
‘. c ’ a n b e ,controlled i n d e p e n d e n t o f clirn&te, w h i l e p a s t u r e i: pre- e m i n e n t l y dependent o n wea therpan.d, a.econdly, t h e cow9 b y r e a s o n
o f h e r b o d y r e s e r v e s a n d n a t u r a l i m p u l s e s , c a n b e m i s m a n a g e d f o r some time. -ti!ithout doing excessive damage, w h i c h c a n b e r e p a i r e d b y ca-reful management9 w h i l e u n d e r c o r r e s p o n d i n g l a c k o f care9
p a s t u r e i s 2 low i n r e c o v e r i n g * .It i,s w e l l - k n o w n t h a t i n t h e
! : N o r t h I s l a n d d a i r y i n g d i s t r i c t most o f t h e aeaaonfs p a s ’ t u r e g r o w s b e t w e e n t h e e n d o f August,and t h e b e g i n n i n g o f February*
D u r i n g
i t-‘.‘ nt, t h e r:zmainder .of t h e , ye,;r”pastura i s c o m p a r a t i v e l y , .-,- I- (7 -- (3 1; >T -b 2 - -0 ;: y. h q y t- -c’ - - -: ,_ 2 f r p p n 71 r v,f j 3 : n / 1 ,- ? i p C. -’ - c
_ z. 7-
k-’
4,; 3 -
i 1535 t i n g from zzrly A p r i l t o mid-X$ayi Xa turally, thes.e p e r i o d s
* are
. subject to district and yearly variations+
publi:hcd -,i:or!; o f siggs Askew, The splendid . give quantitative measurements Hudz on9 Doak, and, I!IcPher2 on9
Of, e caaonnsl growth and the effects o f msnurial trea tmentaa The mos t outs tanding fca turc
Of all this w Ork is t h e influzncc of the weather, especially r a infall, a n d to a lesser9 yet ap,reciable extent9 o f a v e r a g e atmospheric tmperature and windo T h e v a l u e o f fertilizers
cannot bi: d e n i e d ; b u t t h e i r b e n e f i t s a r e d e f i n i t e l y l i m i t e d by weather povcr ::.;hich t h e f;lrmer h a s n o control. The‘farming
problem, thcrcforc, i s p r o v i s i o n o f fe;d for periods of scarcity i n a n aver? :;e season? 2 n d the maintenance of reserveo for 2bncrmal 5 imes o By itself, thiz ta::k i s n o sim@e o n e ; b u t i t i s m a g n i - f i e d m a n y t i m e s o v e r b y f o u r w e l l - r e c o g n i z e d , straightfoward farm managcm~n-t considerations, namely:- (a) the utilization
of pasture c:.-~ the optimum period Of production, bearing in mind the depreec ing effect of groTrith o n f33d v a l u e a n d t h e corrcs- p o n d i n g dccr.2as.e i n b u l k w i t h s h o r t g r a z i n g ; (b] l a h o u r d i s t r i - b u t i o n difficulties a ttendant u p o n “rushed” works ( c) t h e
saving of pasture from pugging- in wet weather .and excesz,lvc defolka ting, e s p e c i a l l y i n w i n t e r a n d e a r l y s p r i n g , a n d ( d ) t h e a b s o l u t e n e e d f o r d i v i d i n g rtock i n t o separste mobs to e n s u r e propar care0 The t;:lo last-named are extremely opposing practical factors.
r”resent P o s i t i o n : In an average season apiJr3ximat’ely 755 of t h e t o t a l f e e d g r o w s b e t w e e n t h e b e g i n n i n g of S e p t e m b e r a n d .the end o f January* N o t ,infrequently t h e pcrcento i s even grcatcr 4”
a nd s amet imes growth is delayed till late i n ,Cepte,mber or cut
o f f e a r l y i n January* Under exir ting s e a s o n a l conditions9 c o w s c o m m e n c e t o corn2 i n t o Frofit, v a r y i n g F;ith district and circum-
5 tancesD from early J u l y till m i d - A u & e t ; a n d in’moe t herds ther?
i s a f a i r p r o p o r t i o n o f Sept,ember snd,October calvers. ,Dperience E. hoT!.s that the July-early-August calver produce-s much more bu:;.t;r-
f a t t h a n d o e s t h e mid-September c a l v e r , e s t i m a t e d b y Yersdenls s u r v e y o f .ia iko to records at S2&& I n s p i t e o f t h i s incrtsrc9.
p r o d u c t i o n fr.:qucntly is reduced b y c a r e l e s s l,iinter i n g rind. , insuffici<.nt. feed a f t e r e a r l y calvin’g,till grass comes away0 Experience i~Q% nawa tu E bows tha t ta permit of: this early
c a l v i n g a n d p r o v i d e f o r p e r i o d s o f scar’city i t i s advisable’tO provide for an average, Grade Jersey cow about 14 cwt.hay and .fully 3 tons en2 ilagc o r i t s e q u i v a l e n t i n r o o t s i f n o pa5ture is to b e sowcn f o r i,Cnttjr use.
Fundamental NJeeds to suit Uniform Production: If 2 n a t t ehpi were made -to make production uniform, th$dgte of calv.ing of the
cawo her mrnagement and her feed must be carefully considered, I t i s i m m e d i a t e l y o b v i o u s t h a t t h e r e i s r e q u i r e d a g r e a t e r
reserve of feed for the cow in full milk in winter. A s s u m i n g that the cog calves’ in April under the minter dairying, scheme9
2nd in August under the present system, there would he nscded
roughly taice as much feed for the months of I.@yy, June, and July. T h i s e x c e s s n e e d i s p a r t l y o f f s e t b y t h e lower ne$-ds
i n t h e 10~ f:ed production period, Bbruary t i l l early-April;
b u t i t c o u l d s t i l l b e a p p r o x i m a t e l y e s t i m a t e d at, say9 SO;2 a d d i t i o n a l f o r t h e t h r e e ‘viinter months referred to., The d&te
3 f calv'ing mu: t be such tha t the ~31;~ will readily f l u s h i n p r o - duction when gracs recovera grcwth i n s pring. I t i s d i f f i c u l t t o g e t t h e cov t o du t h i s i f h e r production& a l l o w e d t o f a l l u n d u l y i n e a r l y s.gring before grohdth recovers; indeed, from experifnco i n ITiinter d a i r y i n g i n t h e Bnawntu i t cE:n b e said t h a t .the hcrdest p e r i o d o n the a v e r a g e t o p r o v i d e f o r i s early-July-early-Seij-
tembero I n t h e f i r s t . t h r e e m o n t h s a f t e r c a l v i n g , t h e n a t u r a l s t i m u l u s o f t h e g o o d d a i r y cog to produce milk is strong enough to offeet a d v e r s e ‘conditionen The stimulus then starts to
w a n e a n d b y -the fifth m o n t h a stimulant is needed to su~ttein pro- d u c t i o n , ThUE 9 a s s u m i n g a v e r a g e g r o n t h t o com.;ence i n ec?rly September, it is nit a d v i s a b l e t o b r i n g winter milking COWE into p r o f i t b e f o r e lipril, For the first t%o m o n t h s a f t e r c a l v i n g l i t t l e d i f f i c u l t y i s experienckd b e c a u s e - the f r e s h l y - c a l v e d CEW~
: 6. . :?. be grazed on pasture shu$ u p f r o m e a r l y @‘iI- onvJarda;and 7-c - 7 y, 2 - -3.’ h. .L _ . ..- . .-
d -4-.
%.
soon a s t h e A u t u m n ralne a e t in* The pring-calving cowa k e p t i n a 5eparatc l o t c a n t h e n b e d e n i e d s o m e o f t h e b e s t
p a s t u r e a s t h e y a r e a,t:Groaching the e n d o f l a c t a t i o n , a n d c&n b e k e p t , g o i n g 021 s p a r e p a s t u r e w i t h t h e additim o f s o m e ’ e n s i l a g e or e q u i v a l e n t g r e e n feed. T h e s a v e d f e e d w i l l l a s t , a c c o r d i n g t o &easonp t i l l t h e m i d d l e o f J u n e a n d ~ometimee e a r l y J u l y , d e p e n d i n g o n c i r c u m s t a n c e s . I t n e e d s t o b e r a t i o n e d 9 h o w e v e r 9 b y g r a z i n g f o r o n l y o n e t o t w o h o u r s p e r day*.Difficulty starts in’ July and becomes p r o g r e s s i v e l y m o r e i n t e n s e t i l l f r e s h
g r o w t h comi-.icnces 0 I f t h e c o w i s a l l o w e d m a r k e d l y t o d r o p i n h e r p r o d u c t i o n 9 s h e m a y e v e n . d r y - o f f b e f o r e g r a s s c o m e s ai-ra’y;
a t t h e b e s t h a r p r o d u c t i o n r e c o v e r s o n l y slightly0 I f 9 h o w e v e r , t h e c o n d i t i o n o f t h e c o w a n d h e r m i l k s u p p l y a r e s u s t a i n e d , khe f l u s h e s r a p i d l y a n d h e r d a i l y p r o d u c t i o n c o m p a r e s favourhbly vlith t h e f r e s h l y - c a l v e d cow u n t i l a t l e a s t D e c e m b e r 9 a l t h o u g h s h e d o e s n o t d r y - o f f f i n a l l y t i l l February. T o o b t a i n these
c‘onditions :7e f i n d a t t h e 1~ad s e e y A g r i c u l t u r a l C o l l e g e t h a t c a l v i n g d a t e s a r r a n g e d f r o m t h e last w e e k of April,on~~ards9
a r e suitable* B y t h a t t i m e t h e r e i s g e n e r a l l y a v a i l a b l e t h e f l u s h o f a u t u m n g r o w t h w h i c h c a n b e c o n s e r v e d a s d e s c r i b e d . As
p r e v i o u s l y s t a t e d , h o w e v e r 9 t h e f e e d p r o b l e m i s a n i m p o r t a n t o n e f r o m m i d - J u n e onwards, CRmparad w i t h the dry a n i m a l t h e c o w s i n f u l l m i l k n e e d twic~~a~~csSmetimee more9 nouris hment 9 This
‘must b e c o n t a i n e d i n v e r y l i t t l e m o r e t h a n t h e s a m e w e i g h t
o f bulko S e v e r a l s o u r c e s o f s u p p l y p r e s e n t t h e m s e l v e s f o r c o n - s.ideration - (a ) Conservation o f p e r m a n e n t past’ure i n M a r c h , A p r i l and$ M a y , r a t i o n i n g af t h i s b y o f f - a n d - o n g r a z i n g 9 a n d
s u p p l e m e n t i n g w i t h h a y a n d e n s i l a g e ; ( b ) T h e g r o w t h o f ninter- growin
r
crops9 r a t i o n i n g o f a n d supT)lementing t h e m i n the s a m e way; c ) R e l i a n c e o n e n s i l a g e , m a d e f r o m s h o r t p a s t u r e a n d good
h a y ; ‘ ( d ) t h e f e e d i n g o f c o n c e n t r a t e s i n a d d i t i o n t o h a y a n d ens ilage o r roots9 T h e l a v i s h u a e o f c o n c e n t r a t e s ia o u t o f t h e q u e s t i o n o n the s c o r e o f cost: i n m o d e r a t i o n , u p t o 4 lb*
p e r d a y 9 i t h a s much to commend it. I t .can b e r a t i o n e d i n t h e b a i l a c c o r d i n g t o p r o d u c t i o n : c o n t r a s t e d w i t h t h e use o f special m a n u r e s t o s t i m u l a t e graos g r o w t h w h i c h i s c o n t r o l l e d b y wea ther, its u s e c a n b e cttarted a n d E topped a t m i l l ; i t has
d e f i n i t e re: idual manurial value9 Xuch-more importa.nt9 hoy;:ever, .is t h e a d e q u a t e p r o v i s i o n o f g r e e n f e e d . Idea&l-y h i g h q u a l i t y
cneilage a n d h a y , w i t h o u t g r e e n f e e d 9 i s nc t l i k e l y t o b e e f f e c t i v e ; a n d b e c a u s e o f lo;; b u l k p e r a c r e i:. inlikely t o b e ,_ economic.. 1 G I;:~lii:ncE:, o n saved p e r m a n e n t p;stur-, m a y Euit :omc
diotricts,but i n ourexperience, ic n o t o f itself satisf=ictory - i t p r o v i d e s f:;r N a y a n d Junz b u t it ,is v e r y slow i n rtC3 varing
i n ypring r,;ii;!l .-the c’onsequcnce t h a t d i f f i c u l t i e s arz cxperi,zczd
‘:~hhen the Spring-caPving coWs swell t h e n u m b e r s o f the ?.;linter- i calvers in early Augue to T h i s i s a v e r y i m p o r t a n t p o i n t t o
c o n s i d e r ; Ue h.ave h a d v e r y g o o d r e s u l t s f r o m :: c o m b i n a t i o n o f a s m a l l area o f s a v e d p e r m a n e n t grass f o r e a r l y ;:,inter use f‘ollowed b y s;?ccial ;ainter c r o p s s u c h a s barley a n d I t a l i a n ryegrass, the uEe o f g o o d e n s i l a g e a n d h a y a n d t h e c a r e f u l r a t i o n i n g o f *concentrates f r o m e a r l y J u l y t i l l g r a s s g r o w t h
s t a r t s , t o COVE y i e l d i n g o v e r l+ lbso b u t t e r f a t p e r day@ D u r i n g t h e p a s t tiinteys t h e p r a c t i c e h a s becn a d o p t e d o f s a c r i f i c i n g two pa d<o cks i n J u l y a n d ea.rly A u g u s t 9 o n e a s a d a y - h o l d i n g paddock9 t h e other aa a n i g h t one0 T h e m i l k i n g cow w e r e f e d h a y , a n d e n s i l a g e Dr r o o t s i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r m i l k i n g 9 t h e n t h e y w e r e t u r n e d into t h e g o o d g r a s s w h e n i t w a s d r y ; a f t e r m i d - d a y
t h e y reheivcd m o r e h a y a n d e n s i l a g e , a n d b’efore m i l k i n g w e r e t u r n e d a g a i n i n t o thz g o o d feedo I n t h e n i g h t p a d d o c k t h e y r e c e i v e d h a y a n d e n s i l a g e a n d rootso I n t h i s way9 cows have p r o d u c e d u p t o 83 lbs 9 f a t i n t h e 30-day p e r i o d i n J u l y ; a n d s everal have s t e a d i l y s u s t a i n e d p r o d u c t i o n o f .ovcr 50 lbe D
b u t t e r f a t p e r 30-day p e r i o d f r o m e a r l y lLoyO I n t h e mennnhilep d r y cows9 h e i f e r s , c a l v e s a n d coIvs grazed s e p a r a t e l y o n t h e
1 igh ter land pa dd c cket D
Problems to be considered:
,
T h e Eubject o f h u s b a n d r y t o ::uit ninte,r d a i r y i n g
iE b.iiEtling with mt,ny int,eresting i m p o r t a n t problcme, I t bring-E E h a r p l y ,under T cviw t h e p r e s e n t tendeiicy JO rely E olely o n perw- rlent pa,e ture a n d t o p dressing) tempera r y p a s tu,res D forage cro@, ZZC:
e v e n r o n t crepe n e e d renencd conEi,deration a: 5ourceE o f winter grswing nourishment a n d r a p i d e a r l y E p r i n g g r o w t h t o p r o v i d e f o r t h e ahole m i l k i n g h e r d an t h e f a r m a f t e r zorne p a d d o c k s h a v e tieen i n u s e d u r i n g win-L::r t o sustain p r o d u c t i o n ; s u i t a b l e r o t a t i o n o f terqp- 3 ra ry crops ia worthy o f consider:‘tion to/suit v a r i o u s dietricto a n d eoile.
In my opinion, know1 edge of f a cto ra a ff ecting gra,E s g r o w t h ie t o o f a r a h e a d o f i;he s t u d y o f f a r m a n d stock m&nagement to u$ilize t h e growth9 Nuch in t o b e g a i n e d b y studying f a r m s a&
a y/holep correlating Etock need5 with rlplant degirabi’lities’l a n d p a d d o c k utilization.,with f a r m s t o c k d i s t r i b u t i o n .
Soi’l Eanagement: .
O n e 2f .the ,greates t d i f f i c u l t i e s e x p e r i e n c e d i n winter d a i r y i n g if coil management0 O n l i g h t s o i l s ns m a t e r i a l h a r m i:: done,p b u t o n h e a v y a n d e v e n l o a m y soil?3 p u g g i n g i s e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t t o c o n t r o l b y rea,cgn o f h e a v y Eupplalcntary f e e d i n g a n d t h e g r a z i n g o f t h e rame paddocka o v e r s o m e t i m e b y t h e o f f - a n d - c n - plan0 Repugnant and e x p e n s i v e a&it m a y a t f i r e t e i g h t seem,,,
ho. us ing ha a much to commend careful coneidcra tiono No e,ls bora t e heucing is n e e d e d $3 l o n g a~ plenty,.of fresh a’ir i$ p r o v i d e d a n d a d e q u a t e p r o v i s i o n ie m a d e f o r k e e p i n g t h e cow~9 clean. The a n i m a l s d o n o t n e e d t h e h o u s e co m u c h as .the Eoil a n d p a a t u r e . Houeing oolv’ee t h e p r o b l e m o f e x c e s s i v e d e f o l i a t i o n , t h e p u g g i n g
of ‘good land, t i m e t;:ken‘ u p i n cart,ing feed.to mcbr o f Etock i n paddock5 ,rvhich 2re u s e d o n l y a~ l e g s p a c e a t a peri0.d ,of t h e y e a r w h e n d a y e a r e Ehort a n d w e a t h e r ie ‘cften f a r f r o m pleasant. I t permi tr: o f t h e ,true r a t i o n i n g o f a n i m a l s a c c o r d i n g t:o p r o d u c t i o n :
i t w o u l d b e i n t e r e s t i n g t o k n o w h o w m u c h iE loet t h r o u g h r a n d o m gwzing b y l o w - p r o d u c t i o n animals* A n i m a l m a n u r e ie a v a i l a b l e i n b u l k f o r t h o s e p a r t s o f t h e f a r m o r thoee’ cropE m o e t n e e d i n g
it, I
Obv,iouely, t h e e c o n o m i c b e n e f i t = , o f housing a r e p r i m a r i l y d e p e n - d e n t o n . t h e cost5 o f t h e h o u s e a n d zlight adc:itional lzbourg
compared with t h e i n c r e a s e d r e v e n u e arising f r o m increaeed p r o - d u c t i o n p e r cow2 r a t i o n a l feeding9 e x t r a f e e d f r o m carefully- caved p a d d o c k s , 2nd t h e h e a v i e r cropa r e s u l t i n g f r o m t h e
d i f f e r e n t i a l use o f f a r m - y a r d manure0
T h e a d v e n t o f -;/inter dairyiqg w o u l d aeeist i n svoidin[; z-Lock ailmente a n d b r e e d i n g diificulties. t woUid make poe sbble the
b r i n g i n g i n t o p r o f i t o f h e i f e r s a t 2* years’ old, t h e r e b y s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e vigour o f herds ebmetimei
p r o f i t t o o ems11 o r to0 .young;
s p o i l e d b y b r i n g i n g h e i f e r s i n t o l a t e calver and i t would c-olve the p r o b l e m o f the
stripper; i t w o u l d s p r e a d ‘&&&mating p e r i o d o v e r t h e y e a r a n d t h e r e b y aesiet w i t h sterility
i t T;Jould m a k e m o r e ea$ i l y poeci ble t h e 8 Xl- y e a r - r o u n d sup$y o f f a t pigs
m a r k e t i n g a d v a n t a g e : , . w i t h c o r r e s p o n d i n g diepoeal and
Summarized, w i n t e r d a i r y i n g aa a meane 3f e v e n i n g - u p ’ d a i r y p r o d u c t i o n ha2 m a n y d i s t i n c t m a r k e t i n g 9 economic9 and eocia3. advantages@ I t i s ? n e e d i n g c a r e f u l c o n s i d e r a t i o n i f N e w Z e a l a n d d a i r y i n g i s t o b e i n c r e a s e d a n d B r i t a i n remain6 t h e
p r i n c i p a l market0 The pra cti ce9 however9 d e m a n d s car@f ul c o n - :! i d e r a t i o n i n t h e . 1iGh-i; o f methoda o f . hue.handry. T h e groes c o s t wdtild b e h i g h e r t h e n - eeseonal coE:ta9 b u t i t remaina t o b e a e e n
w h e t h e r a d d i t i o n a l returna a n d r e d u c e d o v e r h e a d coeta woul-d m o r e - t h a n r e c o v e r t h e e x t r a expense0
