20 ■ Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



FEEDING DAIRY CATTLE. 



By B. Crowe. 



(An Address given before the Rural Producers' Conference, at 

 Shepparton, July 1902.) 



Perhaps iu regard to feeding tliere is more room for progress than 

 in any other direction. The season jnst closed stands out as a lasting 

 disgrace to many of those keeping cows, for although it has been 

 pointed out to them over and over again that fodder in plenty should 

 be provided for their cattle when a surplus was available, against the 

 seasons of scarcity, they have in very many cases made no practical 

 effort to follow this sound advice. However, the past season has 

 taught them such a sharp lesson that it is not likely that they will continue 

 to io-nore the necessity of doing something in this direction in future. 



Ensilage. 



The best form of artificial fodder for milk production and health 

 preservation is ensilage. It has been adopted for many years past in 

 various parts of Victoria with very gratifying results. Mr. David 

 Mitchell, of Lilydale, puts down every year a large quantity, and 

 Mr. Syme, Killara, does likewise. Their herds in consequence are in 

 full profit when milk is scarcest, and bringing highest prices. In 

 Gippsland ensilage has been a success wherever it has been tried. 

 Mr. Mathieson, of Trafalgar, has succeeded in making good stacked 

 ensilage. The maize is stacked to a height of 15 feet or so, the stacks 

 being circular in shape and weighted with earth to a depth of 

 18 inches ; a wire fence surrounds them, and when the time for 

 feediuD- comes on the ensilage is chopped down in benches and 

 distrib°uted by means of a cart to the cattle. Mr. Johnstone, of Hey- 

 field, made his first attempt at ensilage this season, and so profitable 

 has been the result, and so pleased is he that he is now taking steps 

 to increase the quantity of fodder conserved in this way in the future. 

 Mr. D. T. McKenzie, of Calrossie, has also obtained satisfactory 

 results in this direction, the form of silo he uses being well worthy of 

 description. A framed building is put up, that is to say a building 

 with studs 18 inches apart with top and bottom plates, lined on the 

 inside with well seasoned hardwood flooring boards. At the 

 Leongatha Labor Colony a similar structure is provided, lined with 

 tarred paper ; while at the Salvation Army Farm at Bayswater, most 

 successful results have been achieved. All these people are making 

 headway enough to prevent any of them ever complaining about the 

 drought — on the contrary a drought is their opportunity for making- 

 most money. Some dairymen of com-se conserve fodder in the shape 

 of hay, but it may be pointed out that hay, although a good food, tends 

 to dry off the cattle, and in the summer time it is not as luscious or healthful 

 a food as ensilage. It has also another very great drawback as far 



