50 Aug., 1909.] I\/arketing oil the Hoof . 53i 



driven along, the bands cut (care being taken to collect the string, so that 

 it may not get mixed in the feeding), and the hay scattered about. As a 

 proof of the nutritive character of this class of feeding, it is explained 

 .how, during a recent severe .autumn drought, that a flock of ewes in a 

 paddock as nearly as possible quite bare of grass, was lambed down on 

 three-quarters of a pound of sheafed hav per day each, and the lambing 

 returns reached 75 per cent. 



Feeding in P'ield Mangers. 

 Mr. Sproat, of Banvenong, in the Donald district, began with the sheaf 

 system, but now threshes the oats, and cuts the hay into chaff in order to 

 feed in mangers. His experience is that the hay cut into chaff is more 

 profitable than long hay, while an oil engine cornes in for the chaffcutting. 

 The field mangers consist of ordinary grain hags opened out and simply 

 made bv stretching a square of four wires between two trees any length 

 required, supported in the middle by low posts. The wires, being the 

 support for the bags, make an excellent trough. This plan is considered 

 the best, especially at lambing time, as the sheep can go to the mangers 

 .at any time and get a feed, taking their lambs quietlv with them, whereas 

 in scattering sheaf hay, the minute the sheep hear the rattle of the waggon 

 they rush off, and some of the lambs get mis-mothered. Another advantage 

 •of the chaff over the sheaf system, in Mr. Sproats' opinion, consists in 

 the sheafed hay having to be stacked, as again.st chaff, which, being stored 

 in a barn or silo, is thus better preserved from the mice. As against this, 

 however, Mr. Wallace sets the cost of threshing, which is saved in the 

 sheaf feeding method. 



Profit of Oats Feeding. 

 ^yhichever plan of feeding is adopted, however, the profit is generally 

 admitted. A wheat grower in the Benjeeroop district, Mr. Hugh Milvain, 

 has proved in his own experience that half a pound of oats per dav, either 

 with chaff or in the sheaf, will maintain sheep in good condition. Two 

 bushels of oats, fed at the rate of 2 lb. per day, together with hay or chaff, 

 and access to picking in the paddocks, will fatten a store wether fit for 

 market. A farmer, in his opinion, should not sell oats unless he sees 

 3s. per bushel for them in the stack, as by feeding sheep he is assured 

 ■of this, and for topping up lambs more. 



The Advantages Summarised. 

 Another important point is the getting of lambs for export earlv on 

 the market, as the early market, from the latter end of August to the 

 beginning of October, always commands the best prices. In this way, 

 oat feeding gives extra profits in two ways — earliness and primeness of 

 ■quality ; because, with plenty of oats on hand the grower is rendered 

 independent of such contingencies as a poor grass season at the very time 

 when the feed is most required. Even before lambing, the ewes are 

 put in a better position for raising vigorous lambs by having the ad- 

 vantage of the oat feeding ; and, after lambing, the voung lambs are 

 kept rapidly improving from the beginning l)y the ewes being kept in 

 gCKjd milking condition. As one farmer puts it, " the best w'ay to 

 get early spring lambs of prime quality is to begin feeding them through 

 the ewe before the\- are born, and in every w'ay aou can name, growing 

 -cats as a second grain crop succeeding wheat after fallow, for sheep 

 feeding, is one of the most profitable movements connected with the 

 ■combined wheat growing and lamb fattening svstems ; because, over and 

 ^bove all the other advantages, it further enables a farmer to at least 



