10 Jan.^ 1919.] Reminders for February. 63 



REMINDERS FOR FEBRUARY. 



Live Stock. 



HoBSES: At grass. — ^Supplement dry grass, if possible, with some greenstuflf. 

 Provide plenty of pure water and shade shelter. In stable. — Supplement hard 

 feed with some greenstuff, carrots, or the like, and give a bran mash once a week 

 at least. Avoid over-stimulating foods, such as maize and barley. Give hard 

 feed in quantities only consistent with work to be performed. Stable should be 

 well ventilated, and kept clean. When at work, give water at short intervals. 

 Always water before feeding. Great benefit will result in supplying horses^ 

 more especially young ones running at grass — with a lick. The following one 

 is recommended: — 



Salt . . . . . . . . . . 20 parts 



Lime . . . . . . . . . . 20 parts 



Superphosphate . . . . . . . . 10 parts 



Sulphate of iron . . . . . . . . 5 parts. 



By having troughs constructed that will protect the lick from rain a considerable 

 saving will be made. 



Horses at grass require their feet attended to at frequent intervals, otherwise 

 deformity of feet and lameness may result. 



Cattle. — Provide succulent feed and plenty of clean water easy of access; also 

 shade and salt lick in trough. Have each cow's milk weighed and tested for butter 

 fat regularly. Rear heifer calves from those that show profitable results. Give 

 milk at blood heat to calves. Keep utensils clean or diarrhcea will result. Do 

 not give too much at a meal for the same reason. Give half-a-cup of limewater 

 per calf per day in the milk. Let them have a good grass run or lucerne, or 

 half-a-pound of crushed oats in a trough. Dehorn all dairy calves except those 

 required for stud or show purposes. Keep bulls away from cows. 



Pigs. — Sows about to farrow should be supplied with short bedding in well- 

 ventilated styes. All pigs should be provided with shade and water to wallow in. 

 There will be plenty of cheap feed available now, and there is a good margin 

 between cost of feed and price for fat pigs. Read Bulletin No. 16, May, 1915. 

 Pigs should be highly profitable animals to feed now. 



Sheep. — In the case of very strong cross ewes, rams should not be removed 

 until well on in this month, for this class, together with most pure ewes of 

 British blood, are only now coming in season. To breed out this late lambing 

 tendency, and to procure quality and quantity of wool as well as a good carcass, 

 use carefully-bred, level-made merino rams. If the right type be not procurable 

 at reasonable rates, use good Corriedales or Comebacks. Should there be among 

 the rams any distinctly inferior to the others, keep them back for three weeks. 

 Remember, narrow inferior rams are invariably the most active workers compared 

 with sheep of more substance. 



Over a good area of the State feed conditions appear adverse. Keep salt 

 available in all grass paddocks. Arrange for a hospital paddock. Select one 

 watered by a trough and mix in Glauber salts. Pick out from time to time those 

 sheep showing signs of impaction, and place " in hospital," removing them again 

 later as appearances and circumstances direct. The effects of inferior dry feed 

 and stagnant water are responsible later on for severe losses of both ewes and 

 lambs, as well as for fly trouble at lambing. 



If necessary to feed do not wait until in-lamb ewes are weak before commenc- 

 ing. Avoid moving good woolled sheep unnecessarily in heat and dust of 

 summer. 



Drench any weaners and young sheep scouring. 



Poultry. — Chickens should now be trained to perch ; they will be more healthy. 



Provide plenty of green feed and give less grain and meat. Avoid condiments. 

 Keep water in cool shady spot and renew three times each day. Keep dust bath 

 damp. 



Birds showing symptoms of leg weakness should be given 1 grain of quinine per 

 day (three months old chickens, i grain) and plenty of milk. , 



Cultivation. 



Fakm. — See that haystacks are weatherproof. Cxiltivate stubble and fallow, 

 and prepare land for winter fodder crops. Get tobacco sheds ready for crop. In 

 districts where February rains are good, sow rye, barley, vetches, and oats for 

 early winter feed. 



