In
October the maize crop is
ready to harvest. Maize
is grown in Cornwall to
make maize silage, a valuable
winter feed for diary cows.
The type grown for cattle
feed is just one of many
different varieties of maize
that also gives us corn
on the cob or sweetcorn,
cornflakes, corn oil, popcorn
and maize flour.
Maize is a very good source
of starch and is one of
the most important cereal
crops in the world. Archaeologists
have shown that maize was
grown in Mexico 7,000 years
ago and it is still a vitally
important crop in that country
today.
Maize
ready to harvest
Enjoying
a maize maze
Maize
silage ready to
feed
Forage
harvester cutting
maize
The
harvested crop is
blown into trailers
driven alongside
ACTIVITY
Farming
on Bodmin Moor
Cows
grazing on moor
Livestock
farming on Bodmin Moor
follows a pattern that
has been established over
a thousand years. Many
of the local farms have
the right to graze animals
on the open moorland.
The moor provides summer
grazing for sheep, cattle
and ponies. The number
of animals grazing on
the moor is carefully
controlled, to balance
the growth of the grass
and prevent damage to
the grassland.
Cows that graze the moorland
in the summer are brought
in to the fields near the
farm in the autumn. Calves
are weaned and sold on for
rearing.
The sheep too are brought
down nearer the farms so
the moor is virtually empty
through the winter.
Autumn is the time
to prepare for housing
the cattle through
the winter. Most dairy
and beef cattle will
spend the winter in
sheds.
As daily temperatures
drop, grass growth
begins to slow down
and the feed value
of the grass falls.
Beef herds may stay
out in the fields
longer and be fed
some silage or hay.
At first the dairy
cows stay in the yard
at night after the
second milking of
the day. Then by November
the herd will probably
be housed day and
night.
Dairy
cows lying
in cubicles
Beef
cows and calves
April:
calf at five
minutes old
September:
same calf
at five months
old
Cornwall
generally has mild
winters and cattle
could stay outside
all the year round.
But the high winter
rainfall softens the
ground and the animals'
feet begin to cut
up the fields.
This is called 'poaching'.
If it gets too bad
a field is turned
to mud, destroying
the grass plants and
reducing the value
of the grazing for
the following season.
