THE LAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 7, 9 January 1926, Page 24

THE LAND.

BUTTERFAT INHERITANCE.

There is abundant evidence to prove that cows inherit a tendency to high butter production, and there has been a fairly general belief that they inherit, also, the percentage of butter-fat in their milk.

lt is generally known that tlie milk of. cows, even within a breed, varies very considerably in the percentage of butterfat it contains. This variation is an individual characteristic. It has been quite definitely shown that each individual cow possesses a certain fairly definite capacity for the production of milk and butterfat, and that the milk, uver a number of lactation periods, will contain a fairly constant per cent of fat. A study of the records of the Friesian herd at the Connecticut Agricultural College has revealed some interesting and valuable information concerning fat inheritance in two families. The fat percentage of the milk of the descendants of two cows, one testing 3.25 per cent and the other 3.40 per cent, has remained apart to the fifth generation, even though bulls were mated in common upon the two families. These two families have dominated the herd. They owe their foundation to two purebred cows which were purchased in 1903. These cows were Fay M. and Altoana Pietertje. Shortly after going to the college herd they each dropped a heifer calf to De Kol Burke. Subsequent gestations produced two more heifer calves. The original animals thus laid the foundation for the two families, and each of their daughters were progenitors of a strain within their respective families. Records are now available on five generations of Altoana Pietertje descendants and four generations of Fay M. descendants. No females other than the females descended from these cows were added to the herd during the greater part of the period under consideration. New blood was introduced into the herd from time to time by the purchase of bulls. These bulls were used indiscriminately on members of both families, although some bulls left daughters in only one family, due to very little use or to the small number of breeding females involved. • In every case animals by the same tire in the Altoana Pietertje family have averaged a test above those of the Fay M. • fapaily. Some bulls which maintained the average high test of the Altoana Pietertje family had difficulty in raisiing the low average of the low-test-ing family and in a number of cases the test was lowered. This would indicate that there is a tendency for the progeny to resemble tho low-testing parent. It further illustrates that the prepotency of the low-testing family for low fat test could not be overcome by the bulls that could maintain an average high test in the other family. Thus it seems that the female may exhibit prepotency for such characters to a high degree.

In a most interesting paper on this subject in the "Journal of Dairy Science," May, 1925, Pollington and White set down some important conclusions. They conclude that it is not necessary to testify high milk yield in order to maintain a comparatively lpffh butterfat test, as is often assumed. The difference in the milk yield of the two groups of cows they were studying was negligible (2751b). but thp average yearly fat production differed by 531b.

'They point out that too great emphasis cannot be put upon tbe importance of foundation animals. Of course, it is not possible to know for a certainty how good an individual would prove to he as foundation stock, but every means of selection known, and .especially the buying of cows out of families that have proved their ability to produce and transmit desirable qualities to their progeny, should be used.

Even though sires were used in common upon these two families, the test ■remained as far apart at the end of the experiment as originally. Only one cow in the high-testing family tested less than 3.25 per cent, and only two cow 3 in the low-testing family (daughters of the son of a high-test family cowl had tested above. 3.46 per cent. The hightest, family reached as high as 3.59 per cent, and the low-test family as low as 2.67 per cent in individuals. Averaged by . generations, the high-test family maintains a test equal to the average for the breed, while the low-test family usually is below the legal standard for fat. in this family low-fat test has heen a dominant factor. A FOOLISH PREJUDICE. The average dairy farmer has his ' share of unfounded prejudices, and if they are unfounded then they are foolish. One of these prejudices, which stands like a veil between his eyes and the' truth, is that which relates to purebred dairy cattle. A great many farmers are breeding their herds down instead of up because of this prejudice. Any man who uses a grade bull show*s that prejudice and is 'breeding his heifers and future cows down. If these men would study this breeding question, if they would obtain by Teading the ideas and opinions of the best-posted breeders, if they would reflect for a moment how all development in an upward direction has been obtained, they would cast this prejudice eside and use only purebred males. The experience of the best men in cattlebreeding is worth something to the dairy farmer, if he would only think so. Thousands of them do think so. and we see them providing themselves with good books and papers wherein such experience is recorded. But where there is one such dairy farmer there are ten who face the other way. They keep the poorest cows, and. as if that were not enough, tbey breed for the coming heifer with a scrub or low-grade bull. Such men do not realise what dairy farming means. Tbey do not realise the importance of having strong, prepotent dairy blood in the male, if they expect nny improvement in the resulting heifers. They are governed too much by prejudice and by what they do not know rather than by what they do know. Invariably, if we see a man developing a fine herd of. cows, ho is doing just what thoy refuse to do. He has to travel n different roud and in a different, direction. One would think this work had been going on long enough, so that every owner of a cow in the land would see the truth. Still, however, there is a great cloud of witnesses for prejudice and error rather I than for the truth. ' .

THE PIG ON THE FARM.

Many a man has paid a good price for a boar that suited him in every respect, and then, by improper care, practically destroyed his worth as a breeder. A very serious mistake, though a common one, is to confine him in a close pen where he has very little exercise, and at the same time is fed upon rich and fattening food. Lack of activity and virility quickly follow this sort of treatment. Another very poor plan is to turn out the boar with a herd of pigs, where he is constantly fighting, fretting, and teasing until he becomes unthrifty, and the most ungainly pig on the farm.

A common sense, rational method must be pursued, and these extremes avoided if the best results are to be secured. While too close confinement is to be shunned at all times, it is not so bad as. to permit the boar to roam with other pigs over the farm. A comfortable pen should be provided for the animal, with a fair-sized lot of pasture adjoining, aud he should then be fed a variety of nutritious food, which is more than dry grain or thin slop. The majority of farmers are too apE to feed their breeding animals too much grain. The boar should always be in a good thrifty condition, but if he is overfat he will not be a sure breeder.

It is a disputed question as to the age at which a boar should begin service. It is a fact, however, that many an animal is ruined by too early use. lt is unwise to permit a boar to be with a sow until at least eight months old. and then only in exceptional cases. One cannot expect vigorous progeny from immature sires. If the boar has been properly kept, moderate service will not injure him at a year old and he will be at his best as a sire from 18 months to five years old, when he is matured and fully developed and possesses every advantage over an immature pig. Invariably the largest and strongest litters are obtained from old sows bred to aged boars. An aged boar is generally considered a very unpleasant animal to have on the place, especially if he becomes vicious and inclined to use his tusks. These animals are not intended for pets. A fenc- ''—* will keep the other pigs on the farm in their proper place will not do for the boar, for if the opportunity ever offers he soon becomes unruly and hard to manage. The right and proper place is to keep him in an enclosure right from the start that will afford him no practice in the art of breaking out. It .is also a good plan, if conditions will permit, to have the quarters isolated from those of other pigs, especially sows; he will usually be more quiet and gentle, although much depends on the natural disposition of the animal.

One realises that it is of little use to recommend to some farmers that they should keep the boar 18 months or two years before using him. Yet anyone who will properly keep a boar for that length of time before putting him to service will find his value as a breeder greatly enhanced by good care. In a great many localities the farmers keep only a few brood sows, and it means quite an expense for each one to keep a boar; in this case, itms much better for three or four farmers to club together and keep one boar, or one man may own him and the other pay a reasonable service fee. Properly managed, one boar will usually answer the purpose as well as three or four for that many farmers, and, if so, the cost of keep is reduced to a minimum, and the temptation to uses an immature sire is removed, thereby ensuring an improved class of pig in that locality. BIG COXeS MORE PROFITABLE THAN SMALL ONES. A good big cow is the superior of a good little cow in both the production of milk and profit, according to recent studies of. the U.S. dairying experts.' This is not true exclusively of one breed; it applies to all the.leading dairy breeds. Occasionally a small cow is a plentiful and profitable producer, but for the most part the milk makers of small size are greatly excelled by their larger stable mates. These are the conclusions which Uncle Sam has reached after carefully studying the records of more than 13,000 animals tested. The results of this novel and interesting investigation to ascertain whether the large or small cows are the better workers and wage-earners were set out in a recent issue of "Hoard's Dairyman," and show that the large grade Holsteins (Friesians) averaged 75221b of milk as compared with an individual production of 65651b an animal for the small cows of the black-and-white breed; The large grade Jerseys yielded 61571b of milk apiece, whereas the smaller cows of this breed produced 54541b of milk a cow. The big cows of the native class gave 62261b of milk; the small cows of this class and type 52781b an animal. The large grade Guernseys yielded 61401b of milk a cow, and the smaller individuals of that breed 52571b of milk an animal. The large grade Shorthorns averaged 59071b of milk and the smaller grade Shorthorns gave 47161b of milk an animal.. The outstanding feature of the survey was that the average showed - that the large cows among the different breeds produced 9361b more milk an individual than did their smaller associates in the herds. The average of all the big cows was 63901b, and that of the smaller animals '54541b of milk. ' * ■_ ' KEEP EXPERIMENTING WITH FERTILISERS. The secret of success in manuring lies in the farmer's own trials, carried I out on his own fields; therefore keep experimenting. At the same time, start nght into use more of the fertiliser i that is gn-ing the best results on your $2_ ". aS yOU know at Present. acre of ♦,• * ° Ut the « UantH - v P er n£fl. ~ S manure that S ives the most profitable results, and the best month When \T ,°* r applyi ? g ifc t0 the P"*™ When you discover how muc h o f this fertiliser will give you the biggest profit per minimum of outlay, andyo« Sop that quant.ty as your standard for dressing f. r tujo particular ch) p or I • ■•' k -

pasture on which it has been used, you will be in line to get the greatest returns from your manuring. A great deal of money may be expended on fertilisers and still results not come up to expectations or be anything like what they should be. If there is one cause which contributes to this condition, it is lack of drainage. No matter what crops are sown or what manure is applied to badly drained land, results are limited by the condition of the soil. Unless drainage, where necessary, is done, the land cannot produce full crops. Water lying near the surface in undrained land prevents plants sending down their roots deeply in the soil. Crops have, therefore, a less bulk of soil wherein to forage for food, hence a less wealth of plant food to draw upon and convert into crop. Undrained land favours the accumulation within it of substances which are harmful to vegetation. Owing to soil ventlation being deficient in undrained land, the conversion of the less available plant food into readily assimilable forms is hindered. Crops grown in adequately drained land, are placed at an insurmountable disadvantage from the time of sowing the seed until the harvesting of a poor yield. Fertilisers applied to these crops cannot be utilised to the full advantage and are often wasted. Drainage is the fartt essential, and after that, manures. HOW FIELD DRAINS FUNCTION. As it is on heavy soil that a system of drainage is the first essential, it'is desirable to understand the functioning of the tile drain in such a soil, and to consider the effect of a large fall of rain. It is very evident to everyone that on heavy soil the rain water is absorbed very slowly. The water that is not held in the natural way, that is, by capillarity and which more than fills up the interstices of the soil, percolates downwards very slowly. The surface soil becomes saturated before any water reaches the subsoil. This zone of saturation moves slowly downward. This downward movement is often so slow that the roots of plants are submitted to the conditions of the saturated 6oil long enough for harmful effect to follow. If holes are dug down into this saturated soil, water will rise in the holes to the top of the zone, and the slow downward movement may be observed. In the retentive heavy soil the level of"* the saturation may move downward but comparatively very little in several months. When the field drain is made, water percolates into it so soon as the zone of saturation reaches it, in the same way as it percolates into a hole sunk into that zone. This water is quickly carried away by the drain. This facilitates the downward movement of the water above and in the vicinity. It may not be expected that the full effect of the drain will be exercised so soon as it is constructed; that effect will be more marked after a year or more may have elapsed. Small channels are formed by the water and lead into the drains, which greatly increase the movement of water to them. This -percolation of water when the soil has become saturated, followed by the partial drying out that follows, exercises an effect on the condition of the clay that forms a great part of all heavy soil. The wetting and the drying make the clay less tenacious, it becomes more open, it takes on a granular structure, it becomes more mellow, more easily cultivated and more pervious to the passage of water. .It is in this way that field tile drainage permits the water of a heavy fall of rain to move downward much more quickly than would be the case in soil that is not drained. Under this condition the belt, or zone, of saturated soil is comparatively harmless. Roots of plants do not suffer from moving water as compared to the extent that is caused by water standing or stagnant in the soil. The water that moves downward after heavy rain carries with it the air that is present in the soil, and this provides the ameliorating and necessary aeration. The condition of land where drainage is absent prevents proper aeration. It is accepted that substances injurious to piant life are formed by bacterial activity which are destroyed when the soil is properly aerated, and this is only possible by the agency of an effective system of tile drainage. The years of experience in many countries in the improvement of heavy lands have shown that the first step" is the provision of drainage, that there is but one system that need be- considered, and it is the tile drain. The tile drain ha 3 so many advantages over all other types from the point of view of efficiency, permanence and ease of construction, that the system is now of universal adoption. It is possible that other types of drains .may be of less cost in the first instance, but the greatest expense is the labour of the digging of the trenches. The price of the tiles themselves is but small. It may well be accepted that the best system is the field tile drain. It is effective and it is permanent. SIMPLE PIG RATIONS. The diversity of pig rations is apt to confuse the beginner. But pig feeding is a fairly simple process once you get accustomed to it. Potatoes, turnips and swedes, etc., milling offals and cheap grain and meals, separated milk, whey and ■ household scraps make up the average bill of fare for the pigs.

A very common ration, and one which seems to pay well for a growing pig, is one gallon of separated milk, 31b of potatoes, 41b of barley or maize meal, and a little sharps or bran. * Divided into three meals and fed to pig 3of about 801b in weight, it is calculated ■ that a dietary like this should bring about 21b a day of an increase in the weight of the pigs.

No hard-and-fast rule as. to the constituents of the ration can be adopted, for meals will be found to vary in price. per food unit from time to time.

Ground oats may partly replace barley or maize meal, and they improve the quality of the pork, more especially when potatoes are fed as part of the dietary.

Nothing is gained hy cooking meals for pigs. Potatoes and roots may, however, be boiled; but they should be washed and scrubbed.

Cooking makes the food a. little more palatable, and there is no | doubt that the growing pig assimilates cooked or moistened" food more easily, than dried material." but foots, if pulped, can be

fed raw, and meals soaked ih hot water are quite as good as boiled foods. Dry feeding in cold weather would be preferable to the feeding of ice-cold slops Meals may be soaked in cold water 12 to 24 hours, but in cold weather the chill should be taken off by the addition of hot water: -

F ? r -£°°°g PJg* J"™™ meals, are advisable ia the winter months, at-all. events.