DAILY FARMING.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5487, 21 March 1910, Page 2

DAILY FARMING.

TO THE EDITOg. Sir,— l received the enclose 1 letter from a very successful dairy farmer in the Fahiatua district, and it sretps so full of really valuable hints tn the young dairyman that I thought it would be well to have it published for he benefit of your large circle of readers. — I am, etc ,

Geo. M. Yebex

"Konini, "Ftb. 27, 19!0. " Mr G. M. Yercx. "Dear Sir, — 1 received your rote a few days ago, and have much pleasure in giving you any information re dairying that I can. I would like to ex plain that 1 hare only gone in for active dairying this season. I raiiked cows for years as a boy before the separators and factories were known. ( have lived in this district, within a quarter of a mile of the Konini buttei factory, since before the factory was built. I have always taken a keen iuierest in dairying, and at the present lime lam milking two herds, one oi 80 cows and the other 50 Although it is my first season my returns com pare favourably with those of my neighbours, some of whom have been milking from 12 to 20 years. lam not using milking machines. , " I know of some people who get very fair results with machines, but 1 also know a number who get very poor returns with milking machines. Of course a lot depends on those that are running the machines. Speaking for myself, I would not use machines while I can get suitable hand labour. " As to breed of cows, a lot depends on climate and other conditions. The Jersey, or rather Jersey cross, is the favourite breed in tins district at the present time. I have seen splendid results with Ayrshire and Shorthorn cross. Crossbred cows of Shorthorn tjpa give excellent results when crossed wi h Jersey bulls. Generally speaking, the Jersey cross has higher testing mi k than any others. Of course the Jersey is not quite so hardy as some vf the other breeds. They should, however, do well in your district, ns your winter and early spring are not severe. For yield of milk, I don't think any breed equals the Holstein, but as a rule the milk is not nearly so rich as the Jersey or Shorthorn. The Holstein i* also a much bigger cow than the Jersey, and, therefore, requires more feed. I have seen individual Shorthorn cows ecjDal to any others, bat, generally speaking, they do not keep up the milk during the season. Short - horn cows also often gd to beef after a few seasons and go off the milk. One drawback to the Ayrsbires is that they have very small teats for hand- milk - ing. They are also inclined to be timid. Whatever breed a man has the best results can only be obtained by carefully testing the milk of every cow. This enables you to cn'l oat all unprofitable animals. By doing this and getting bulls from a milking strain any dairyman will soon get good returns. A lot depends on the bulb nsed. I believe in purebred bulls, but I would prefer a good grade bnll from a really good cow than a purebred bull if the milking qualities of the latter's dam were unknown. " With regard to the returns j»t cow for the month or sec son it is difficult to state a definite sum, as circumstances are different in many cases Last season many of my neighbours took £10 ptr cow for butter- fat. The ;

pigs and calves should make at leas £1 10s to £2 per cow extra. This vta: at nearly lid per lb for butter-fa 1 . The returns this season will not be s gcod as the summer has been too dn 1 igs are also much lower in price stha by :■ products will not be so valuaVilt For December this yesr my return were £155 for butter- fat at 10J fro:

10 cows and 50 heifers,

" I have known cases who c farmer, have taken ■ as much as £lo per cow including calves and pigs. The re turns in these cases, however, hay. teen considerably augmented by grow ing beans and other food for pig&. Even with good management a greu deal depends on other conditions, sucl as the season, and price. To get good returns the cows must come in .early say August and Septembar. A cow i hat calves in No?embm' or Decembei cannot give the same returns as om coming in early.

"Very high returns, up to £15 (am even £18, G.M.Y.) per cow for butter fat are reported from parts of Tara naki. These, of course, are exceptiono cases ana can hardly be taken as i. guide. My own estimate for thu district, for a number of years, isab'out £10 per cow, including by products. This is not taking butterfat and bacon at boom prices but jus; at a fair average. I estimate that b.> having families to milk, either on shares, or wages with a bonus, tha 1 labour will cost me £-i per cow. Jr other words labour will absorb 40 pei cent, of the gross takings. 11 1 am establishing another dairj for next season and hope to milk about 240 cows.

"There is so much to be said or dairying that I hardly know where t< stop. A great deal of the success oi dairying depends on suitable bails There are really very few convenient sheds with proper sanitary arrange ments and a good water supply, which is essential if cleanliness is to be ob tamed without undue labour. With reference to sheds, I can claim to havi designed and built two sheds which experts consider to be the best the} have seen. I am getting models of hem drawn and" will post you one The shed, if possible, y. ants to bi centrally situated. T( i 9 bitter to cart iho nv.llr a few chains ex-ra than ti. have to drive the cows too far.

" Now, a word as to the selection of cows or ht ifers. If there are none to be had in your own disLictl would suggest that you arrange with some reliable persou, in some dairying district, to buy for you. If you have far to take them I would suggest buying heifers, as they wculd travel bcttei than cows. They w uld also be cheaper, and although your retnri. would not ie so great tl c first season, you would soon have a 1 crd of goo< youugcows. ' If jou Ltiv cows as s. rule you will soon have a lumber of old cull cows.

"A final word in conclusion. If yori contemplate starting next season don't leave it until too late. Now Is the time to get sheds ready while the weather is fine. If yi v are going in for heifers, and have far to drive or truck them, get them at once and the\ will be used to your place and will have time to pick up in condition after their driving."