THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17629, 5 December 1922, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

DAIRY BREEDS IN CATTLE. COMPARATIVE FIGTrT.ES. (?ROSI OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, October 27. Some interesting papers wore rend at the Milk Conference held at the same time as the London Dairy Show. Mr James Mackintosh, in a pa per on "Dairy Breeds of Cattle in ißelation to Quantity," had to lament Ihe limited data available, and to exiils in that the reports of milking trials at shows were the only sources of information that covered all .dairy breeds, g;i ve details of the yields and chemical j COlt }T position of the milk, and_ plaaid an breeds under equal conditions. But the iiguree of twenty shows gtfV.J the highest average uaily yield to the British Friesians, which were closed? followed by the non-pedigree Dairy Shorthorns, the Lincoln Red and the South Devons. The milk production capacity of the smaller breiidis n proportion to their size was strikin g'y demonstrated. The J'oyal Show Und the Dairy Show gave the highest p - r " eentage of fat to the milk of the Jersey and Guernsey breeds and the lowest to the Friesians, while the hightn >t daily yield of butter-fat was by t\h r ; non-pedigree Shorthorns on the figure*; of the Dairy Show only. When t'W yield of fat per 10001b live weight wad noted, tho Jersey easily headed the list. The highest yields of total solids* (tho aheese-iKakinig cprisiiitujents) in proportion to weight were obtained irom the Jersey, the JJextcr-Kerry, and the Ayrshire breeds.

Elements in the Cost. It was not possible to give any satisfactory comparison of breeds in the consideration of cost of production, but the largest single item was the food of the cow, and then came labour and depreciation, these three covering about DO per cent, of the total. As to nutrition, it appeared highly orobable that the difference between breeds were not ho great as those between animals of th© same brewed), and he foundi no scientific evidence in support of the idea that one breed would produce more milk than another on the same food. The cost of labour must vary with differing conditions as to the housing and keeping of tho cows, and the amount of depreciation evidently depended 011 the purchase price and tho selling price. Some breed or breeds must be better than others under the same conditions, and it would- be to the advantage of dairy farmers if attempts were made to solve this problem. Nothing conclusive could be said on the point without 'details of the cost of food, labour, and annual depreciation.

Success of Lincoln Reds. - At the D'airy Show itself the Shorthorns, Red Polls, and JPriesians were again well represented; and since these breeds have the greatest properties for producing large quantities of milk, owing to their siae, there was the keenest competition for the supreme championship. The Friesian eventually annexed three of the open championship cup 3, thus winning for the second year in succession; while, contrary to general expectation, the Lincoln Red breed secured tho Btedisloe Challenge Cup for the six best all-round dairy cows. It was considered by som» that a little of the enterprise which has brought other breeds to the front, if applied to j;he Lincoln Reds, would bring <1 creator measure of financial success to those now interested in the breed. Making a Selection. "One would not hesitate to recom-, mend a Jersey for an equable climate," writes the Agricultural correspondent of the "Morniftj Post/' "and if the characteristic of rich milk was desired, butter production being even of greater importance. But when living is bare and tho situation exposed, the general purpose typos, such as the Shorthorn, would naturally come under review first of all. If the farmer sought to establish a cheese-making dairy, he might consider the Ayrshire cow with more favour than many others, because of the peculiarity of tho fat content of its milk, which makes it especially suitable for that purpose, and not "a few are of the conviction that the remarkable successes which the Scottish Cheddar-maker from year to year secures at the Dairy Show are as much attributable to the quality and character of the milk as to any other cause."

Jottings for Farmers. The General Committee of the Canterbury A. and P. Association meets to-morrow instead of the Tegular Wednesday on which the monthly meeting is held. A balance-sheet of this year's Metropolitan Show will be submitted and matters connected with next year's Show will bo discussed.

KAIAPOI. The forty-fh'st half-yearly meeting of (he Canteroury, Woollen iUills Employees' industrial Union of Workers was i iieid 011 Saturday. The president, Air J \V. iiart, presided. A satisfactory ( balance-sheet and report were received audi aubpted. Messrs 'C. Bennett, J. it. Murpny and \V. I'nce were appointed delegates to the annual conference of ilio ivew Zealand .federated, Woollen ilillfi iimployees' Industrial Association of Workers, to b© held in the lrades Hall, Christchurcli, on December 27th, 1922.

TAI TAPU. A gift evening in aid of the fancy stall ut the coming hover show, was held in tue Town iiall on Friday evening. A musical programme wa3 presented by the following : —Misses J.. Tobeek, ii. Tobeck, P. Suckling, and Mrs McLachlan, Messrs J. M. and D. Suckling. The ladies in charge of the stall are Mesdanies Ryan and Laycock, and Miss Morgan. A nice collection of useful articles was received.

The anniversary services in connexion with the Tai Tapu Methodist Church were held on Sunday with a large congregation morning and evening. The officiating clergymen were:—Morning, Rev. Napier Milne; evening, Eev. W. Laycock. The scholars of the Sunday school assisted by members of the choir and friends, acquitted themselves splen-

didly ia special hymns, reflecting great creait- on their conductor, Mr H. E. Perryman. Miss J£, Baraett was the organist. COST. Cust B completed their match, against Eyreton on Saturday, notwithstanding the rain. Ji.ast Jtiyreton batted first and scored 10" (H. Bennett i> c re P'i e d with 53 (Wearers 13, lv. banders 11). Following on Cust made 64 (Small 18, L. Cowans 13). Eyretoa in their second innings scored the 11 required for a three point win. without losing a wicket. Mrs and tho Misses Cowans supplied afternoon tea. WEST EYRETON. At the monthly riieeting of the Oust and Eyreton branch of the Farmers'" Lmon. Prof. Condiift'e gave a lecture on economics. He emphasised the fact that after all wars there came a slump, but brighter prospects would soon come to those who held on. OVERDALE. Saturday afternoon a treat was held in the school grounds in connexion with tlie Overdale Sunday School. Games and races helped to pass a pleasant time for the children as well as the parents. During the afternoon Revs. N. Blakiston and A. S. Morrison, of Rakaia, gave addresses. Mr l!. Oakley also spoke. Afternoon tea v.-as handed round, and each child attending the Sunday School was presented with a prize book. Mr Macale, on behalf of the parents, moved a hearty vote of thanks to the teachers. The singing of the National Anthem brought a very pleasant afternoon to a close.

j HINDS. There was a good attendance in St. Luke's Church when Kev. F. A. Crawshaw, who had been a missionary for .several years, gave an interesting lan- \ ern lecture on the Solomon Islands. '1 he slides were exceptionally good, and depicted the general appearance of the ?u lands, the people, their houses, cdturchea, and canoes. Tho lecturer's descriptions were enlivened with various stories of adventure-

On Saturday night the Loyal Hinds of Oddfellows' celebrated the opening of their new hall. Visiting brethren were present in large numbers from the surrounding districts to assist in tho celebration. The district ofliceni occupied tho chairs. Sick pay tota.llii ig £lO 6s Sd was passed for j.-ay-nieni'i. Three candidates were proposed for naeinbershio. The D.G.M. Bro. J. Roal gave an interesting address en lodge work. Bro. F. Pritehard congratulated the Lodge on their new home. A n adjournment was then made, to the rd fectorv, where a social evening was spent and tlio usual loyal toasts honoured.

EAKAIA. For 6omfl 'time efforts have been made to arrange ft' triangular sports meeting at Eakaia ISO tween representatives from Methven, Btet'.kenham, and Rakaia, but tho fates have been unkind, so many dther '.fixtures have intervened that it has ft een impossible to fix a date. The st»li eme will probably eventuate early i.a February. From time to "> time, especially near election time, th ere is talk»of tho need for a separate- t raffle bridge over the Rakaia River, i n thi3 connexion it is interesting to not e what Mr F. Bey, a very old resident > of Rakaia, has to say' 011 the matter. Hi 9 helped to b.uild the railway bridge al>out forty-six years ago. When tin? work was completed tho overseer saiil too the men: "Don't go away; we're ,*joing to begin almost at once on a sepuraite traffic bridge." Mr Bey didn't goi aivay, but has been waiting ever since 1 Tho Rakaia Friendly Societies' annual picnic to TimiU-u has grown to bo one of the largest functions of its kind held in Canterbury. C*n the last occasion the long train na:i woefully overcrowded, and some IIVOO people travelled. This time two tri'.ins are being used, and accommodation■ provided for 1800 travellers. A hu.Utlred are coining by car from Highb&i ik to Rakaia, and Newlands and other schools are joining in. Word has been received' that Inspector. Graham will hold a «3 tandard VI. examination, with Rakaia\ .as a centre, on Monday, December l'.Bth. Miss Willis, who has been appointed as second assistant at the Rafc iia School, began her duties on Mond'aj A boy named Hugh O \ r J< -nnor was riding his bicycle to nnd when near the convent gates sustained a nasty fall. The flesh of the l:noe was badly cut and contused. H'e' was attended to by Dr. Sheffield, and .removed to the Ashburton Hospital.