DAIRYING ON WEST COAST

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23319, 3 May 1941, Page 6

DAIRYING ON WEST COAST

GREY RIVER HERD’S PRODUCTION Practical dairy farming with results equal to those obtained in any other part of New Zealand, or at least in the South Island, is emphasised by achievements of at least one farm on the West Coast, and the following outline of this successful farmer s operations should go a long way towards disproving the oft-expressed opinion that West Coast pastures do not lend themselves entirely towards successful butterfat production. Recently a representative of the ‘‘Press visited the farm of Mr P. Cook, which is situated at Matai. in the Grey Valley district, where he was shown a Jersey herd grazing in rich green pastures. Mr Cook has a herd of 34 cows, and during the month of February, their yield averaged 511b of butterfat a cow, tying for top place for the South Island with an Edendale herd in Southland, one of the leading' dairying districts In the. country. , Of the 30 herds under test on . the West Coast, the total cows number 1142, and the milk group average is 6911b. There is a total of 21,298 cows under test in the South Island, The average test for Mr Cook’s herd was 5.0, and the highest cow production was 751b of fat. The farm comprises only 100 acres and the cows are fed exclusively on the pastures and frequent liberal quantities of r hay. Rotational feeding in the different Saddocks Is practised methodically. Ir ,C°ok hopes next year to have 45 to 6b cows on the area. The present season is recognised as a comparatively good'one for dairying on the West Coast.

Average of 3801b Mr Cook topped the list for the West Coast in production with 11,8211b of fat, an average of 3191b a cow, and this year he estimates that bis production will be nearer 14,000 , or about 3801b a cow. All of the herd Is machine milked, the installation being of the low-vacuum type. It is considered by Mr Cook to be a definite advantage because there is less strain on the cow. With the old type of machine there were 15in of vacuum, but with the low-vacuum type, where the pipeline runs practically along the ground, the milk is riot being lifted. The herd is without root crops. Mr Cook breeds all his own replacements* and this year has some two year old heifers milking with more than 3001b of fat to their credit already. He has been on his Mattel farm for only three years. In the first year his herd averaged 2821b a cow. last year it was 3191b, and this year he again hopes to top the production figures with .something like 8801b. (It was 2801b at the end of February, and there were two more months to be included.) ; Top-Dressing Benefits Thus this '■ practical farmer has Increased bis butterfat production by 1001b a cow in two seasons, a really fine achievement. The Jeaseys are hardy, says Mr Cook, and he does not rug them. During the first year of farming at Matai; Mr Cook top-dressed his farm with lime and super, using, Sowt of’ super to the acre, and the benefits of this top-dressing are now being clearly manifested.: Two-factors-in conducting a successful dairy herd, says Mr Cook,*are to handle cows gently arid to give them plenty of feed. At present there is only 15.9 per cent, of the total dairy cows in production on the- West Coast being tested regularly Under the South Island Herd Imr K/ement Association. This Is, an cation that the majority of farmers are lacking in .a duty to themselves. It Would appear that a compulsory system of testing would prove bene, flcial for all concerned. PIG BREEDING ACHIEVEMENTS The recent formation of the WistCoast, Federation of Pig Clubs -‘ha*; drawn attention to the benefits inqi*; vidual clubs have conferred oh pig, breeders in their respective districts (writes our correspondent). The success that can accrue from breeding from approved pedigree lines, Instead of from pigs of unknown ancestry, has been demonstrated by the clubs, and In some parts of the Westland district, •results have been obtained that Would compare more than favourably with other parts of the Dominion. As an Instance, a Large White pedigree Sow at Barrytown, during the present season, produced a Utter of 12 pigs, of which 10 survived. At three weeks, the combined Weight of the litter was i;1291b, an average of 12.91b and at eight weeks, the combined weight was 4361b, •Another pedigree pig in the same .district produced a Titter of. 11, of ,which eight survived. At three weeks •the combined .weight was 1381b, an average of 13.81b, and at eight weeks ;the total had risen to 3711b, another excellent return.

NEW OAT VARIETIES

CHARACTERISTICS DESCRIBED (Prepared by;, Canterbury Agricultural -College, Lincoln.) , In a recent agricultural bulletin some notes were given of three varieties bf oats which-are considered worthy-of trial in New. Zealand. The standard Cartons, Abundance .and Duns—have established themselves for special purposes and,a new oat has to be superior to one of these standard varieties in a particular feature if it is to become popular. The three new varieties which are considered worthy of trial by farmers, are;— ;. » 1. Rustic (or Russet); This is a white oat and can .be used for milling, Its chief characteristics are that it is a good green feed oat, more upright growing, than -Algerians, earlier in .the autumn and recovers well in spring after repeated grazings. It makes good chaff and gives high yields. The fact that it is a gooc greenleed and; chaff oat, sin, addition,; for . the milling: trade, gives it '.ah advantage over Algerians Which are, in the main; greenfeed and chaff oats. With an additional character it has a; voider, field of . use arid 1 is - likety to become a popular oat variety in the future; ‘

2..Winter Grey:. This Is-a dun coloured oat and; can be used for greenfeed, 'chaff and feed oats. It Is a winter hardy variety, nroviding good greenfeed and -chaff. The growth habit is more upright that that' of Duns and the .variety yields better than Algerians. The grain is indis-t tlnguishable from Duns, but it has not the high' oil-:,content of that variety. It has a fine straw and .tends to lodge on strong landr .-It; is recommended as a greenfeed and’; Chaff oat, particularly in 'coldetf'disMcte. 1 ■ 3. Resistance: This variety is a white oat with very stiff straw. The grain is on the small; side but It Is one of the highest yielding varieties .and the straw the strongest of any grown in New Zealand. -It will give excellent results . for, chaff* or .feed oats on strong land where; lodging is frequent The name resistance. Ig derived: from toe, injury. Small -nuantihes erf. . these 'varieties are -merchants.