COVER THE COWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 17, 15 October 1907, Page 2

COVER THE COWS.

THE LESSON OF THE BOISTEROUS . WEATHER. , ! Covering cows is a question which should attract the consideration of. every practical dairy farmer in Manawatu (writes our correspondent of that district.) in weather such as wo-havo experienced this season, it is csaontial.iu order to produce the best results, that every animal should bo made as comfortable as possiblo under the oxisting-canditions, to produce the best results. This, I am sorry to say, is only tho caso in a few instances. In weather such as prevails to-day it must appeal to any'practical dairyman that his return, would- have been much greater had his

animals been brought in to the milking shed, comfortable, instead of being ■ forced along with their backs doubled up, more resembling tho attitude of a hedgehog preparing for winter quarters. It is hard to convince tho farmer that the small expenditure on rugs is compensated for by tho difference-.in one or two months' returns; I am pleased to relate that a number of farmers at Awahuri are awakening to the fast, ah denablins somo of their cows to enjoy the unique distinction -of ■wearing a rug.. I believe lam safe in saying that there are more cows covered in Awahuri than in any district along the coast. But even there only the bestaro covered. Surely if it pays a man tolatte'nd to his best animal in this manner, it is almost equaly profitable to cater for all his herd. It stands to reason that if a cow is not worth cover she is not worth standing room to any dairyman. A practical dairyman, ■ who has given covcriug a: trial, remarked to our Manawatu representative "wished ho, had provided rugs for all his cows."