THE DAIRY FARM.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1160, 22 June 1911, Page 8

THE DAIRY FARM.

AND THE RIGHT WAY TO RUN IT. j A VERY FINK ADDRESS. "The Dairy Farm and Hoiv to Run It" was the subject of a paper read at the i opening' of .the Rational' Dairy Conferonce yesterday morning by Mr. J. Burt Veale, of NVoodville. Mr. Veale began by slating that' there was still a gi'6at deal to be- learned regarding dairy fanning, and even those who had given long thought to the, subject met with new experiences which sometimes upset previously-accepted facts. The man. whoso sole object, in getting a dairy farm, was to sell it at an advanced price, was becoming "a curse to the industry;" Tho milking of cows was not the only thing to.learn on a dairy-farm. For the .purposes of .his address he spoke of average conditions, and o£ farms between 50 acres and 300 acres in area. Dairy farms might bo classified according to their carrying capacity and tho value of land should bo based upon its position, quality, and- natural advantages. Average land in New Zealand now ranged in value from cElo to .£-15 per acre, and was still rising and, in order to be successful, the ret'urns_ must be made to cover interest on the capital outlay, labour, and other outgoings. For some years dairy farms had been increasing in value without having increased in carrying capacity—in fact,- the style of farming generally adopted had been to decrease the carrying capacity, and many, therefore, had been successful men, not from tho produce of the farm, but from the pocket of tiie.-"other fellow" who seemed anxious to rush in and give them increased prices. This had.become so acute tliat thoro was a serious problem ahead of many now engaged , in dairy farming. Dairy farms must be "formed" to ensure good, return. Most dairy farmers started ; with too little capital. ■ In selecting a dairy farm, neopleshould see that the land was suitable for cropping, well watered, lying well to the sun.

and not too long and narrow in conformation. it need not bs mad level, but snotild not be too inily. it possible, me ijuiwmg.-i .-hotild he centniuy situated, and slielter belts should be planted uu paudoclc boundaries and corner patches. Jluildings should be made with a view to sanitation and labour-saving. Tile land sliould be suitable lor siimlivision, anil for the .watering of every division. Sliprails were all abomination. The areas ui' the fields on a'Jiffy-acre farm should not exceed ten acres, and on a 300-acre farm, I'd acres. The test of success was a net amount of returns per acre after allowing, say, 5 per cent, on capital value of land, stock, etc., and the value of labour, and outgoings, expended in producing that return. The first important thing to a dairy farmer was the herd. He mu.it follow approved lines of breeding—ascertain the individual value of his cows, and keep a purebred sire .of . known merit. There was no royal road to this; only time, care, and patience would lead to the desired, end. The average from his herd now was -TiOlb. fat per caw. Cows should be brought- into .]>rofit as near. August and September aft possible, and milked 'up to tnc end of June, giving two months rest, some, perhaps, a little more or less. Cows in New Zealand usually kept their condition on,grass until the end of Jun«; then they should be fetl whether in milk or. not. His practice was to feed on roots and hay, carting the same out to the paddocks, and going through the cows daily that nothing is amiss. One acre of grass hay- should be cut for every five cows, to 'be' supplemented if possible with three-quarter-acre of oaten sheaf or oaten straw, after threshing, 1} acres of swede" turnips for each ten cows,. to lie fed to dry. cows only, -and store pigs in .winter, and one acre of mangolds for every twenty.cows if preferred, to be fed to cows in milk with hay. Good ensilage was undoubtedly as valuable as roots, but he only'made it in' wet seasons. The towing of barley was sometimes in a. dry season a mistake, as it createed a partial failure of the seeding. Maize was becoming recognised as one of tho best feeds for dry seasons. Intense cultivation paid. A farmer should rear and fatten at least 2} pigs and one calf, to, every two cows. One of the most neglected; and most urgent things was the keeping of an efficient ssfc of books, by which means lie would know whether he was working at a profit or at a loss. The Hon. T. Mackenzie, 'who was present at. tlie conference for some time, "complimented Mr. Yeale on his address. The conference tendered him its thanks.