Farm and Station

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11949, 20 May 1933, Page 12

Farm and Station

(By “RUSTICUS”.)

AGRICULTURAL MAMMOTH

GYROTILLEE IN BRITAIN

PLOUGHING 20 ACRES PER DAY. The mobt remarkable fanning implement produced in England lor generations is known as a gyro tiller, and was worked on Foulness Island, Ebsex, where it has been used for some time to break up the land toil depth of 18 inches; covering about an aero ail hour. It is a distinct departure from cither the disc or mouldboard plough, being provided with, two sets of huge revolving blades, which literarally churn up the soil and c°vor a width of 10ft. fan. at a “bite,”' (says the Sydney “Mail”). Fitted with a 150-b.p. Diesel engine the gyro tiller so described as “oneman job,” and, being provided, like the modern tractor, with nnwerful electric headlights, it is capable of working day and night thus breaking up over 20 acres of soil every 2-t hours. In Australia farmers would not find'much use for such a machine, except, perhaps, in the sugarcane country and some parts of the irrigation areas where there is an almost impenetrable claypan. For wheat it would be useless, because the more we learn about soils the more iwo are beginning to realise That shallow ploughing, and not too much of it. is greatly preferable to breaking up the sojil deeply. The old idea that it was necessary to disturb the'subsoil,’ except perhaps for drainage in some situations, has gone by the board. Loose subsoil does not pro ride a' sufficiently solid bod for the root to get a grip in, nor does it assist in the conservation of moisture. Even the long-established theory regarding capillary action is gradually being modified, excessive cultivation apparently doing more harm than -good, except where it is necessary to keep down heavy weed growth, which appears to absorb much more soil moisture than the sun’s action on the capillary tubes.

Although the gyrotiller is being worked in England the probability is that it was designed specially with a view to coping with Russian conditions As at matter of fact several were delivered to the Soviet Government some time ago, and are understood to have performed efficiently in certain Itaavy lands. Perhaps, therefore, they represent the British engineers’ reply to America’s hid for dominaarice in Russia’s mechanised farming plan.

PROTECTING THE HERD

CATTLE DISEASES Probably in no other area in Great Britain lias the elimination of tuberculosis from the dairy stock received such attention as in the Ayrshire district. I have recently been able to examine their methods of eradication, and to take .stock of the situation arising from the large numbter of free herds in the district, grates special representative of the “Farmer and Stockbreeder.”

The south-west of Scotland! can he regarded more or less as a self-don-ta'ined unit. Few cattle are brought into the area, and this contributes to the success of the antiirtuborc'hlosis movement.

The suitability of any particular farm for carrying a stock of tuber-culin-tested cattle largely depends on its boundaries. An interesting example is the farm of Mr Quentin Dunlop, at Greeuan, near Avi. Bough ly triangular, it is bounded on. one side by the sea, on the second by a /main road, leaving a small length in contact with a neighbour. This is double fenced, with a margin of seven or eight feet to prevent possible contact of the tested cows aim animals on the other farm. After reactors nvere discarded some seven years ago, there have been nb .further cases. Tim young stock from reading cows had all been brought into the herd and continued free. They are raised entirely out-of-d'oors, not being housed until they conic . into the dairy herd.

At the start it 'was. of co,uisc, necessary to disinfect and modernise the building formerly occupied by reaching cows. All unnecessary woodwork was cleared out, a concrete wall now separating two lines of cows facing inward. Some 48 cows are kept bore and about 30 elsewhere, all tested. No cattle are brought in from-out-slide," and pigs, and poultry are debarred access to the cattle- pastures. .. .

' Buying- in no alien cattle except an occasional bull from-tested stock enables many herds to bp kept free, from tuberculosis even, .without regular testing. • '• ' ■ •. .< ; \ .

Other breeders,; however, point, out. that such freedom', .from contact with ‘{imported” • cattle : cannot ' alnyays ho guaranteed. Oho 'of these-, for example . while all in favour, of keepinghis. pedigree herd Tree; finds it necessary to' buy in stoi'e cattle for feeding to produco sufficient dung for his early potato crops. The risk of' importing tuberculosis is such that it is impossible to maintain a fully’ tested herd-;. To establish a free herd from existing 1 stock it is a ' great , advantage to have'an outlying farm -to -which reactors can ho moved. This was the system adopted by Colonel Houldswortli at Threave, near Crossbill, some eight-years ago. The home buildings were' thoroughly disinfected, . all parts • liable-.to harbour .germs -being carefully scotched,. with a -blow-1 amp.

Calves from reactors were immediately removed and reared in the clean buildings on milk from tested cows. Here, as elsewhere, it was demonstrated clearly that the disease is not inherited and that thero need bo no sacrifice of good breeding stock. The herd was' entirely free after the second year.

UP-TO-DATE PRACTICE ‘ In the case of Mr IV. Thompson, whoso farm at Brae of Auchendrano is a well-known example of up-to-date practice, the herd was first cleared of tuberculosis some yoars ago. Here, too, an olf-lying farm was employed to carry the reactors until they wero dispersed. Thus the course of pedigree breeding was not seriously upset. In the (existing herd there have been no (reactors for about eight years. Buying no strange stock, and keeping the pastures free fropi contamination by pigs or poultry aro measures taken here for keeping the c,ovvs free. On (the farms tested herds Pave been biiilt up by eliminating reactors from an existing-herd. But at Woodland Dairy, near Girvan, a free herd was established by Messrs J. and W. Forbes, about seven years ago by the purchase of heifers from free herds. Before the new stock was brought in the buildings were completely disinfected by the blow-lamp method 1 , and with (the exercise of proper precautions thero have nob been any reactors since. The farm does not join any others directly, and rabbits, which are held in very bad repute, are carefully controlled. Poultry,.are not allowed on, the grass, nor are untestoattfie purchased. Gu this, as on most of those farms, supplementary grazing is by sheep.

TREATMENT OF BLOAT With regard to treatment. Dr. MeCandlish advises, after summarising the replies on this point, that where bloating lias occurred the simplest remedy is to keep the animal walking about, as this induces stomach move ments and aids in the release of gas. It is also quite satisfactory to tie in stick in the mouth of the animal, as this aids in bringing about the same result when the animal chews on the stick. A piece of fork handle about 2ft. long, and tied ito 'the horns or to a halter, is all that is necessary. Another sample method of treatment is to soak a sack in cold water and ,lay it over the back of the animal. so that it covers the paunch. This is kept wet and frequently gives relief, probably due to the fact that the chilling effect induces stomach movements' which aid in the expulsion of gas.

There are no drugs or medicines defhyitely known to havo a specific action in ease of bloat,, (bub there are pne or ftwo which appear to ho of some use. A doso of half to one jounce of Archangel tar or a wineglass of turpentine is tho most commonly used- Great care should bo taken in the dosing of a bloated animal, as there isi the greater risk of choking than at other times.

The turpentine is frequently administered in a. bottle (5-gill) of raw linseed ;il.. /Dosing with linseed oil is probably useful in animals which are •specially subject to bloat due to some digestive disturbanceTho use of trocar and cannula cannot be generally recommended in cases of bloat,.' as| most such cases generally get relief from some loss drastic method of treatment. The trocar should ho used only iwben col lapse and! sudden death are vinnnanent, but then even, better results (would he obtained if an incision several inches long were made with a knjife.

TOBACCO FOR SHEEP Smokers have been handed another shot for firing against anti-smokers. •■+ .'•Dimv! from a most unexpected quarter. Actually it is more cue for 'hose who indulge in tobacco chewing, who nrobalfly roquir o to put ni> ■"

stronger defence ot tlie’r habit than do smokers, but it can be used either bv them or the egarebte and pipe lovers. The gist of it is that some agricultural experts have discovered that tobacco is good for sheep, and they are recommending farmers to try it on their stock. The claim is that Hi- addition of limited quantities of tobacco to the sheep’s ordinary diet reduces tho number of stomach parasites that do damage among flocks.

WHEN HEIFERS SHOULD CALVE

In an American research bulletin, Dr'C.' W. Turner Writes upon the influence of age of first calving on milk secretion. The Doctor’s study extended .over four breeds, Ayrshire*, Jersovs, Guernseys, and Holsteins. In his findings lie pomts out that the increase:™,nuik and! , fat . production in heifers calving ■ after, tlrrtv months of agq in all these breeds is practically negligible. In other words, every heifer, remaining unproductive at:thirty months of acre or. over is ing ('jhainitained a at loss, not on y o the mainenance. cost and o . ac vestment of the animal, hut in theproducflvc life. also. Yet his figures show that 43 per cent, of the Ayrshire cows ealyed ' after’ thirty months of age'. , r '. , ’ Tho Doctor’s study clearly revealed a>sj.griiificant increase in milk and fat production in calving was delayed! till tho animal reached thirty, months of n gob Tho, results seem to confirm the

Theory that this increase, in milk and fat production owing (to the delay :in the tirno of first calving ?s due to growth 'in body weight. Increase in yearly fat production is aboufc 801 b per 1001 b increase in body weight. ■ The'youngest heifer included was a Jersey, (which calved at thirteen months; the youngest Guernsey calved (at s'ixfteen months; while the youngest Ayrshire and Holstein Freisian calved at seventeen months. As to whether, in certain (circumstances, it would he advantageous for .for heifers to calve for (the first time at under thirty months depends to a great extent upon environmental conditions.

NEW MILK PAIL.

AU TO MAT JO RECORD! NO

AN INGENIOUS ARRANGEMENT. Although the releasor type of milking plant appeals to many, in that the milk passes untouched from cow to churn, it has tho drawback that the milk cannot be recorded. In this newest milking pail on the British market this drawback is ingeniously overcome.

Containers made of special beat-re-sisting glass and! incorporated in the milk line arc suspended on standard milk scales, which automatically register the weight of milk as lit enters the jar. When the /teat caps i>o-n been on the cow for four minutes (and it is found that 99 of every 100 cows milk out in this time) a rod flight shows. This ,gives the operator the clue to givo an eye to tho milk flow' into the container and to givo the quarter turn (to the master tap, which cuts off the vacuum at the teat cups and simul tuneously releases the milk from the glass container via tho cooler to the churns.

Tho system, it is stated 'is equally applicable to stationary as well as outdoor plant. When buildings are not up to the standards likely to be insisted upon under the recommendation* of the Milk Reorganisation Commission, it is suggested that it may often be preferable to insftal a compact plant with three or four milking points in the yard' rather than repair old buildings for 40 to 50 cows.

CARE OF HORSES’ FEET

REGULAR, TRIMMING NEEDED SOFTENING HARD HOOFS.

With /the horse the feet are tho most important parts if the animal is to be a satisfactory worker. Regular inspection should be made of the horses’ feet, and any necessary trimming and dressing can then be done.

■Horses’ feet need constant care in order to keep them in good condition. Feet that are regularly trimmed seldom have quarter cracks nor do they cause iinuch trouble.

The frog is soft and spongy in texture and acts as a spring in relieving concussion when the foot; comes in contact with the ground. In order to keep this organ in a healthy condition the horse (should bo shod so that tho frog conies in contact with the ground at every step, and should not he mutilated by whittling or burning. Jt is sufficient to remove any ragged portion, as this organ sheds itself. In cas os where horses are compelled to stand in filthy stables, we frequently have a disease develop in ,the cleft of the ■frog, known as thrush. The sole is made of a hard, horny substance, and acts as a protection to the lower .surface of the foot. It is thickest at the toe, gradually becoming thinner toward the heel. It should not he burned or whittled in shoeing the sole should he concave not convex.

Occasionally, the feet become dry and hard. In .such cases it is a good .practice to pack the shoos at night with a little moistened blue clay, or, in severe cases the horse stand in it for several hours. Hoof ointments also serve to, keep the feet in good condition. Some paint tho horse’s feet with the waste oil drained from cars. Dm, however,, contains some gasolene which may have a drying and hardening effect- on the feet. In fact, it may do more ham than good.

HOME DAIRY PRODUCE MARKET

Thore was a very marked improvement in the London market for New Zealand butter and cheese last week. After a quiet opening, tho market was excited by the British Minister of Agriculture's announcement regarding import quotas. New Zealand butter closed firm on Friday at 78s up to 82s a cwt.. an advance cf :ds to 9s oil the week. The retail price of New Zealand butter was advanced to lOd a lb, Danish remaining unchanged at Is. The cheese market was similarly linn, white closing at- 465-495, an advance of 5s to 7s-, and colored at 525-545, a rise of 5s to G.s.

N.Z. clover best in world. Experiments and trials undertaken by . the Government Agrost-ologist (Mr E. Bruce Levy) at the Palmerston Plant Research Station have definitely established 'the superiority of Now Zealand Avhite cloA'er over . the best strains available anywhere in the world. For many years the opinion has been widely held 'that Kentish white clover, which has commanded prices of up to 30s per . pound, was thp best strain in the world. Imported Dutch clover has also enjoyc u wide popularity, and ordinary Lew Zealand varieties have always had a shod following. It has now been demined that N. Z. certified whße : clover has no. equal among v j iri< r. i(T at present in use. jln_ J’ ie • . “ seasonal spread of growth and persistency. andl freedom from the onslaughts of. volunteer grasses and weeds, NeA Zealand certified white - clover has. pfioved itself unquestionably supreme over, an investigational P erl ° d three years. The trials involved single •pLt studies gs well as broadcast experiments^

NEW ZEALAND LAMB, UNIQUE DISPLAY IN LONDON A unique exhibition, and certainly one which compels attention, is to ho seen in the show window of New Zealand Housp, in the Strand. It is one arranged by the Meat Producers Board. *

Tho half-a-dozen wax replicas or Now Zealand lamb, which have served many useful publicity purpose, aio now to be seen, performing a steady revolution. The heads are evidently fixed in a revolving wheel and ‘the legs radiate outwards 1 ike tho spokes of a wheel. The revolving hub itself is covered by a metallic coloured! disc, on which are the words “Ask for It.” On the left is a brilliant' metallic disc hearing the inscription, “New Zealand lamb can ho obtained from any high-class butcher.” On the right is another metallic disc with the words: “New Zealand lamb is always tender and delicious.” Along the front is a, long notice hoard with the words, “The Meal of Sunshine.” Six life-size (models ot lambs, are distributed over the base ot what appears as grten grass. The silvered contents of the window are seen effectively against a black backgrounc .