N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 August 1924, Page 3

N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

OTAKEHO BRANCH. ADDRESS BY MR, GEO. FORD. CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF DAIRY HERD. At the last meeting of the Otakeho Farmers’ Union a very interesting address was given by Mr Geo. Ford. The chairman Mr' E. Burke, in calling upon Mr Ford to address the members, stated that they were always pleased to have Mr Ford out, as a great deal of information was derived from his addresses.

In his opening remarks Mr Ford said that he was not going to give an address on any particular subject, blit would take the care and management of a dairy herd as his topic for discussion. To begin with, Mr Ford stressed the necessity of purchasing suitable animals to start with. They must have a good constitution. Some c-ows may be fat, and still have no constitution. It was no good buying cows haphazard, but they should be examined to see that they are all sound. The next most important factor was the selection of a suitable bull, stating that he must have character and a butter-fat record behind him for at least six generations and of a strain that has proved calf-getters, mentioning that some strains are shy breeders, both in bulls and cows. Mr Ford then stressed the necessity for suitable shelter. In New Zealand the cows were not stabled, and would need extra- shelter and perhaps they would eat more by grazing out, but he was of the opinion that the cattle were in a healthier condition. The nearest' approach to shelter was by the use of covers. ProbabLy the most important factor in the production of milk was the feeding. It was of no use getting a herd to a high state of selection, eliminating the unprofitable cows by testing, if • one was not prepared to give them good food and attention. High breeding and low feeding were a had combination; therefore plenty of good feed, and also good water, were essential. He stated that herds of ordinary cows would do better with care and feed than good cows not cared for. More than ordinary pasture was required to produce milk and keep the cows in condition. This was supplied by the use of supplementary foods, these depending on the locality of the farm and district. Mr Ford stressed the necessity to use more lime and phosphates. ‘ Food may be plentiful enough, but of small feeding value owing to the lack of lime and phosphates. He stated that in-calf cows need to he well fed during pregnancy, as there was a big drain on the cow towards the end of oregnanev. The cow must have a reserve to fall hack on when she calves, as she is yielding products in excess of what the food furnishes. . Cows should have exercise before calving, and easily digested food for a few days after calving. In dealing with balanced rations, Mr Ford paid there was always a cry about vitamines; good green feed supplied all that was wanted. Roots should always be fed after bay, and the feeding to be done after milking, as it helps to prevent the taints that occur m milk. Good lucerne or meadow hay combined with roots of ensilage make good winter feed. The weight of feed per cow is as follows: 6011) of roots and 10W of hay daily, besides what grass can he gathered in the paddocks. This shows that to feed one cow for four months one would require three tons of roots and half a ton of hav. Where the feeding is done in the” paddocks one can only guess how much they get. The cows should now come in in good condition, and they should not be checked in their milk supply, as if checked- for want of feed they never recover again during the season. Milk production and butter-fat.—ln-side inherent limits, the production of milk and butter-hit is governed by feed, care and surroundings; but feeding will not make a 3.6 cow produce ‘1.6 of butter-fat. The production of butter-fat is a natural trait produced by selection and breeding of animals loi that trait, ’the production oil milk applies in the same wav. Mr Ford then dealt, with the- value of different foods, stating that food from worn-cut land has a lessened food value through the lack of mineral sa.lLs; in fact, hav and green crops of some farms have iiu lime or phosphate in their composition. It is estimated that in every 201.bs ol milk there are almost 2ozs of lime and one ounce of phosphoric acid, and only about half of these minerals consumed can he assimilated, consequently double the amount has to be taken in to get a proper proportion to equalise what is given away in milk, ihc cow herself has a certain reserve in her system to call upon, but if the Ripply is not kept up the natural reserves soon become exhausted, hence the necessity for top-dressing the pastures. j

Water Supply.—Dairy cows need an unlimited supply of good celan water, more specially in the summer time, and it should be easy for the cows to get at. Cows that are fed on dry, fibry food and get no water are into get impaction of the stomach. Mr fiord instanced a cow as like a motor, saying that if no succulent food is provided for the cow she gets seized up the same way as a motor left running ivitli plenty of petrol and no lubricant on the cylinders will soon seize up.

Sheds.—A good milking shed on the. farm was essential. It should be well situated so as to allow lor drainage, with the front facing; the north, and should he as central, as possible. The walls should he of concrete for oft. from the ground, with a smooth finish and there should be plenty of concrete vard space. The same applies to the milk stands. These should have a concrete floor and he kept sweet and free 1 rom had smells; also good drainage. Ihe milking machines should he kept scrupulously clean if yon are to produce clean milk, as the cleaner the milk sent to the Factory the better the article produced, therefore a better once to the farmer for his butter-fat. Too hurh a vacuum should not be used, as this tends to cause udder troubles. Forage Poisoning.—Mr Ford said that the farmers should give plenty of green food before calving, and perhaps some opening medicine. If mouldy hay is given in spring, or green feed heated before feeding, or other decayed roots are given the cows, this .sometimes caused forage poisoning, or sometimes when cows a.ro put on a paddock to clean up after roots. "When feeding roots, hay should always be fed first or overnight, as the cows wait about expecting the roots in the morning. Foots cause trouble if not fed properly, especially mangolds and turnips, and feed should not be changed suddenly. "Damaged food retards digestion, and gives false fermentation. Symptoms of Forage Poisoning.— It generally bars a good start before seen, stamping at the bollv with hind feet, nose and touts are dark purple colour. Remedy: Opening medicine, with intestinal antiseptics, turpentine, formalin and salicylic acid. "Retained placenta causes sterility, and should lie removed and the cow washed out. Mamrnitis conies from outside of teats. Give stimulants., bathe quarter

in hot water and ether injections. Increased production favours udder troubles. and can be caused through feeding and stomach troubles. Mr Fold then gave considerable time to the different ailments of the dairy cow, giving their causes, symptoms and treatments, and in conclusion he urged all farmers to boost milk for all they were worth, and there was "no need to pasteurise milk if it were obtained in a sanitary way. It was an ideal food, and cleanliness was a- very important factor in cases where milk was handled and produced fo;;- food. At the cojclusion of Mr Ford’s address the chairman moved a hearty vote of thanks to him for his very interesting address.

FRASER ROAD BRANCH. A demonstration by Mr. R. B. Wood, M.R.O.V.S. was given last week at Air. Death’s, where a nice company of 2o to 30 had the satisfaction of about three hours of Mr Wood’s valuable talk to themselves. Mrs. A. L. Campbell and Mr, S. Death provided tea for two light refreshments, and despite the poor weather the affair was a decided success. Mr. Wood followed his usual practice of killing with a humane pistol, bleeding the eow etc., and explaining concurrently reasons for everything done. Amongst other things he showed that a beast with tuberculosis may be fit for human consumption, the various ways of administering medicines, demonstrated the necessary operations to be performed by a farmer upon a sick cow. As a surgeon he pointed out- the anatomy of a beast and said that “slipping a shoulder” in a. horse could he cured by setting the horse to swim so as to .replace the displaced tendon. Finally he took a dog and showed how to fix a savage dog to dose him, and also how to give a “ball” to a horse. The thanks of Fraser Road is once more due to Mr. Wood, and on all sides his visit was greatly appreciated.