FARMERS CO-OPERATE IN FIELD INSTRUCTION DAY

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 April 1935, Page 3

FARMERS CO-OPERATE IN FIELD INSTRUCTION DAY

Jersey Breeders Gather at Mr J. A. Russell’s HIGH SCHOOL CONTINGENT IN ATTENDANCE I 1 -Popular and, invaluable among ManaWatu farmers are the field instruction days organised at intervals by the various breed societies. One of the most successful, was that held Wednesday by the Manawatu, Jersey Cattle Breeders' Club on the property in Gillespie's line of their president, Mr J. A. Russell. As well’ as a large at- , tendance of farmers/there was a contingent of between 70 and 80 pupils of the Palmerston North Boys’ High School, who attended under the tutelage of Mr J. J. Stevenson, agricultural instructor. Three authoritative lectures were given on current farming problems, and were followed with considerable attention, the audience deriving a ' great deal that was of educative value. Producers Are Known by Their Figures A demonstration on the type of Jersey producers was given by Mr E. Griffiths, of New Plymouth, It was well established, he said, that great producers showed their ability in their outward form, and there were a number of attributes by which |a cow adhering closely to production 1 type could be recognised. The first was a good constitution. An outward sign of this was a wide, open nostril, indicating that the animal could by its generous breathing adequately support the circulation. The dairy cow approaching the ideal should have also greater depth of body and less width in comparison with one produced for beef. A daily cow must have, too, a capacity to gather and store food. Outwardly, a broad muzzle and extensive jaws indicated an ability to gather rapidly and inasticatc well. Storage was suggested by width and length of | body, with a moderate spread of the ribs. But in appraising these characteristics, it must be remembered that ail were subject to the need for uniformity. No one of them should be stressed unduly. “Temperamental Strawberry ’ ’ Also essential was a gpod nervous temperament such as was exemplified in the Arab horse, to allow the cow to carry out great exertions. It was generally proven by the eyes, and by flat bones in horns, withers, and even the

tail. A good milker needed further a vigorous circulatory system, for the bldod, motivated by breathing, passed constantly through the udder and was vital in milk production, depositing ilie constituents of the latter fluid as it passed. Though not invariably so, a great producer was usually betrayed by large, heavy and tortuous veins traversing the udder. The tail proper should fall to the hocks.

Brindle needed further the ability to transform food into the elements of milk. It was this hidden mystery of the cow, reposed mainly in the diges five system, that veiled the reason for one cow yielding more milk than another from the same quantity of food. Evidence of ability was in the udder atself, which, if supported by a frame at once broad and long, could be capacious without being unduly pendulous. If too long, the udder was more subject to cold and resultant diseases. The texture of the udder should be thin for a continuously heavy producer. The teats should be of medium size and not finely tapering. All of these main attributes were indispensable to the greatest cows, and the absence of one was a telling handicap. Proud Bovines Are Best Mr Griffiths added that a good cow should carry her head high, and march boldly as if "monarch of all she surveyed. ” Lurking Parasites Attack Youthful Stock Seasonal parasitic diseases, and their .cure, were discussed from the technical aspect by Mr J. M. McLinden, of Massey College. No parasitic disease, he said, was spontaneous. There must be some forerunner either in the animal or extraneous. Vitality and antecedent care of the animal were put fully to the test, when parasitic infection occurred. The past season had been a severe one, owing to fluctuations in pasture growth. Stomach and lung worm infections occurred chiefly when the grass sprang away in the autumn. Two typical and'distinct animal coughs could be detected. One, from the stomach, was deep, but not wrenching; the other a bronchial cough, was sepulchral, and was a death-like cough of frustrated endeavour. Danger Lurks in Pastures Green Admittedly when young stock incurred worm infection in the autumn it was hard to save them, but certain precautions could be taken by an intelligent study of the life history of the parasite. They sheltered on the under side of green leaves in the pasture, loving the dampness; and so in autumn young stock should not be put on dewdamped pasture. Newly-sown pastures were, however, generally immune, and should therefore be conserved for the young animals. It was most exceptional to find mature stock susceptible to any of the ordinary parasitic worms. Often they could safely be used to eat off grass bearing the immature parasite, and so purify the area. Otherwise .a pasture could not be disinfected without great expense. Difficulties of Treatment. Lung worm could not always be

satisfactorily treated as the lung tissue was so delicate. Any medicant must reach the surface of the worms, and if a number congregated in a lung passage, they were beyond the reach of the medicant. The only other way was to build up and extend the vitality of the beasts until the parasitic cycle was complete, when they would automatically be expelled, there were two antagonisms, the vitality of the animal and the growth of the parasite. It depended on which was first past the winning post. In considering cures, it should be remembered that it was tlie ambition of all to prevent rather than cure. Mr McLinden proceeded to speak of cure by commercially prepared medicants. At present we lacked a medicant that would pass through the small intestine. When copper sulphate was used, a one per cent, solution was usually advised, although cases were known of where four per cent, had been successfully applied. Once the solution had been made, it could be given according to the strength of the animal. Treatment should be alternated lest the parasites become adapted; such things as separated milk and turpentine, or separated milk and lysol, could be used. Lice were not difficult to control, but it was difficult to prevent reinfection on the farm from contact with fences, etc. If persistent or recurring, it of course affected the vitality of the animal. An old-fashioned cure was a good one, and that was a mixture of water, soap, and kerosene. Ringworm was not infected from an insect, but was a fungus grow T th that took root under the hair.

Answering a question after he had concluded his address by a further description of cures, Mr McLinden said that stomach and lungworm were totally different, but infection of one usually, lead to infection of the other. Efficiency of Farmers Shows Striking Variations. “Have any of you given thought to the average amount of butterfat an efficient man on a farm should produce each year without aid?” queried Mr B. P. Connell, of the Department of Agriculture, in opening his remarks upon the regulation of feed. A survey in the Manawatu last year I had shown that the amounts varied from 33001b5. to 11,4801b5. That was a .significant variation of efficiency, but figures could be quoted to show that this descrepancy was not peculiar to the Manawatu, but was typical of conditions throughout the Dominion, and particularly in the North Island. Similar variations were evident in the production of pigs. One farm in the Manawatu had last year littered an average of 14 pigs per sow from 14 sows, whereas the Dominion average, not per year but per litted, was nnly 6. Why did management vary so greatly? The chief reason lay ,iir feeding, both for pigs and cows. A cow required so many tons of grass a year for “maintenance” purposes, and feed beyond that went to the production of butterfat. If a cow was fed only a few tons beyond what she required for then her yield must be small. If on the contrary a large amount of feed beyond the maintenance ration was allowed the cow, her yield would go up. Thus it was apparent how two men with the same amount of feed available got vastly different terms. It was better to feed a few cows well than a lot poorly. In poor feeding only about 33 per cent, went into production, but in generous feeding this figure would go up to 57 per cent. The great trouble in New Zealand was too much feed at one period and too little at another. This was the primary cause. Too much reliance was placed on direct grass feeding. This was once the sign of good farming, but things had changed radically. Special Crops Helpful. There were several remedies. Ensilage was one. Relatively, however, it had a low milk producing value, being inferior to soft turnips and other crops. At present there was a lot of unnecessary waste in making it. Topdressing was another modification of the feeding system. But, while it gave feed in winter, it was a failure to the end of equalising the feed supply between summer and winter. Autumn topdressing gave an unduly high spring yield of grass, increasing the periodical discrepancies.' There was also to be considered the growing of special crops, which hitherto had been too much neglected. Lucerne had many merits, and recently there had been a pleasing increase in lucerne acreage throughout New Zealand, particularly in the sandy areas where it was most serviceable. Mangolds was another crop insufficiently cultivated. For years competitions had attracted crops up to 100 tons, while the average was 50 tons. Any crop at this level was highly payable. With more care such yields could be extensively gained. Faithful cultivation was essential.

It was often contended, said Mr Connell, that special cropping did not pay, but this applied only to the minority of farms -where labour was the problem. In the majority of cases an extension of the use of special ' crops could profitably be made. At the conclusion of the addresses, afternoon tea was dispensed by a ladies’ committee headed by Mrs Russell and Miss J. Russell. A vote of appreciation to the speakers, to Mr and Mrs Russell for their hospitality, and to the ladies for the refreshments, was voiced by Mr J. Smith, a vicepresident of the Jersey Club. Mr Stevenson, for the High Schools’ Board of Governors, offered thanks for the opportunity given the pupils of participating in the instruction. Mr H. J. Lancaster expressed pleasure at the boys’ presence, stressing ‘he im-

perative need of early practical education for any career. Mr Russell, in acknowledging the vote of appreciation, paid a tribute to the ladies’ committee that had assisted Mrs Russell. He gave a reminder of the club’s annual reunion in show week (June). A special vote of thanks was accorded the secretary, Mr. E. G. Dobson;