BETTER METHODS ON THE DAIRY FARM.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 9 June 1923, Page 9

BETTER METHODS ON THE DAIRY FARM.

The experie^r-j of the dairy farmers of the Dominion has taught that the cost of producing each pound of butterfat, which is the commercial unit, may be substantially reduced if sound farming methods are employed. These methods are very definite, judicious expenditure on pasture improvement and the provision of supplementary forage

crops and roots, such as maize, millet, Italian rye grass, cereals (as oats to cut green) and turnips, and, where the land is suitable, lucerne. By these means the production of the herd may be increased very largely. It is claimed that the improved pasture and more liberal feeding have provided an increase in butter-fat up to even 40 .per cent. This is well deserving consideration. We can all bear witness that on many farms the pasture has been changed out of recognition by topdressing that has cost but a comparatively small sum of money, and there are innumerable instances of the greatly increased milk yield because the quality of the pastures has been so improved. These are facts that indicatean increased return from the herd without too great a cost, and this may be assured without an undue departure from usual farm practice.

It should be unnecessary, now that the value of herd-testing is so manifest, to discuss that system at length; it is every year securing a wider appreciation, and now that the Dairy Associations are so energetically facilitating the system there should be no untested herds in the Dominion. There is no other way of ascertaining whether or not certain cows are being kept at a loss. The tested herd, the improved pasture, the better feeding that the supplementary crops provide, are the means that will effect a vast improvement in the industry of the dairy farm. '