The FARMER

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6841, 23 April 1932, Page 12

The FARMER

Activities at Massey Coliege

EXTRACTS FROM ANNUAL REPORT

The following extracts are culled from the annual report -of Massey College:— Among the Sheep, Considerable progress has been made with the problem of hairy and partly hairy fibres in wool. .Further information has been obtained on the hcicditary behaviour of the various fibre types, and on the relationship between the composition of the lambs' fleece and the first adult fleece. In consultation with the Council of the Romney Breeders' Society, much effort has been devoted to the working out of mothods which will enable the benzol tost for hairy fibres to be applied to organised fleece testing on a large scale as in the case of herd testing. Obviously the adoption of testing, at least by stud breeders, would bring about a considerable improvement in our wool and obviate to a largo extent the complaints so frequently voiced by Bradford. As a result of a further year's workon the subject of the amount and composition of yolk in relation to the quality of the wool fibre, sufficient information has been obtained degnrding the extent of individual variations and Variations throughout the major part 'of the year to indicate the lines on 'which future experiments must bo planned in order to yield reliable results. Work has been commenced on the subject of feed in relation to the production of hairy fibres in the fleece.The problem necessitates a knowledge of the chemical composition of the 'complete diet, of the sheep under experiment and therefore the feeding of

rations of known composition. Work of tho past year has been particularly valuable in subjecting sheep to such artificial treatment. A large number of specimens of coloured wools have been sent in by breeders during the year. These have been examined and their bacterial origin traced. The more we look into the microbiology of the fleece the more wc find that bacteria, cause more damage to wool than is generally imagined. . A condition which wc arc calling “pink rot” is a ease in point. Arising out of a certain amount of trouble experienced with hoggets in the autumn, a survey was commenced on tho parasitic worms attacking sheep in this district. Most valuable data has been collected which sheds considerable light, on the trouble with hoggets which is experienced by most breeders from time to time. Tho selection and testing of promising types of dogstail grass have been continued in co-operation with the Plant Research Station. Four lines are very promising and are being propagated for more extensive trials.

The Dairy Farm,

The dairy farm is now run essentially as a typical North Island grassland farm, relying on grass ensilage and pasture buy lor supplementary feed. The following stock was wintered on .191 acres of dairy land and 40 acres of accretion: —13S cows and heifers, 39 heifers rising one year, 11 winter calves, 6 stock bulls, SO hoggets, 1 horse. During the year 111 cows completed lactation, the average for all completed lactations being 2851 b. butterfat in 281 days. Excluding abnormal lactations due to various causes, the average production of 83 cows was ,1.121 b. butterfat in 291 days. On the whole the health of the stock

on the dairy farm has been reasonably good and tho same applies to the piggery. It would appear .that tho preventive management pursued has proved to be sound for the incidence of abortion was very much less during the past year than previously, in spito of the inclement conditions experienced during the dangerous periods of pregnancy. There has been more mamniitis in the herd than usual. This is no doubt attributable to two causes: (1) type of food, and (2) changes in the milking staff from those engaged previously. In all, 17 eases have been reported to date, and of these, three cows arc showing tho effects. The stock has been remarkably free from indigestion, although it will only be with the greatest of difficulty this year that this serious trouble can bo avoided. Manuring Problems. During tho year numerous letters have been received from farmers asking for advice on manuring and other problems of a chemical nature. Where possible, advice has boon given, but in tho majority of cases the farmers have been recommended to apply to the local Instructor in Agriculture in the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture on the grounds that these officers have a more detailed local knowledge of their respective districts. A largo number of samples of soil, limestone and other deposits have been received from farmers with a request for analysis. In many cases these samples have been of interest and in some cases, work has been carried out on them, but the practice of giving advice on manurial problems from the analysis of soil samples submitted to farmors is not regularly being followed since local knowledge of a district combined with a personal inspection of tho property by the officers —-both of which are better provided by the officers of the Department of Agriculture —will bo of more general valuo to the farmer than advice based on soil analysis alone. Tho main line of soil investigation has been the exploration of laboratory mothods of distinguishing between soils that respond well to applications of lime and those that give disappointing results when limed. Very little ■work has been done in New Zealand up to the present on the modern methods of soil analysis and it is considered to be highly desirable that wc should know as much .as possible about the chemical nature and behaviour of the soils of the Dominion. The observational manurial trials on the College farm have been continued and some of tho plots redressed. Those plots have always been of great value in suggesting the best policy to follow in the manuring of the farm and have proved of great instructional value to students and to parties of farmers visiting the College. Poultry Section, Experimental work in the poultry section was confined to a few practical tests. Substituting barley for wheat showed that the barley fed pen laid as well as the control pen receiving mixed grain containing 75 per cent, wheat. Fertile eggs were imported from Canada with excellent results. This is the first time in my knowledge that eggs have hatched after crossing the Equator. These results were considered of sufficient, importance for professor Lloyd of the University of British Columbia to report them to the Empire Marketing Board on the grounds that it. offers a cheap and easy way of exporting valuable strains, avoiding the disadvantages of climatic influence on the stock. Tests were carried out in using dried buttermilk, whey paste, and cod liver oil, with excellent, results. It has been customary for poultrymen to delay feeding their incubator chicks for twenty-four to thirty-six hours after placing them in the brooder. Tests carried out hero showed that those chicks fed at onco made better grow.t.h, Mr F. C. Moore has spent considerable time investigating coccidiosis. His survey showed that this disease was prevalent all over the North Island, whereas it was thought to be confined to certain districts.