The NORTHLAND FARMER

Northern Advocate, 14 January 1939, Page 13

The NORTHLAND FARMER

Edited by C. E. CUMING

A page prepared for the purpose of helping the Northland farmer to make the utmost use of the remarkable advantages which Nature has bestowed on Northland, and thereby to develop the most fertile territory in New Zealand.

The sale of margarine is increasing at such a rate in Australia that it is causing real alarm to the Commonwealth's dairying interests. Everywhere there is agitation to have the law amended so more stringent regulations might be brought into force governing the sale of this butter substitute. Now the margarine industry is giving fresh offence to Australia’s primary < industries. The Commonwealth, of course, produces peanuts on a large scale, but now statements are being made by no less a responsible person than the Queensland Minister of Agriculture that staggering quantities of peanuts are being imported, duty free, into Australia from black labour countries for oil-expression purposes. The oil from these peanuts is said to be used in the manufacture of soap, but more especially in the manufacture of margarine. Yet the Queensland Peanut Board is reported to have, been asked by the Commonwealth Bank to consider the limiting of the production of peanuts. In defence, the Federal Minister for Cus-

Disease In The Herbs

(Continued from last Saturday), toms has stated that the Australian peanut industry was protected by very high customs duties on both shelled and unshelled peas. Certain importations, however, occurred every year in respect of milling nuts of very low grade and quality required for the manufacture of peanut oil. The executive committee of the Queensland Council of Africulture has asked for a report to be prepared concerning the importation of peanuts and all other matters relevant to the production of| margarine. Before and After Milking Writing on Milk Secretion in the current issue of the Journal of the English Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Charles Crowther, Harper Adams Agricultural College, Britain, states that it is a familiar observation that the milk yield tends as a rule to rise for a time after calving up to a peak at which it may remain for some time, and thereafter gradually falls. The

time involved in reaching the peak, and the amount of milk produced at this point, depend partly upon inherited factors, partly upon the “condition” of the cow prior to calving, and partly upon how she is fed and managed thereafter. During this period of ; rising yield the current nutrition of i the cow is a matter of relatively secondary importance, since at that time the impulse to secrete is so strong that the animal readily draws on her body reserves for the purpose. This makes : it desirable to bring her to good bodily condition (without being fat) before calving, since even then, no matter! how she is fed after calving, she is almost certain to lose weight during the period or rising milk yield. It would seem desirable that during this period the food supply should be a little below rather than above the full requirements for maintenance and milk-yield, in order to avoid any element of forcing; and only when the ; peak has been attained should the full ; ration be provided. Only record I breaking aims can justify over-feeding

in the stage of rising milk yield. 1 When the phase of declining milk yield sets in, continues Dr. Crowther, there is a tendency for this decline to take a regular course, the drop each month being a fairly constant percentage of the yield of the previous montti. The size of the percentage drop, which is the measure of “persistency,” varies greatly with the individual and in different lactations. The onset of a new pregnancy will tend to accelerate the decline in but this effect is usually only small during the first 20 weeks or so after service. From this point onward this influence of pregnancy becomes the dominating factor in determining the duration of the lactation period, and usually ensures for the cow the desirable period of rest before another lactation commences. Many cows, however. unless artificially checked will continue to secrete some milk right up the next calving, so that there is [ clearly no established physiological mechanism for ensuring a rest period between lactations. Underfeeding i during the declining period of secretion has an immediate effect in lowering • the output, but no system of feeding i will entirely prevent the normal de- | dine once it has set in. I (To be continued).