PROGRESS IN DAIRYING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18678, 7 April 1924, Page 13

PROGRESS IN DAIRYING.

NEOLITHIC HERDSMEN.. BRITISH BREEDING TRIUMPHS. '

BY FRANK H. BODLE.

No definite date can be set for the time when man first tested mil): from a cow and declared that it was good. Possibly this important event took place 10,000 years ago; it may well bo that the cow was domesticated in still more remote times. All that is certain is that Neolithic man, that is man of the Later Stone Age, had in Europe succeeded in taming the wild cattle that roamed the plains and forests of that day. As is attested by numerous remains, many such cattle were kept in captivity. The dairy-farmer of that remote day had his choice of three different species, of which two, Bosprimo-genus and Boslongifrons, in but slightly changed iorm, survive to the present day. The former, much the mora common among' the original dairymen, is represented by the long-horned, shaggy, white cattle of Chillingham Park, Northumberland. This species of cattle was widely distributed and tamed by the men of the Stone Age, was common in the Gaul and Britain of Caesar's time and today, save for degeneration in size, is little changed from its wild ancestor. The hardy little Kerry cow, of which there are some in NorSh Auckland, is regarded as one of the truest representatives of the other ancient species of wild cattle, Boslongifrons.. • Britain's Great Achievement.

So far as can be estimated, all these early cows would be regarded as "robbers' today their yields of milk must have been small and their lactation periods of short duration./ It can be asserted with confidence that the first dairymen of the Neolithic age had in their herds no animals that yielded 3001bs. of butterfat per annum. It was not till the 18th century A.D., that any really notable improvement in cattle was effected. From that time onwards the livestock breeders of Britain set to work systematically to improve their flocks and herds by selective mating. As a result of this steady, patient effort, the British Isles have come to be regarded as the origin and headquarters of almost all the most most valuable varieties of farm livestook, an achievement which will endure when more spectacular triumphs are forgotten. I The cult of the cow has spread far and wide and we in Ne<r Zealand may well be proud of the fact that the Britain of tho South is now the home of some of the world's best dairy stock. Indeed, these Southern Isles bid fair to emulate the wondrefal stock-breeding triumphs of the parent Isles. Dairying Twenty Years Ago. Twenty years ago dairying in this country was a life of endless drudgerythe Neolithic age of the industry hero. The hQurs of work were anything from 3.30 a. m. to 7 p. m. or longer, and 7d to bd per ib. was tie ruling price for butter-fat. Whole milk was carted to the creamery and skim milk brought back. Calves and pigs were then to be fed and cans washed, while life-long feuds arose as to the amount of skim milk eaoh farmer should receive.

Today, things are altogether different. The milking machine has made dairying a healthy and pleasant profession. A man and a boy can, without fatigue, milk 40 cows, separate, and feed calves and pigs in and hour and a half, night and morning. The drudgery has been abolished and the labour cost of winning the product has been cut down. The net profit still of course 'deipends on the carrying capacity and purchase price of each farm.

The Weak Spot in Dairying.

While the selling price of butter has almost trebled in 20 years, there remains in the marketing one fatal element of weakness, curiously enough caused by the farmer himself. Ultimately supply and demand must dictate the price of dairy produce, in London or anywhere else, but within limits speculators can manipulate the markets. Those dairy companies which dispose of their product by consignment and sale to the consumers are endeavouring to secure the best price dictated by supply . and demand. Those other factories which, tempted by a quick return, sell outright the whole or portion of their output, hand to the speculator a club with which to regulate the market price. The speculator is as anxious as the dairy company for a quick sure profit and his considerable holdings may be flung holus-bolus on a alow market and down topple prices. If prices have dropped between the sale in New Zealand and arrival in London, losses must be " cut," the same wholesale clearance happens, prices are unduly depressed and the farmer suffers. Denmark, like New Zealand, has suffered by the speculators' disturbance of prices. The dairy produce market will never be stabilised till the dairymen of both these countries refuse to countenance any further gambling in food prices and sell only,on consignment at the true market value. When this defect has been remedied, dairying, besides being a pleasant avocation" will be a calling of assured and regular financial returns. There need be no fear that the quality product of this country "will fail before any foreign competition.