THE RURAL WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23203, 29 May 1937, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD

FARM AND STATION NEWS

By RUSTICUS.

WINTER SHOWS The following Winter Shows have been arranged for the present season: June 8,9, 10, 11, 12.—Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society's Winter Show. SHEEP DOG TRIALS OTAGO PROVINCIAL ASSOCIATION Sheep dog trials under the auspices of the Otago Provincial Sheep Dog Association have been arranged as follows for the 1937 season:— Lowburn—May 27, 28, 29. Tokarahi—May 31, June 1 and 2. Palmerston—Abandoned. Ngapara—June 7,8, 9 (Otago provincial championships), Waihemo—June 10 and 11. Tuapeka—June 23 and 24. THE DAIRY INDUSTRY •REVIEW OF 1936-37 SEASON . PRODUCTION IN OTAGO SOUTH ISLAND DAIRY ASSOCIATION'S REPORT Comprehensive statistics and comments covering the 1936-37 dairying season in Otago and Southland are contained in the annual report of the South Island Dairy Association. The figures show an increase in production on a butter-fat basis of approximately 8 per cent, for the South Island, but a decline in quality is disclosed in the grading returns. The percentage of ' finest grade cheese in Otago and Southland showed a heavy reduction, although the butter grading figures are much the same as those reported for the previous season. PRODUCTION For the year ended March 31, 1937, there was graded for export at all % Dominion ports:—Creamery butter, 6,057,443 boxes; whey butter, 59,369 boxes; cheese, 1,243,978 crates. Compared with the previous year these quantities indicate increases of 220,785 boxes of butter and 51,387 crates of cheese. On a butter-fat basis this represents an increase in production of approximately 8 per cent The South Island figures for the two years are as under:— ,

The.above indicates an increase in butter-fat production of about 17 per cent, for the past. year. The climatic conditions generally were favourable to production throughout the year. There was a large rainfall in most districts, with no protracted spells of dry weather, consequently the pasture growth was exceptionally good. Unfortunately the very wet weather experienced during the summer and autumn months has had a serious effect on the root crops, particularly in Otago and Southland and the indications are that there will be a shortage of winter feed for the stock, and this will probably affect production to some extent next season.

There was a considerable increase in butter production in Canterbury, as will be seen, and the quantity graded for export at Lyttelton was a record for that port. QUALITY OF PRODUCE

Judging by the grading results there has been an appreciable improvement in the quality of the Dominion's butter output in the past year. An analysis of the totals gives the following comparison with the previous year:—

Finest. First. Second. % % % 1935-36 .. .. 76.36 22.36 1.28 1936-37 .. .. 7846 20,34 1.00 The relative particulars for the North and South Islands for the past year are as follows: Finest. First. Second. % % % North Island 78.38 20.69 .93 South Island 85.60 11.57 2.83 We are pleased to note the large proportion of the South Island output that secures finest grade, but should like to see the percentage classed as second grade reduced. Analysis of gradings at South Island

The high standard of quality attained by ttie Canterbury and Westland factories who ship through Lyttelton reflects considerable credit on their suppliers, and also on the factory management and the local dairy instructors. In comparison Southland occupies a very poor position We feel sure the cream suopliers in the southern province will not be satisfled to allow the present state of affairs to continue, and now that the matter has been brought to their notice*, will take steps-to rectify the position.

ftcma «f inttmt to tlioio engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuit*, •rith a view to their publication in these columns, irnll be welcomed Tbajr shostld be addrmued to Rusticus, Otago Daily Times, Dunadfad

The following is an analysis of the cheese gradings for the year:—

The finest grade percentages for the previous year were:—Dominion, 19.93; North Island, 17.43: South Island, 32.65.

There has been a decided improvement in the quality of the North Island product in the last five years, the percentage of finest grade having risen from 12 to 19i. On the other hand, we regret to say, the quality of the South Island output, according to the grading results, shows a serious decline. In 1931-32 we had 61 per cent, finest grade, whereas for the past year only 28.7 per cent, of the output reached that standard. Finest Grade. 1931-32. 1936-37. North Island .... 12 19.28 South Island .. .. 61 28.70

It is incredible to us that there should be such a tremendous drop in the quality of our cheese as is indicated above. We are not aware that the conditions under which the milk is produced on the farms are not as good as they were five years ago, and we believe that the methods of manufacture at the factories and the efficiency of the staffs have improved. The quality of the materials used in the manufacture of the cheese is definitely better. In Otago the percentage of finest grade has dropped from 66 in 1931-32 to 39 last year, and in Southland the decline is more pronounced still, from 64 to 25.'

The problem is one which we think should receive the attention of the Dairy Research Department without delay. There must be some cause for the serious decline that has evidently taken place, and we consider it most important that it should be discovered. We had hoped that a national system of farm dairy instruction would have been instituted and in operation before now. The Department of Agriculture has the matter under consideration, .we understand, and there are prospects that the industry's request for such a scheme may be given effect to in the not ver" distant future. CHEESE WAXING For the year ended March 31, 715,323 crates of cheese graded for export were waxed,, which represents approximately 58 per cent, of the total quantity graded. An allowance of 4id per crate is made by the Marketing Department to cover the cost of waxmg. This small sum does not encourage the factory companies to wax the cheese, but the department in order to meet the demand which apparently exists in Britain, required certain factories who waxed their cheese previously to continue doing so during the present season. MARKET PRICES The following table gives the approximate monthly average of prices per cwt. on the London market for the

The average prices in April, 1929 prior to the slump—were:—Butter, H3os; cheese, 88s. THE PIG INDUSTRY NOTES BY M. J. SCOTT, 8.A., B.Sc. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE No. 12 • HIGH QUALITY FEEDS FOR WINTER With the disappearance of the milk supply during the month of May, pigraisers who still have some pigs on hand are faced with the difficulty of getting through the winter months, or rather the months in which milk is in short supply. There are many different ways of meeting the winter feed shortage, and most farmers have tried some of them in different years. Some avoid pigs in winter, selling their weaners or stores in the yards before the end of May for the proverbial song, or selling them through the freezing works at sucking pig weights for a fair price. Those who get rid of the winter responsibility make difficulties for themselves in October, November and December, when their young pigs are unable to cope with abundant milk, and they have to waste some of it as a consequence. All things considered, it might be a wise solution of the difficulty, but when one sees the profits that can be made by the wintering of stores on home-grown roots, plus bought grain, it is difficult to believe that having no pigs in winter time adds materially to profit. PIGS LIVING ON THEIR BODY

RESERVES The next way of wintering pigs is to get them fairly well grown towards the end of the milk season, and then turn them out to grass, or provide just enough feed to keep them alive. They supply much of their feed requirements from their own body and may lose up to 301 b weight in 60 days of June and July. This practice has arisen doubtless because farmers have seen that sheep and cows that are starved for these months ultimately recover, and at the end of three months' grass feeding are just as fat as if they had been well fed all the time. The cows and sheep so treated are not being fed to produce a carcass as a rule; their milk or wool are the production that la looked for from them. Further, they are often full grown animals, and finally, their grass feed supply is abundant and cheap. Pigs differ from them in all these respects and cannot ever be starved profitably for any length of time. Usual immaturity is the strongest reason why pigs cannot be starved in winter. Starving usually results in some disease getting entry into the pig's system, and either killing him dr making him a most profitless pig to feed. FEED TO KEEP PIGS HEALTHY It has been demonstrated times without number that pigs can be wintered profitably on a foundation of about lib of good meal in addition to pad-dock-feed, grass, roots, green crops, artichokes, or even ensilage in unlimited quantities. One hundred days' feeding may cost 12s 6d to 15s per pig, but if the feed is of the right kind it converts a pig that was worth 10s into one that is worth 30s, and provides a pig In September that is really worth feeding. USE HIGH QUALITY FEEDS

Where the grain or meal used is designed to provide a foundation for a bulk home-grown supply its quality wants to be the best procurable. Two things only determine quality in a pig feed for winter use. There must be little fibre in it, and it should be rich in protein. Meat-meal is the perfect winter supplement. It is followed closely by

linseed-meals, pea-meal, and then the cereal meals all together—viz., barley, maize, wheat, oats, pollard and bran. Low-priced mixtures are unsuitable for wintering pigs on. Many have been very pleased with the results from these latter meals, but as a result of having seen these compared frequently with meat-meal one has little hesitation in saying that those who are satisfied with the cereals will be delighted with the meals that are rich in protein. HIGH QUALITY FEEDS ARE COSTLY? Some farmers have acquired the viewpoint that they must buy cheap feeds, and set their faces against highpriced feeds. While the department has always preached the necessity of a cheap feed supply it has also stated that the ideal feed supply is made up half of home-grown roots and half of milk and grain of barley quality. It is folly to buy low quality feeds of any kind even though they are lowpriced. It is hard to believe that farmers imagine that they get something for nothing when they buy lowpriced feed. The boot is usually on the other foot; they buy nothing for something. Low-priced feeds are always compounded of lower-priced ingredients high in fibre that renders the better ingredients in the mixture valueless.

BLUFF 1938-37 .. .. 1935-36 .. .. Butter. 25,385 18,311 Cheese. 160,865 146,509 Increase 7,074 boxes DUNEDIN 14,356 crates 3936-37 .. .. 1935-36 .. .. 47,067 43,176 29,923 28,966 Increase 3,891 boxes ■■■ TIMARU 957 crates 1936-37 .. .. 1935-36 .. .. 20,571 10,784 9.054 7,518 t Increase 9,787 boxes LYTTELTON 1,536 crates 1936-37 .. .. 1935-36 .. .. 145,856 115,315 14,941 12,570 Increase 30,541 boxes 2,371 crates TOTALS FOR SOUTH ISLAND FORTS 1936-37 .. .. 1935-36 .. .. 238,879 187,588 214,783 195,563 Increase 51,293 boxes 19,220 crates

ports:— Finest. First. Second. % 9 % % Lyttelton .. 86.3 2.6 1.1 Timaru .. .. 80.8 16.0 3.2 Dunedln . • .. 85.2 12.3 2,5 BluH .. 26.0 60.3 13.7

Finest. First. Second % c i'o % Whole Dominion .. 20.90 76.62 2.48 North Island 19.28 78.07 2.65 South Island 28.70 69.65 1.65 SOUTH ISLAND PORTS Lyttelton Timaru .. 44.14 55.44 .42 21.78 78.19 .03 Dunedin 39.39 60.35 .26 Bluff 25.66 72.22 2.12

past year:— Butter. Cheese. White. Coloured M ay .. . 55/June .. . 107/6 59/6 59/July .. . . 62/61/6 August .. . . 67/64/6 September . 106/6 68/6 66/6 October .. . . 99/6 69/6 66/6 November . . 71/69/6 December . . 62/January . 94/54/6 54/6 February . 86/52/6 52/March .. . 95/6 59/6 59/6 April .. . . 103/6 68/68/-