The Dairy Industry.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 32, 19 October 1894, Page 4

The Dairy Industry.

An English paper says : —lt is of interest to British dairy farmers (o learn, from time to time, the condi> tions under which their competitors in foreign countries and our Colonies are carrying on their industry. Victoria is now one of the most important of the competing sources of supply during the winter and spring, and much curiosity was felt as to the results of the withdrawal of the direct bonus on exports of butter from that Colony. The half-yearly accounts of several dairy companies embrace nearly the whole of the season 1893-4, and several of them have been made public. Most of them show a profit, and some a large one; but it appears to have been obtained by reducing the price paid to farmers for milk. The usual price paid during the past season was 3d a gallon, though it was less in some cases. Until recently the price was commonly 4d, and sometimes 4£d or even 5d ; but now it is intended in many cases to make the average only 2Jd or even 2id. One factory, the accounts of which have appeared, paid only 2-g-d a gallon last season. Where the factory Compauies are co-operative, those who supply milk get a small bonus, such as a farthing a gallon, when the profits are large ; but the average price now paid for milk in "Victoria, including bonus where there is any probably does not exceed, if it reaches, 3d a gallon, at which rate there cannot be much profit to the farmer.

SCOURING IN CALVES. Diarrhoea in calves is almost wholly the result of overfeeding. Too much milk will surely produce this disorder, and in the warm weather the trouble may become serious if neglected. To give alum or other astringents is the very worst thing that can be done. It only aggravates the trouble. The right treatment is to get rid of the undigested curd by mild laxative medicine, of which raw linseed or olive oil is the safest. Food is to be entirely withheld until the bowels have regained their healthful condi tion and digestion is restored. This may be in two days, when feeding may begin with not more than a piut at first of milk fresh from the cow. This may be given hourly, and, if the diarrhcea is checked, the quantity may be increased at longer intervals. If the calf is old enough to take a little oatmeal or linseed meal, a handful may be given with half a teaspoonful of ginger finely ground and as much salt. A small quantity of salt is useful at any age to a calf that is fed by hand. The safest method of hand feeding a young calf is with warmed milk, made of the same temperature a 3 the fresh milk, and given moderately, not more than four quarts at a meal for one three weeks old, and generally increased to six quarts, when a little mixed corn and oatmeal may be given once a day. This should be increased gradually uutil a six-months-old calf has a pint twice a dav.