NAURU PHOSPHATES

Otago Witness, Issue 3514, 19 July 1921, Page 8

NAURU PHOSPHATES

QUESTION OF PURITY. DEPUTATION TO lION \V NOS WORTHY. _ ~ B.UOLUTHA, July 14. Ihe question of Nauru phosphates was broiii.'}]{ before tlie Hon. W. Nosworthy (Minister of Agriculture) at Balclutha tonay by a deputation from the Farmers’ Union. Air Anderson stated that tho quality of artificial manures, as supplied to farmers, was often poor, and phosphates showed a great percentage of what was neither more nor less than rubbish. He pointed out that the percentage of value in Nauru phosphates was known, and he asked the Minister if some check could not ho imposed to prevent any danger of undue dilution being resorted to by manufacturers. Mr Nosworthy, in reply, spoke very plainly, indicating that he was prepared to go to a great length to protect the farmers against an unsatisfactory article. He pointed out that as yet not a great deid of Nauru phosphate had been imported, manufacturers having had large supplies on order from other islands. Owing to Nauru not being available til! recently, these supplies had been obtained at a higb oosU the result being that manufacturers continued to sell at a high figure. He ‘was watching the position very carefully. He had proposed bringing in a Fertiliser Bill last session, but had had to abandon the idea, owing to the amount of legislation to lie dealt with. In a short time the Department he presided over would have its instructions, and manufacturers who did not sell what they undertook would be liable to severe trouble. Supplies for manufacture would only be available from the Government, and any firm not supplying a genuine artie'e would have to go out of the business. The Minister added that if it should become necessary, a Government plant would be set up in each Island. Tho Government would not allow the farmer to be exploited. The manufacturers would have to play the game, and the Department would see that they did play it.

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

An adequate turnip crop in Otago-South-laiid brings to mind the old proverb, “A good root year means a bod .ambing year.” Yet there is not sufficient reason why farmers who have any idea of how to look after a ewe flock should be at raid of feeding roots to in-lamb ewes. One has but to avoid giving an exclusive diet of roots. Two many roots and but little exercise will in all probability prove fatal, or at least hamper the well development of the foetus. Jn-lamb ewes if left on roots for several hours, and then turned off, will lie about if allowed to do so till the time to go back on the turnips—not, as on pasture, where they have to fossick for tucker. They simply gorge themselves, and then rest awhi.e, well knowing that there are roots waiting them on the other side of the fence. This is fatal treatment on flat land, and bad enough on land which is rough. Gorging constantly to repletion upsets the digestive organs, and may cause rupture of the muscular wall cf the abdomen, associated with a dead foetus, and danger to the ewe in parturition. What really happens is a mechanical hurt as gestation advances. If given daily a weight of bulky, innutritions food may prove too much for the abdominal walls. The distension of the digestive organs caused by bulky, cold material like turnips may cause premature births. Roots, although not an ideal feed for in-lamb ewes. will, on the other hand, do them capitably if fed in moderation with some dry feed, and provided enough exercise is assured. With a view of settling any disputes that might arise relative to animals alleged to have been shown out of their class from the age standpoint, the management of the International Live Stock Kxpesition, United States, has adopted the following specifications as a basis of determining the age of cattle: —- An animal of 12 months shall have all of its milk calf) incisor teeth in place. At 15 months the centre pair of incisor milk teeth may be replaced by centre pair of permanent incisors (pinchers), the latter teeth being through the gums, but not yet in wear. The middle pair of permanent incisors at 18 months should be fully up in, wear, but the next pair (first intermediate) not yet cut through the gums. The mouth at two years will show two middle permanent ibroad) incisors fully up and in wear, and the next pair (first intermediate) well up but not in wear. The mouth at 50 months old may show six broad, permanent incisors, the middle and first intermediate pairs fully up in wear, and the ncx't pair (second intermediate) well up, but not in wear. Three pairs of broad teeth should be fully up and in wear at three years, and the corner milk teeth may be shed or ©bedding, with the corner permanent teeth just appearing through the gums. At 39 months three pairs of broad teeth will be fully up and in wear, and the corner teeth (incisors) through the gums, but not in wear. These specifications are based upon a large number of observations respecting animals of various ages, and may be used by those who purchase young animals to use permanently in their herds as a means of determining their ages should they be in doubt as to their being such as they were represented to be by the sellers Of course, animals that are well fed and forced to early maturity from forced feeding frequently have their teeth appear considerably before the usual time, but the foregoing specifications may be relied upon as a good guide. A matter of a few months does not make much difference, except in very young animals. The essential thing necessary for a. young pig is a varied diet. 'Jdio pig has a wide range of taste, and from birth to maturity he is usually endowed with a healthy appetite; but owners not infrequently forget that pigs of all ages cannot be fed to advantage on similar rations. The food for the young, growing animal and for the fattening and breeding stock should be very different, and it la wise to make a correct, start off. The first three months of a pig’s life are particularly critical, as indeed with all young farm, stock. He relishes a run on a paddock cl roots or clovers or grass, with a supple-

Roots End n-lamb Ewes.

Age ol Cattle.

The Young Pg,

mentary feed of oats or barley. The paddock provides the exercise for healthy development., while the food he gets there, together with the meal of oats or barley, provide the nutrition that go to build up the frame and the flesh of the growing pig. It may not perhaps be practical to feed skim-milk to the pig nowadays: but there is no animal so responsive to this addition to his feed as the young pig after weaning. Quite recently an agreement between the meat-packers and their emWages and ployoes has been arrived at, Costs of Living, by which the latter have accepted a small reduction of wages. The Secretaries of Agriculture, Oonmierce, and Labour negotiated in Washington with some success apparently, as the Labour leaders yielded to representations to the. effect that in view of the decline in the cost of living and the fall in prices of live stock handled by packing houses, wages ought to come down. These packing house wages went up 100 per cent, during the war, with equal pace, no’doubt, as live stock and packing house products. During the past 12 months, however, cattle, 6heep, and pigs have fallen to nearly prewar prices—indeed when - freight rates are considered, the producer in many instances receives less than pre-war prices, although his costs are higher. Meats have been reduced, and such by-products as hides are below pre-war prices. Fair play requires, one would think, that the compensation of workers in all industries shall rise and fall together When it does employment is not disturbed, as the interchange of products can go on; otherwise there is trouble and unemployment. AGRICOLA. PROFITABLE MILK PRODUCTION. Mr A. A. Dowell, of the Alberta Univer sity, is convinced that breeding counts In every branch of the live stock industry, but is never as quickly or accurately measured as in the performance at the pail. He declares that it is even more important to note the conformation of the young heifer than would be necessary with mature cows, for here the mammary system ■is comparatively undeveloped. Remem ber that the rump should be long, level, and wide. If drooping, the udder will be forced down and forward, giving a pendulous, bottle-shaped appearance. Lack of width above will not allow proper development below. A short rump indicates a short udder. Withal, she should be open in framework and not show a tendency towards beefiness. Heifer calves should be well grown and in thrifty condition, but not, over fat. Keep them out of doors as much as the weather will permit, for a sturdy constitution. is essential to continuous performances. Fortunately the low-producing cows can bo easily detected by the proper use of scales and the Babcock tester. Accurate scales should be suspended conveniently behind the cows, so that the morning and evening milkings for at least three days in each month may be recorded. It is a simple matter to deduct the weight of the empty pail from the total and record the net weight on a sheet, of paper prepared for the purpose. This sheet should show the name of each cow at the top, with the date at the left, allowing space for the two weighings each day. If each milking is to be recorded, then each sheet should be pre pared for the entire month. Many farmer? object to keeping records of any sort, and trust to memory for ail their operations. To my mind this is the very reason why agriculture has been so slow in adopting advanced business methods that have long been an absolute necessity in all other industries. As a matter of fact, if the scales and record sheet are properly placed the milk from each cow can bo weighed with surprising rapidity. By weighing each milking on the 10th. 20th, and 30th of each month and multiplying each days total by 10 one can get a fairly accurale record of the performance of each cow. As each milking is n -corded a snail sample should 'lie reserved for the butter-fat test. In properly interpret ing these butter-fat reports one should In-ttr in mind that richness depends to quite an extent upon the breed, the average of the Jersey being 5.55 per cent.; Guernsey, 5.16 per cent.; Shorthorn, 4.05 per cent. ; Ayrshire, 3.6 per cent.; and the Holstein, 3.42 per cent. The la t-drawn milk is always richer Ilian the first, so the sample should Lo an aV» ge of liie entile milking. A noth r factor to keep in mind is the ell -1 of advancing lactation on the amount of milk produced. A cow giving 25'1> of milk per day the first, month will advance a trifle lint so,-,,nd month, then deciease to around 21l!> per day the fourth month, 19ib the seventh month, and 101 b the tenth month. A good cow should milk 11 to 12 months unless dried off to prepare for the next calving. She should be allowed at. least six weeks between the two milking periods.

When the milk and butter-fat records have been assembled at the close of the year there will be a good many surprises. Some o-f the cows that made a good showing with their large, meaty udders will have proved a disappointment in actual performance. Others thought to be 'ow or high in fat often prove to be just the reverse. A persistent milker with a fair daily record will show a higher net return than the short-time milker with higher daily records, etc. In reaching the final decision as to which cows to keep, I would suggest sending to the butcher any mature I cow that fails to milk for at least, eight to nine months and has not produced a minimum of 45001 b of 4 per cent, milk, or SCOOIb of 3£ per cent. milk. In many herds this will mean eliminating a large percentage, but the sooner they reach their proper destination the better for the individual farmer and the country at large. This minimum can then be steadily raised by proper selection, breeding, and feeding. The aim should be to have the high-test-ing herd average around 70001 b of milk or better, and the lower-testing breeds around the 10,0001 b mark. There is no end to the improvement that can be effected by skilful management. To my mind the greatest hindrance to the improvement of most herds is the fact that the. best heifers are too commonly sold. Buyers are always interested in the herd records, and are usually prepared to pay a premium for heifers from the higherproducing dams. Just remember that a good cow is worth two fair producers and a whole herd of the common sort. The best heifers should be held priceless. As -the young heifers develop and prove their worth, the lower-producing cow-s can be eliminated. In this way the average o-f the herd can be raised much more rapidly than is commonly believed. Proper feeding and housing is just as essential as good breeding. The young heifers should be developed from the start to carry on the work for which they were intended. Remember that the high-producing cow must consume a large quantity of feed, and that this feed must contain the proper elements for the production of milk and butter-fat.