LIVE STOCK AND THE FARM

Southland Times, Issue 18623, 22 August 1919, Page 7

LIVE STOCK AND THE FARM

NEW CHAMPION DAIRY COW

£IOO FOE iHE SEASON

(BY “PLOI

GHMAN”)

The intimation received that the Friesian cow owned by Messrs H. North and Sons, has made a new record as a producer of milk and butter-fat was generally anticipated. The existing record was made by the Friesian cow, Westmere Princess Pictertje, now owned by Mr Hunt. This record of 9391b of fat and 24,0001b of milk was very considerably raised by the new champion, Burkeyje Sylvia Posch, whose record for the year is 9831b of fat from 26,2261b of milk, a production equal to seven gallons daily the year round. She finished up her test with an average butter-fat test of 4.6, and 401b of milk per day. There are two sons of this great cow in Southland, one owned by Mr Hunt and the other/by Mr Pirie. The latter is about to export a grandson of Burkeyje Sylvia Posch to Australia. At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Shorthorn Cattle Breeders’ Association it was decided in view of the satisfactory position of the finances to offer five championship shields for competition in the South Island this year. Two of these were allotted to Southland, one for competition as usual at the Southland Show and the other will be competed for at Gore. At the Winton A. and P. Association's re-union on Wednesday evening, Dr.' Gow said it seemed a pity that little or no interest was taken in the amateur judging of stock at the annual shows. It was to the young men they had to look for the future judges, and he thought every effort should be made to induce competition in amateur judging. The President said the suggestion would not be lost sight of when framing next show schedule. The cable which stated that at the Sydney Stud Stock Sales, a New Zealand-bred Shorthorn sold for lOOOgns was an error. The bull in question, a two and a-half-year-old roan, was bred by Parsons and Robertson, of Victoria, who also sold the top price bull last year at 1700gns. The top price for a Hereford bull was 340gns. There were only two consignors from New Zealand, Messrs McLean. Mr A. McLean, of Hawke’s Bay, made top price' of lOOgns. The Awarua Dairy Factory Company, Ltd., has had a very prosperous season, with the result that a record pay-out of 2s per lb for butter-fat has been made to shareholdiera. The supply nf milk was increase ed by well over one million founds due to the destruction by fire of the Winton Dairy Factory (the company controlling the latter is now in liquidation), as the bulk of the suppliers frpm that concern have supplied the Awarua Factory this season. Last year with 34 suppliers the factory paid Is 9d per lb, this year the suppliers total 72. The report states: —The output pf cheese was again disposed of to the Imperial authorities at IOJd per lb f.0.b., an advance of id per lb on the previous season, „,While manufacturing expenses and charges are heavy, yet receipts are very satisfactory, enabling with progress payment of Is 6d per lb butter-fat —a total of 2s<per lb to be paid. Your directors also recommend a payment of 6 per cent, dividend on paid-up capital, ■ which, with bonus, absorbs £2910. The amount to credit will be £237. Forty-six new shares have been taken up, New suppliers must in all cases take up one share for every £2O received for milk during the season to enable them to participate in bonus payments. The property and plant have been improved and fully maintained. The output for season 1919-1920 being also commandeered suppliers are assured still another highly remunerative year. Retiring directors are Messrs H .R. Wilson, C. E. Tippett and F. Egerton. The two latter are eligible and offer themselves for reedeetion. It is intended to make a presentation to Mr H. R, Wilson, who is retiring, at the annual meeting on September 2. The Awarua Factory added an agitator and milk-weigher to their plant during the past year and £220 4s was set against this item, which also included maintenance. Two sales of farm property just reported in the West Plains district are excellent evidence of the upward tendency, in the land market. A hundred-acre block, without a homestead, has beep sold for £47 per acre, while a smaller farm has sold just on to £6O per acre. The sum of £13,497 was paid out to the 85 suppliers of the Kennington Co-operative Dairy Factory Company, Ltd., during the past season. This company, a most progressive concern, is developing into one of the largest in the province. The tenth annual report states that the directors propose allocating the credit balance of £215 14s Id, as follows: —To dividend on paidup capital at 74 per cent, per annum, estimated to absorb £132; and the balance, say, £B3, to be carried forward to next year. The output for the year has been 171 tons. The price paid for butter-fat has been Is lid per lb for the year. The chief departure during the year has been the electric installation, two motors of 5 and 2 h.p. respectively being used. The results have been most gratifying, both from the standpoint of efficiency and economy, Seeing that we are practically up to our boiler capacity, it has solved our difficulty in this respect vpry satisfactorily, Another improvement has been the installation of the telephone, which will, we trust, be made good use of by shareholders. Expenditure continues to ipount up. Insurance, requisites and storage, each contributing tfieir quota. These have absorbed the bulk of the extra id per lb paid for the pheese during the season. Indications are happily not lacking that shipping is gradually overtaking the congestion in the store, which should relieve us of much of the insurance and storage charges in the near future. The retiring directors this year are Messrs Fairweather and Fowler (chairman), both nf whom are eligible, and offer themselves for re-election.

A Mr Sharpe writing to the English Live Stock Journal records that one of his dairy cows has given birth to five calves (all living) in one season. The previous calving she produced twins, making seven calves in two years. He states, perhaps this is a record. Surely!

The expressed opinion of two breeders of purebred stock, such as Mr Alex. Holms, of Waimahaka, apd Mr Angus, Campbell, of Wyndham, in favour of the elimination of grade stock from competition in purebred classes, should go a long way to convince the rank and file of the necessity for immediate action being taken to prevent a repetition of the past practices. That animals of impure breeding in the past should have won championships at both Dunedin and Invercargill Shows does not do the reputation of the Southern provinces any credit. It is a matter for congratulation that only one member was openly against the proposal. His idea is apparently to give breeders who engage in this practice an opportunity to palmrpft the stock q{ impure blood now in their herds, on some other unsuspecting farmer who is perhaps just about to embark in the breeding industry. No grace should be allowed. It has always been a matter for disappointment to the visitor anxious for some education at an agricultural show to find that no comments on the competing animals are made by the judges, men often of repute brought from” a distance. This vexed subject is creating some attention at Home, Written comments are being demanded by English critics. One breeder correspondent has recalled a case where some ringside critics were unanimous in criticising adversely a notable judgment. But the judges had made written comments on the animals concerned- When these were produced the critics were at once satisfied that the judging was correct. The lesson is obvious, What disputes would be settled, and what

DAIRY FACTORY REPORTS

value would result from these important competitions were a proper system of written comments arranged for. The embryo breeder, in particular, would be benefited, but the educative influence would reach lurther. It would attract enormously increased attention to live stock classes at the shows, and would make them the benefit they should be to the individual and the country.

At the annual meeting of the Wyndham A. and P. Association the balance-sheet showed the Society to be in a sound position, with a credit balance in the bank of £57 8s 3d, and assets of the value of £27 10s. As no show was held last year, the retiring officials were re-elected, amongst them, Mr Charles Milne, as president, Mr George T. Pulley, as vice-president, and Mr D’Arcy Raymond, as treasurer. It was decided to undertake a vigorous canvass for new members throughout the district. The annual show will bo held on Friday, December 5. A number of special prizes were donated at the meeting. Every endeavour is usually made to feed milk to calves as sweet as possible, the consequence of any departure from this practice being usually held to cause scouring. At the same time sour milk is held safe feed for pigs. Some experiments by the Department of Agriculture in the United States seem to show that uncleanly conditions are solely responsible for scours, and that skim milk, soured quickly, and fed promptly, enables calves to make just as rapid, gains as on sweet skim milk. Friesian, Jersey and Guernsey calves were fed at different times of the year, and the results were quite favourable to the soured milk in summer, but not so favourable in winter, as it seemed to chill the calves, and some of them showed a dislike to it. No trouble ensued by changing from sweet to sour milk abruptly, even when the calves were only a few days old, nor from the alternative use of sweet and sour milk. It is well known that in Bulgaria the consumption of milk, soured in a particular way, tends to prolongation of life in the human being, says an English writer, and it is possible there may be some connection between the American experiments and the Bulgarian practice. The Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association has conferred/ a high compliment upon two well-known breeders in this province, having asked Messrs Alex. Reid, of Knapdale, to judge the .Shorthorns, and Mr W. Roxburgh, of Castlerock, to judge the Romney sheep, at the forthcoming Spring Show at Palmerston Nortfi. Pay-outs of factories in other districts are interesting. In the , Wanganui district dairying operations are proving to be very successful, and the Turakina Dairy Company holds the honour of paying but the biggest price for butter-fat, namely 2s o£d lb. The annual report of the Stratford Farmers’ Co.operative Company states: The quantity of whey butter made was 87,4041b (16 tons 14cwt 2qr); total butter made was 274 tons 12owt 171b, and cheese 728 tons 15 cwt Iqr, The number of suppliers was 223. The butter working account shows a balance of £BI6O I Is. A further payment of 33d per lb butter-fat for the year was paid on July 17, absorbing £8094 12s lid, leaving a surplus of £65 18s Id to be carried forward. The probable pay-out will be: Stratford, 23.36 d per lb; Toko and Huinga, 23.65 d per lb. The annual meeting of the old-established Taieri A. and P. Association lapsed for want of a quorum. It is proposed now that the Society should amalgamate with the Otago A. and P. Association, which if given effect to, would, in the opinion of an Otago contemporary, “lift the metropolitan society away in the van of Dominion fixtures”

The 37 milk cows disposed of at the sale at Dalgig, Scotland, averaged £4O 15/-, Mr Bruges built up a fine milk-record stock. One of the best-built-Scottish Clydesdale stallions was weighed the other day, He turned the scale at ISicwt, or 20721b. A good bit short of Darnely’s 22401b! The Hereford Cattle Society in the Old Country, like the Shorthorn Society, has been remodelling the rules governing entries in its Herd Book. The new rules, summarised; are as follows; The date of birth of each calf, together with particulars to be sent to thq society within 30 days of birth, each calf to be tattooed on the ear; every breeder before July 7 must make a complete return of all animals in his herd; entries for the Herd Book close each year on June 30; a proper transfer certificate must be obtained from the secretary for every animal sold or transferred. The Wallace A. & P. Association’s annual show will be held on December 17. The schedule is now in course of preparation. A number of new classes have been added, notably a pew section for unclothed and Unhoused Romney sheep. The new classes are: —Ram, 2-shear or over; Ram, 1-shear; Ram Hogget; two Ram Hoggets; Ewe, 1ehear and over; Ewe Hogget; pep oL two Ewe Hoggets; pen of three Flock Rams, 1-shear, rams to be open for sale and priced at £6 6/- each. £25 4/- was allotted in cash prize-money for the Jumping events.

The Battle of the Breeds.—Speaking at the annual meeting of the Jersey Breeders’ Association in respect to apparent rivalry between the various dairy breeds, a northern breeder “brought down the house” with the interjection that he was not afraid of the Ayrshire. “Why, the Ayrshire is only kept by Scotchmen and lunatic asylums," he stated. It is hardly likely that Scotchmen will allow this hit at their national breed to pass without making the retort courteous.

This must be about the latest ; Mr Pierpont Morgan, the well-known American millionaire, according to a States paper, is providing aft aeroplane and pilot for the use of the manager of his 250-mile tract of wheatfields at Harden, Montana, It is said that the machine will be fitted with wireless, and stations will be established at various places on the ranch so that the manager can keep in touch with every section of his territory. After all, why not ? It sounds revolutionary, but is perfectly feasible.

There are two forms of garget, or as the veterinarian knows them they are simple mammilla and infectious mammitis. The former condition is frequently spoken of as garget and is a simple congestion of the udder. The milk How may be reduced to some extent and, as the disease progresses, the milk may become stringy, clotted, and watery. The usual method of treatment consists in reducing the feed somewhat and bathing the udder with hot water, after which it should have a thorough but gentle massage. For this purpose, either lanolin or vaseline may be used, although a good suggestion is to incorporate one part of poke root or belladonna or spirits of camphor in seven or eight parts of the lanolin or vaseline. In infectious mammitis, the condition is much more serious and the disease is liable to pass from cow to cow. All cases should be treated as though they we™ infectious and Such cows milked last. If the animal shows signs of extreme illness, the veterinarian should be called.

After a period of inertia, during which time it went back rapidly, the New Zealand Clydesdale Horse Society has again been lifted into a strong position. Its headquarters have, however, been transferred from Dunedin to Hawera in the North Island —a position of affairs entirely discreditable to the Clydesdale breeders of the Otago province. Agricultural and pastoral affairs in Otago would appear to be in a very bad way in any case as it is a considerable period since the sister province

held anything like a successful summer show. The Otago A. and P. Society has now come to a decision that it is no longer possible for the province to do so with its own resources and intends now to hold a show in the autumn during the D.J.C. race meeting. The horse parade, usually held in September, has been abandoned. Thus Otago's reputation as a Clydesdale breeding centre' has been left little to sustain it. Since the Clydesdale Society’s headquarters were transferred to Hawera, the finances have increased very materially, and although the present executive will be hampered for a considerable time in mending the gaps left by the control of the past three to four years, the future of the Society, in its present hands, appeared safe. Reporting at the annual meeting on the Society’s allairs, the treasurer staled:— They commenced the year with £77 1/3 in hand, and ended with £315 6/2, an increase of £238 14/11, besides which they had made a progress payment of £SO on account of printing Vol. 3, as against which nothing appeared in the assets, though they had included £275 in the liabilities, the balance of the estimated cost of printing. Although they cut down the pedigrees and appendices of the book there was such a long list of corrections and additions, the accumulation of three years, that Vol. 3 would be just about the same bulk as Vols. 1 and 2. There was. another liability which perhaps should have, appeared in the balance-sheet —contingent at any rate —and that was an estimate of the cost of the medals won at the shows of affiliated A. and P. Associations, and which, as had been intimated some time ago, they had been unable •so far to procure. They cabled for the dies a considerable time ago, and received word that they were being forwarded, but they had not as yet come to hand. The number of medals won had gradually grown, and the present year would hpve to bear an expense that should have been distributed over four. Browns Dairy Company are making a payment for the season of 1/114 per lb. Although the number of the suppliers increased from 35 to 36, the report stated that the output of cheese was slightly lower than last year, but from a financial point of f view the season has been a good one. The success of the factory is largely due to the capable and popular manager, Mr M. Watson. The directors recommend the payment of a bonus of 54d per lb butter-fat to shareholders holding one share for every £l2 received for mill: during the season, and a dividend of 6 per cent, on paid-up capital, amounting in all to £1045. The retiring directors are Messrs Alex. Brown, Thos. Finn, and Thos. Mcßae, who offer their services for another term. Mr Herbert Brown has resigned from thq directorate, so his place will require to be filled. Nominations already received are Messrs Alex. Birss and C. W. Eggieton. Last year this factory also paid out 1/114 per lb for fat. The discussion at the annual meeting of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society in regard to the exhibition of fat bullocks of any age has not had the desired effect. ■lt was pointed out by leading breeders, fatteners and butchers that the class served no utility purpose; in fact, the keeping of the condition on these animals was only done at a loss to the individual and the State. At a meeting of the Otago Society’s committee, held subsequent to the annual meeting, it was decided, on the motion of Messrs D. McLennan and H. M. Driver, that the classes for aged cattle stand as in the past. And thus we sec progress again blocked by slavish allegiance to past traditions.—New Zealand Farmer.

An example of how to increase membership of an agricultural association has been shown by the Highland and Agricultural Society. At the half-yearly meeting in June there was the largest admission of new members ever recorded, on any one occasion, in the history of the Society. The addition to the roll, which ran into many hundreds, was not only unique in the Highland Society’s experience, but it is questioned if any other similar Society in Great Britain has on its records anything approaching it. It marks a gratifying revival of interest in the great Scottish " National Society, now that it has resumed its full activities after the war-time interruption. The total number of new members elected was 766, making 1010 new members for one year. The previous largest number of admissions at one meeting was in 1893, just before the first show under the secretaryship of the late Mr James Macdonald, when 421 new members were elected. The quarterly meeting of the Otago and Southland Committee of the New Zealand Friesian Association will be held at Invercargill on August 30. Boggy Rurn Dairy Factory is paying 1/104 (1/94) per lb for butter-fat for the past season, Lochiel 1/104 (1/9), and Hcdgehope 1/84 (1/74). The figures in parentheses are the pay-outs for the previous year.