LIVE STOCK AND THE FARM

Southland Times, Issue 20633, 3 November 1928, Page 14 (Supplement)

LIVE STOCK AND THE FARM

SCIENTIFIC DAIRYING. FLAVOURS FROM ROOT FEEDS. Research work in dairying performed by the Dairy Research Institute at Massey Agricultural College, Palmerston North, has not been in progress sufficiently long to allow of authorative reports being issued. However, some *unclusions already arrived at, touching among other things, food flavours in milk and cream, are of interest. A cheap and effective method of generating steam on the farm for the cleaning of utensils has been developed and is recommended as an important factor in the chain of operations ensuring true cleanliness at the farm end of the industry. Experimentation aiming at the study of some factors influencing the daily yield of milk and secretion of fat, is being continued, with particular reference to climatic , conditions, and has reached the stage when there is a colossal amount of data under analysis. While this work is proceeding, study is being made of the effect of different sequences of feeds, particularly in the winter, when hay and roots supplement pasture. Already several points of general character have made themselves apparent. Much of the experimental work at Massey College is, to some extent, similar to that already done in other lands. It is being done here with the object of finding out how far the results obtained in other countries apply under New Zealand conditions. Close observations have been made of the effects of the condition of cows at the time of calving. The good effects of caring well for cows when dry has been strikingly demonstrated in the subsequent milk yield. It has been shown that so long as cows possess the hereditary characteristics to produce milk and are fed well while they are dry, they will attain the maximum milk yield within a month after calving, unless climatic conditions are very adverse. There is a tendency in New Zealand, because of the mildness of the climate, to more or less allow the herd to winter as best it can, but every observation and experiment proves conclusively that the building up of the condition of the animal during the winter ie well repaid in the extra and sustained milk, yield after calving. Always, that is, provided there is ample feed afterwards. Supplementary feeding at Massey College comprises principally maize and soft turnips in the autumn, followed by swedes and hay and then hay and mangolds. Management of the dairy herd has been shown to be a feature of primary importance. That is, of course, recognized by farmers, but the importance of it is not sufficiently realized in sofar as it relates to regularity of milking and careful treatment of the cows. These are but two of the superficially small details, attention to which magnifies them in results attained. A short trial has been made of the effect upon milk and cream flavours of the feeding of hard turnips—soft turnips will be the subject of following experiments. This is regarded by the Dairy Research Institute staff as work of much importance for the dairyman is often confronted with the absolute necessity of providing supplementary fodders. He can easily grow crops like swedes. He is familiar with them. It is a crop yielding generously; hence the importance of knowing exactly what are the effects of feeding such a popular medium. Experimentation in this respect incidentally has emphasized once again the paramount necessity for cleanly milking. Dirt is very closely associated with the production of flavours in milk—even the so-called turnip flavours. It was found that where no care was taken in washing the teats, where the udder was not properly cleaned and the first milk rejected, flavours resulted. Where the udder was cleansed, the foremilk rejected and utensils kept scrupulously clean, it was found that the feeding of a reasonable quantity of swedes during the winter months had no detrimental effect on the milk and cream. The quantity of swedes fed is not large —about 501 b a day—and it has been found best to feed the roots in two parcels of 251 b immediately after each milking. As yet this class of work has been proceeded with on merely a small scale, the research workers preferring to test the possibilities before entering upon a more extensive plan. Results of experimentation upon different methods of testing milk for fat will very shortly be available. In an endeavour to aid the dairy farmer to maintain hie utensils in a clean condition. much attention has been paid to methods of cheaply generating steam on the farm. One such, easily employed by anybody has already been found. A circular pan or “steamer” about 30in in diameter and about four inches deep, has a wooden lid with three steam nozzles fitted into it. The pan, filled with about 14in of boiling water from the electric heater on the farm, is set- on an iron stand over a primus lamp or some similar heating agency. Very quickly steam issues from the jets. Cans, or any open receptacle to be steamed, are then inverted over the jets and after seven minutes may be taken off, when they will quickly dry themselves in a thoroughly sterilized condition. The use of a drying cloth is strongly discountenanced owing to the possibility of infection by bacteria. The cost- of such a device should not exceed 30e—a copper or anything similar can be made into a “steamer” and the results are well worth while. Loose machine parts may be steamed in a wooden box with holes in the bottom, wood being chosen as the material because it better retains the heat. Of other work in progress there may be mentioned the note kept of the effect- of nitrogenous manures on the yield of milk and butter-fat, and the testing of pigs which involves the weighing of the litters of sows of different breeds at all ages in several parts of the country, as well as at the college. Over 300 sows are under test in this co-operative work, and farmers are displaying the keenest interest. Experiments in feeding of pigs and teste of the value of breeds from several viewpoints are also being conducted. HORSES AND SILAGE. AN UNSUITABLE DIET. It is becoming increasingly obvious that silage is an unsuitable feed for horses. A number of deaths, states a journal, occurred on several farms last winter, and the deaths were put down to silage feeding. It may be, of course, that the deaths were due not I to silage but to bad silage, to silage which had become mouldy, or in a condition unsuited to the digestive system of the horse, which is quite a different system to that of the cow. The experience of men who have i fed silage to horses is that it can be fed j only for a little while, at all events. Horses seem to get along well enough on it for a few weeks, even for one or two months, but that eventually they sicken of it, and if feed be not changed, and that quickly, they will die. There is a hint in this for dairy farmers, who are beginning, very wisely, to store silage. They must not look upon it as an all-round feed for farm animals. It is quite unsuited to pigs. For dairy cows there is nothing better. There is no better foundation for the dairy cow’s rations than 30 or 40 pounds of silage per day. But the horse needs something different. Its system calls for good hay and grain, and the man who has good horses, from which he expects to get good work, should see that they get the fuel to keep their bodies going efficiently, with the least wear and tear.

I VALUE OF SHORT GRASS. CLOSE GRAZING RESULTS. The importance of closely grazing pasture is again stressed by Mr H. E. Woodman, PhD., D.Sc., of the Cambridge School of Agriculture, in a paper entitled “The Nutritive Value of Pasture Grass,” read at a recent Agricultural Organizers’ Conference in Cambridge. He says: “Closely grazed pasturage possesses a much higher feeding value than has hitherto been thought. Its dry matter possesses the character of a protein concentrate of high digestibility and nutritious value. Under a system of close grazing and where rainfall is adequate and well distributed, this high nutritive value may substantially be maintained throughout the whole grazing season. Moreover, such a pasture concentrate possesses a feature lacking in many of the farm concentrates in that it is capable of satisfying the animal’s requirements for vitamines and also for bone and milk-forming minerals like lime and phosphate. Closely grazed pasturage is essentially a feeding stuff designed for production rather than for maintenance purposes. That closely grazed pasturage is able to meet the demands of the animals for lime and phosphate is made apparent by considering the case of a dairy cow yielding four gallons of milk daily. Such a cow requires 3Aoz of lime and 3ioz of phosphate in its daily ration. Assuming that the animal consumes 301 b dry matter per day on young pasturage, then such an amount of herbage will contain about 7.40 z lime and soz phosphate. The Question of Nutrition. The investigations have shown that the botanical composition of a pasture is of secondary importance, and that management, involving not only efficient stocking and close cropping, but also adequate manuring to ensure density of herbage and vigour of growth is the primary factor determining the nutritive value of pastures. Botanically, it is desirable that a pasture should contain a certain number of different species of grasses of different seasons of • luxuriance, in order to secure a continuous I succession of vigorous growths from early spring to late autumn. That factor being complied with, it is really necessary, in order to ensure the best results from the nutritional standpoint, to concentrate on preventing the grasses from flowering and seeding. Should the herbage be permitted to grow long and mature, as on poorly grazed pasture or under meadow (hay) conditions, there can be little doubt that the different species would display different feeding values, and under such conditions, the nutritive value would be likely to be conditioned by botanical composition. Under pasture conditions, however, it should be possible to overcome handicaps from the botanical standpoint by combining a system of close grazing with an intelligent system of fertilizing. Effective Ration for Stock. Generally speaking, it is not advisable to feed to farm stock rations which have a nutritive ration narrower than 4 (the average nutritive ration from young pasture grass during the 1925 trials was 2.79, and during 1926 it was 2.82). Thus, even in the case of the young growing animal making a special demand for digestible protein, the correct supplement to young pasturage is not the protein concentrate, like linseed cake, but the carbo-hydrate-rich concentrate, like maize meal or barley meal. A 12cwt cow yielding 4 gallons daily requires in its daily feed, on the basis of the scientific standards of rationizing, 15.51 b. of starch-equivalent, including 3.11 b of digestive protein. Such an animal when grazing freely on young spring pasturage may consume 30ib of dry matter per day and that 301 b of dry matter would contain 21.81 b starch-equivalent, including 6.71 b of digestible protein. Such a ration supplies sufficient digestive protein for the requirements of a dairy cow yielding 10 gallons of milk daily, although in order to meet the total energy requirements of such an animal a further 7.21 b starch-equivalent should be added to the ration without any increase in its content or digestive protein. Supplementary Grass Feed. The correct supplement to the pasture diet of the dairy cow is the carbo-hydrate and not the protein concentrate. The Cambridge results justify the assertion that the optimum results are not possible on closely grazed pastures with any class of farm stock, young growing stock, milking stock, or fattening stock unless such animals are receiving at every stage of the grazing season some supplementary food richer in carbohydrate, like maize meal, barley meal, or even meadow hay. The Cambridge results have considerable significance in relation to hay-making. There is a growing body of opinion that it would be desirable to cut grass for hay at a much earlier stage that is at present customary. If such a practice were adopted a lighter hay crop would be the natural result, but there would be compensations. (1) The crop would be much more nutritious and would be richer in digestible protein. (2) A smaller amount of hay would be required to satisfy the maintenance requirements of the dairy cow. (3) The use of such fodder would lead to the introduction of a smaller amount of useless and indigestible material into the ailmentary tract jf the farm animal, a point of supreme importance in the nutrition of the deep-milking dairy animal which must necessarily receive very heavy rations. (4) Such early-cut hay of high digestibility and nutritive value would constitute an ideal roughage for inclusion in the rations of early maturing stock. (5) The herbage remaining after the removal of an early crop of hay would not be coarse and stubble-like in character. (6) The taking of an early and lighter crop of hay would undoubtedly result in the more abundant growth of rich aftermath, of which the fullest use should be made. UNTHRIFTY PIGS. INTERNAL PARASITES. Pigs harbouring the common intestinal roundworm frequently become unthrifty. Spring pigs that have survived that stage in the development of the worm whereby the eggs -are swallowed and migrate through the lungs in the larvae ■ stage, will now show symptoms of the worm stage in which large numbers of the worms are found in the small intestines, says an overseas agricultural journal. Pigs become uneven in size, unthrifty, rough coated and are frequently found in fits of violent coughing. The long roundworm is the only species of internal parasite of swine that may be successfully expelled. The Illinois Experiment Station suggests the following agencies for expelling this parasite. Reliable vermifuges include oil of chenopodium or santonin. The dose of santonin is 5 grains for a 501 b pig. It is generally given in a capsule with 2 grains of calomel. Oil of chenopodium should be used in doses of .2 cubic centimetres to each 501 b live-weight, and should be given in capsule or mixed with one ounce of castor oil and given with a dose syringe. If chenopodium is given in capsule form, it should be followed two or three hours later with a quick-act-ing purgative in the feed. Epsom “salts may be used for this latter purpose in amounts of one ounce per 1001 b live-weight.

STAMPING BEEF GRADES. SYSTEM IN UNITED STATES. How the grading and stamping of beef carcases benefits both producer and consumer has been proved by the United States Department of Agriculture. So successful has the movement been that it is now carried out in nine cities. The carcases are stamped with a roller stamp run the full length, so that every cut bears evidence of the official grading. Thus everyone down to the consumer knows what he is buying; the person desiring choice quality is willing to pay for it, and the farmer who takes the trouble to produce it gets the extra price he is entitled to. This stamping service is now on a commercial basis; it operates for those who voluntarily request it. Steamship companies, railroads, hotels, and restaurants are said to be specially interested. They buy in large quantities, want uniformity, high quality, and secure the benefit of being able to buy without inspection. Since May last year, 18,000 carcases (over ten million pounds weight) have been officially stamped in the nine cities. At the moment the stamping is confined to the two highest grades of beef, prime and choice steer and heifer beef, but there is now a demand that it should be extended to “good grade.” The ink used for the stamping is of vegetable composition, entirely unobjectionable as food. IDEAL LANDLORD. PRINCE AND TENANTS. KENNINGTON ESTATES. At a meeting of the London County Council last week the Prince of Wales said he thought that the Duchy of Cornwall had made quite a substantial contribution to the housing problem of the day—and it appears that the 2000 or more people who occupy the flats and houses built on the Kennington estates since the war heartily agree with him. A Press representative has gathered some opinions on the subject. Mrs Lock, of 30, Cardigan street, S.E., said: “The Prince is in every way an excellent landlord, and takes a great personal interest in all his tenants. He is frequently visiting the district to see conditions first hand. If there is anything we want done we have only to mention it and it is carried out with promptitude and efficiency.” Mr F. Chudley, of Kennington Palace Mansions, Sancroft street, said that the Prince was a model landlord. “In these mansions there is living an old retainer of Queen Alexandra, and frequently the Prince comes down to visit her. He is greatly interested in the development of this district as a good-class residential neighbourhood. All the old buildings are being pulled down and first-class modern residences are being built in their stead.” Miss Hussey, of 24, Newburn street, said: “The Prince is an ideal landlord, and he is immensely popular among his tenants. The district is being improved daily. The only criticism we might make is that we should love to- see the Prince even more often.” “It Must Be Done.” Dr. Serrell-Cooke, who lives in Rothesay Mansions, Kennington Oval, and has a wide knowledge of conditions in the district, said: “The Prince never hesitates to get everything possible done for his tenants. I know of one instance where a woman wanted something done, and the Prince gave orders that her wishes should be complied with. He came down the next day with the Queen and was shown the plan of what was going to be done. ‘That will not do at all,’ he said; ‘that is not what I ordered.’ It was pointed out to him that if the full scheme was carried out as he had ordered the difference in price would be several hundred pounds. ‘That does not matter,” answered the prince; “it must be done.” “He has taken a great interest in persons in the locality. Among the people he has been to see is Bobby Abel, the cricketer, who was down on his luck some time ago.” ARGENTINA. MARKET CONDITIONS. QUALITY ESSENTIAL. There returned by the Makura to Wellington recently, Mr. W. Goodwin, of the horticulture branch of the Agricultural Department, who has spent several months in a trip to South America, where he stayed six weeks, to study the fruit marketing conditions for the New Zealand Government. During his visit he passed through Montevideo and Buenos Aires, spending a little time in the latter city, the size and modernity of which impressed him. Cordoba, one of the fruit growing provinces, was visited, and also Rio Negro, but there was not time to see Mendoza. On his return Mr. Goodwin paid a buried visit to Northern America.

“We competition in Argentina in the Chilean apples,” he told an Evening Post reporter, “and also in the American apples. We sent 11,000 cases to Argentina with success last year, and they did very well, creating a good impression in spite of the competition, but the prices of the other apples make it necessary that we should make our profit through the quality of our goods, which must be maintained. I saw some apples from the Rio Negro, in Argen-

tina, which were of excellent quality, though they have their troubles there in winds. The apples I saw were, however, very fine, and would compare with ours. The Chilean climate is more like ours. We can develop a good apple market in Argentina, but we must hold our own in fruit quality, of which we must be as jealous as we are of that of our meat and butter. I went over some of the big meat works in the province of Buenos Aires, and from what I saw of their methods of handling their products, New Zealand cannot afford to relax its efforts to perfect the handling of its mutton, lamb, and butter. Argentina has only commenced to produce the best, and its Government is very keen in stimulating endeavours to secure both the finest quality and the most attractive means of presenting it to the customer. There is also the point that the extent to which further development of the country is possible in Argentina is much greater than it is in New Zealand, and that Argentina is a very much larger country. When it is fully developed it should produce more than we do. We must look jealously to our quality. FARM PARS Guernseys are probably selling better than any other dairy breed in England at present. Some wonderful prices were realized at Reading in June, when 28 head from Lord Fitz Walter’s Goodnestone herd averaged over £lO4. Top price—23o guineas—was paid by Sir Gordon Ley for the noted 2-year-old heifer, Polly of the Iles of Goodnestone 12th. Other good figures were 210 guineas, 200 guineas and 155 guineas. A feature of the sale was the demand for animals of Sequel blood. Fresh cows, particularly well-fed high producers frequently have congestion or inflammation of the udder. Many such cases could be prevented or greatly modified in their severity by closer atention to feeding for the first week or so after cows calve. A good practice is to cut down the amount of grain fed and substitute a feed laxative in nature and light in character. Bran is especially good at such a time. Some ground roots could be added with bran. Milk should be drawn several times daily, followed each time by rubbing or kneading the udder. Inflammation induced by garget or mammitis infection is of different character than congestion. Grain feeding should be reduced; a physic should be given; affected cows should not be exposed to inclement weather. Cows should be milked gently three or four times daily. Affected cows should be isolated to prevent unaffected cows being exposed to the disease, which ie sometimes transmissible.

A substantial increase of 13.5 per cent in butter-fat production in North Taranaki is shown for the first month of the new season. It is a significant fact that the increase is all in cheese, which has considerably more than doubled, while butter records a slight decrease. For the period from i June 30 to August 30 the produce which was received into the Taranaki Producers’ ! Freezing Works it veals a decrease of 45 boxes of butter, but an increase in the number of crates of cheese from 1,064 to 2,316. In terms of butter-fat the net increase amounts to 79,1301bs of butter-fat or 13.5 per cent. Produce at present in store shows a decrease of 4,058 boxes of butter and an increase of 1,036 crates of cheese. The increase is put down to the mild, early spring. The traffic in bobby calves this season has greatly eclipsed that of the previous season in Taranaki, but is now “easing off” since the big majority of cows are now milking, writes the Taranaki correspondent of the New Zealand Dairyman. Some idea of the importance of this infant industry can be gleaned from the fact that at Patea alone something like 50,000 calves have been put through the works, and the Waitara works have handled equally large numbers. A matter which should be given more attention by dairymen and which has frequently been discussed at meetings is the necessity for feeding calves for a couple of days or so before forwarding them to the works. As is generally known, the “veils” from young calves are valuable for use in the making of rennet and the “veil” from a calf that has not been fed for a few days, is practically valueless for rennet-making purposes. The proper feeding of the calves is an aspect of this new industry which will have to be observed more religiously both for humanitarian as well as financial reasons.

The origin of the Suffolk sheep is clear and indisputable. At the beginning of the last century there was in existence a breed of Suffolk sheep which had been established by crossing the original horned Norfolk ewes with improved Southdown rams. The incorporation of the form and qualities for fattening well of the Southdown ram with the Norfolk robustness and pure breeding gave as a result a valuable type of animal. In the progeny the purer blood of the Norfolk appeared in the characteristic black faces and legs, and the undesirable property —the horns—was eliminated by selective methods in the course of a few years. In the middle of the century these SouthdownNorfolk sheep were known in many parts as “Blackface,” and in 1859 were baptized “Suffolk.” They have black faces and are hornless, with symmetrically black legs wooled to knees and hocks, clean below and similar to the Southdown iu character and wool, but 30 per cent larger, and with legs proportionately longer.