Stud Cattle Breeders' Page.

Southland Times, Issue 20939, 23 November 1929, Page 15

Stud Cattle Breeders' Page.

HERD IMPROVEMENT PLAN|

IMPROVING PRODUCTION |

IMPROVING PRODUCTION. CALIFORNIA’S ACHIVEMENT. What can be achieved by cow-testing is well illustrated in California, where dairymen have added nearly £13,000,000 to their income in the last seven years by raising the average butter-fat production per cow from 1831 b. to 2391 b. At the beginning of the effort in 1920 the California extension service set up a goal, to .be reached in ten years, a State average production of 2651 b. of butter-fat per cow. Seven years’ concentration on a dairy improvement programme, including proper feeding, breeding, and culling, has brought them well on their way to accomplishment of the goal within the time set. During the seven years the. number of cows under test, in the regularly organized cow-testing or dairy herd improvement associations increased from 30,000 to over 70,000. The work of these associations is the basis for the. improvement programme. From the testing records is derived the information necessary for proper feeding, breeding, and the detection of unprofitable animals in the herd. Other factors in bringing up the average in butter-fat production have been competitions, both in individual production and community records, efficiency studies of individual herds, use of better breeding stock, improvement of the health of herds, provision of better facilities for care and management of herds, and the introduction of better management methods, and boys and girls who are members of junior clubs. Exactly the same thing is possible in New Zealand dairying. Individual tested herds have shown much greater proportional increases than the Californian figures indicate, but the object is to bring up the general average of the dairying industry as a whole. Herd-testing in the Dominion has increased the average yield for 1681 b. to 2251 b. in the course of a few years. The 2391 b. achieved by the Californian dairyman, should not be difficult, and the 2651 b. aimed at, possible, within another decade. STOCK BREEDING. HERD IMPROVEMENT PLAN. APPROVAL BY FARMERS. SLAUGHTERING THE CULLS. With the object of improving the dairy herds of the province by preventing the re-sale of culled cows and bulls a proposal is made by the Waikato and Thames Valley Co-operative Calf By-Products company to market through its organization all culled beef in the way that it has handled bobby calves. It is claimed that such a system would not only do an immense amount of good by checking the re-entry into dairyherds of animals with poor milking propensities, but would also bring to the farmers a good return for their culled stock. The proposal was heartily approved by a representative conference of dairy farmers in Hamilton recently. Mr S. C. G. Lye, the managing director of the company said there was no system whereby the farmer could get his culled cows away and make sure they were slaughtered. For the last three years his own herd had been filled up with culled cows. This kind of trading had been going on for some years, and it was thought some scheme should be devised preventing the re-sale of culled dairy cows. There were only two systems of selling "on the hooks” and on the C-i.f.e. basis. The question of payment was a vital one. He felt more could be (Attained by c.i.f.e. selling, but farmers would have to wait longer for their money. It would be essential to have pools to regulate the costs. The accounts for each district pool would be kept separate, and no confusion would exist. If a proper paint brand. was put on the cattle there would be no fear of lack of identification when the cattle arrived at the freezing works. It was proposed to have a man in charge of each district who would see that all brands and dockets were in order. Mr Lye then quoted the prices which would rule selling “on the hooks.” He pointed out that the “potter” cattle were not wanted and were of little value. “Boner cattle were suitable as second-class beef, but it did not pay to send second-class beef forward. Continuity of supply was required before the farmers went into the small-goods business. Farmers were waking up to the fact that they could handle their own goods better than other concerns. Not knowing what the supply would be it was impossible to fix the overhead expenses exactly, but the company was prepared to take a certain amount of risk. Herd-testing was the only way of finding out if a cow was good or bad, and if farmers, during the next few years, systematically tested their cattle and scrapped useless material he predicted the dairy yield of the Waikato alone would be increased by about £3,000,000. It was decided to approve the principle of classification of calves and that each man be paid accordingly, the directors to work out the details. Answering questions, Mr Lye said he considered it would be better for fanners to sacrifice their culled cows and keep their heifer calves. A motion that the conference support the proposal of the company handling culled cows and bulls was carried. It was resolved that the company adopt the selling on the hooks system for the first season. Mr Lye said the movement was not confined to the Waikato, but Wellington, Southland and elsewhere, were awaiting the decisions of the conference, while the National Dairy Association was also interested. EEL WORM IN POTATOES. • SEARCH FOR REMEDY. Sulphur, lime, permanganate of potash, sulphate of potash, calcium cyanide, dung and dead grass have each, been tried by the University of Leeds in an attempt to control pototo eel worm, in addition to generous artificial manuring, to potatoes growing in infected soil. No real success, however, has been achieved, and at the end of the season cysts have still been abundant in the soil, both of the treated and the untreated boxes; and invariably, also, the crop has been much less than that obtained from identical soil in which the eel worm was absent. Although apparently none of the materials has had any marked effect in restoring the yield to a normal rate, such as is indicated by the control experiments in which non-in-fected soil was used, yet some of the materials, particularly farm yard manure, do effect an improvement. With dressings of sulphate of potash an increase resulted, but only in two out of the three years, when the substance was dried, dead grass dug into the soil gave a marked increase in yield one year, but none the next. Farm yard manure gave consistently good results. The results suggest that the observed increases are due largely to the manurial action of the materials used, but more work is required before the effect upon the eel worm of 'field dressings, especially those of an organic nature, can be understood.

STOMACH PARASITES. PROTECTING THE LAMBS. Parasitic gastritis in lambs, commonly referred to by sheepmen as “stomach worm and “lung worm,” for both have their origin in the fourth stomach of the sheep, causes a greater animal loss to sheepfarmers than it is possible to estimate, writes H. 8.1. in the New Zealand Herald. Besides the actual loss from death the health of affected young animals is so undermined, and their growth so retarded, that they seldom completely recover and grow into robust, heavy producers. The present is the time to keep a watch on the youngsters and, n possible, prevent serious infection with these devitalizing parasites. Practically all our close-fenced sheep country is infected with the eggs, or minute newly-hatched stomach worms, awaiting entry to their unsuspecting hosts, so it is vain to hope that our. young animals will escape infection, unless we take special precautions. The best we can do is to provide conditions where the infection will be as light as possible, and take steps to prevent it becoming serious during the first year when the lamb requires all the nourishment possible to promote growth and condition. Infection dots not take place, as many fanners imagine, when the lamb first looks starey and dry in the wool, and is troubled with an occasional cough. When this stage is reached the lamb is well on its way to the mortuary. Infection takes place as soon as the lambs commence to nibble grass, when they are from four to six weeks old, and though this infection may not be heavy enough to seriously retard th / growth and fattening, it will soon become so if neglected. Preventive Measures. There are various methods by which the trouble can be combated, the most satisfactory being the provision of medicated licks, medicated drinking water, or some fodder containing turpentine, such as pine boughs, at which the youngsters will nibble. Drenches of bluestone, or other germicides are not satisfactory for young lambs, as they are very severe in their action, and unless continued at regular and frequent intervals they do not prevent re-infection. Where the ewes and lambs are running in small paddocks supplied with water through troughs, it is a simple to add sufficient bluestone to make the water slightly astringent, and at the same time put in sufficient salt to tempt the sheep to drink it fairly liberally. As lambs are obtaining most of their drink from the ewe at this time, few will favour the water trough, but they will certainly get an indirect benefit from the pasture being cleaner of the newly-hatched worms. Value of the Salt Lick.

The salt lick is decidedly the best medium for getting direct to the seat of the trouble, for both ewes and lambs take it greedily and with it will accept practically any medicine which it is desired to incorporate. Two salt-lick ingredients which have been found to suppress stomach and lung worms are flowers of sulphur and an infusion of quassia chips. The former is a very popular germicide, and both ewes and lambs take it readily in conjunction with salt. Two pounds mixed thoroughly through 1001 b. of coarse salt is sufficient, for the purpose. Quassia chips are very bitter, but this does not apepar to prevent sheep and lambs taking the infusion from them when blended with salt, and they produce an even better germicide than does sulphur. The method of preparing a quassia lick is to boil 21b. of quassia chips in one gallon of water for 15 minutes, then strain off the chips and saturate 1001 b. of salt with the infusion. Where a pine plantation is available, which will stand topping or lopping, it will be found that both ewes and lambs will stand round and nibble the needles off branches distributed throughout their paddocks. The turpentine in these pine needles is one of the finest germicides, and sheep to which they are { regularly supplied will not suffer from serious worm infection. Care at Waning. The most important time of all with lambs is when they are weaned. In preparation for this the farmer should always reserve any aftermath in paddocks recently cut for hay or ensilage, for these should be free from all worm infection. To wean lambs into paddocks which have been grazed by older sheep within a month of weaning is to court trouble, for these are usually heavily infected. At least three paddocks thoroughly cleaned out with cattle should be prepared to carry the lambs, moving them from one to the other every two to three weeks, and keeping the grass short and sweet. Cattle are the only stock that should graze ahead of lambs, for the obvious reason that they do not infect the soil and grass. Where it is impossible to wean lambs on to clean hay stubble, turnips or other uninfected country, and they must go into paddocks which have recently been occupied by older sheep,\ there is just one method of mangement which will keep down worm infection«and enable the lambs to make healthy growth. This is by yarding the lambs every night. From a close study of the life history of the internal parasites of shep, research workers have discovered that the newlyhatohed worm shelters in the moist soil at the roo'ts of the grass plants during the daytime, climbing up the grassblades when they are moistened by the dew at night and remaining there until sunrise forces them back to their retreat.

If the lambs are yarded overnight and are kept off the pasture during its infection period they will gradually get rid of any stomach and lung worms which they harbour, for these cannot breed within their host and live at moat for a few weeks. WEATHER AND CROPS. METEOROLOGICAL DATA. IMPORTANCE IN AGRICULTURE. INFLUENCE ON PRODUCTION. The influence of weather on production ranks in importance with soil fertility. The former bears distinctly on the latter in vital respects; it influences the degree of natural fertility in the first place, and, in the second, sets in a large measure the limit to which fertility, natural or otherwise, can influence growing crops. A knowledge of climatic effects is therefore of paramount concern to successful husbandry, so much so that it seems strange that so little has been attempted in the direction of systematic investigation into the relationship between the two. It is true that valuable work has this year been in progress at Canterbury Agricultural College, respecting the relationship between the various meteorological factors and the wheat yield. The grain grower, is in a direct line to benefit from these investigations but their influence will of necessity be restricted not only as to the section of the agricultural community affected, but also as to locality. What is urgently required is the extension of this phase of research along the whole agricultural flODtp . ' J ... -

A promise of profitable research into climatic and meteorological problems as they relate to agriculture in general however, is now available in the record of the recent conference in London during the last week of August. An agricultural section of the conference, deliberating under , the auspices of the British Ministry of Agriculture, discussed a wide range of relative subjects, turning chiefly on the best use of weather knowledge in agriculture and the directions in which co-operation between meteorological and agricultural workers in the Empire was most desirable. Some 80 representatives of the three Home countries, in addition to delegates and observers from alf the dominions and .colonies attended the conference, the proceedings, which included visits to experimental stations where a practical study is being made of the relation of climate to growing crops, occupying six days. , Wide Range of Subjects.

The discussions dealt with such varied subjects as education and experimental work, the exchange of information, the effect of frost on fruit, the fluctuations in the numbers of wild rodents, and certain fur-bearing animals, the effect of weather on the insect and fungous pests of plants, and the use of weather knowledge to forecast the yield of crops. Resolutions were adopted calling for further work on all these problems. Steps to develop instruction both in pure meteorology and in agricultural meteorology were recommended, the first in the national systems of education throughout the Empire, and the second in the agricultural colleges and farm schools. The suggestion was strongly supported that no agricultural experiment should in future be carried on without the details of the accompanying weather being recorded. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in London was asked to act as a clearing centre to focus the results of agricultural meteorological research throughout the world and to distribute the information to both agricultural and meteorological workers throughout the Empire. An important set of recommendations related to the effect of frost and of other factors on the growth and cropping of fruit _and its resistance to disease and pests. Fruit surveys throughout the Empire to solve these problems were recommended, as well as the testing of the susceptibility of the chief commercial varieties of fruit to frost damage. .Plant Pests and Diseases. The agricultural members of the conference were very desirous of the “microclimatic” conditions of their crops and pests being investigated, and the conference asked meteorologists to assist agriculturists by devising instruments and methods to measure “micro-climatic” conditions. Perhaps the \most important resolution op pests and diseases of plants was that recommending the prosecution of research into the effect of weather on these pests and diseases so that forecasts of outbreaks could be made and the farmer and the fruit-grower warned in good time. Other resolutions on this subject dealt with the insects and fungous spores present in the upper air and their distribution by the wind, and research into the effect of pressure, light, and the. colour of insects, on their development, was also advocated. Lastly it was recommended that efforts should be made to carry further the work already accomplished for the utilization of weather data in the forecasting of crop yields. ,

EXPORT MEAT TRADE.

AN EXPERT’S CONCLUSIONS. REPORT BY COLONEL T. D. Young. Recommendations contained in Colonel T. D. Young’s report on his recent visit to New’ Zealand and Australia in connection with the inspection and exportation of meat from those countries show a practical appreciation of conditions as he found them. A cabled summary of his findings was published in August, but fuller details are now available from an advance report published in an overseas paper. In the case of Australia, Colonel Young recommends crossing cast for age Merino ewes with Southdown rams, and breeding fat lambs, in suitable areas, for the Smithfield market. This, he suggests, would not interfere with the production of wool, which he recognises as the chief aim of the graziers. Lambs left at the end of the season would make suitable light-weight tegs in the early part of the following season. Cattle breeders are recommended to breed from hornless bulls of the beef and earlymaturing type, and brand on the buttoefc. near the tail. They should cull more heavily, place heifer calves in paddocks apart from bulls until two years old, and eliminate the scrub bull. Meat works proprietors are recommended to encourage the industry by giving special prices (1) for the best type of young cattle two to three years old; (2) for hornless cattle; (3) for tick free cattle; (4) for better branded cattle; (5) for speyed heifers. It is also suggested they grade beef as follows: —(a) Premier; (b) g.a.q; (c) f.a.q.. instead of g.a.q. and f.a.q. as at present; that they should endeavour to improve the dressing of carcases; and give special attention to the grading of mutton and lamb.

The Federal Government is urged to establish a Bureau of Animal Industry, similar to that in U.S.A., and a uniform railway gauge to facilitate the movement of live stock. The State Government’s part, Colonel Young says, is to prevent the use of scrub bulls; encourage breeding of hornless cattle; permit the transport of one extra animal per truck at no extra cost if all are of the hornless type; and provide funds for veterinary research into animal diseases, etc., specially those at present financially affecting the meat industry, viz., caseous lymphadenitis, worn nodules, ticks, buffalofly, and blowfly. Reiterating a suggestion which he stated as' a general principle when in New Zealand, Colonel Young further expresses the opinion that the chief officer of the Meat Inspection branch of the Australian Government would add much to his knowledge by a visit to Smithfield. The recommendations in regard to New Zealand generally resemble those concerning Australia. They contain an exhaustive review of the new bobby calf trade which concludes with the following summary: “While advice is given that calves ■under five days old should not be sent to meat works, farmers occasionally send in calves under that age, which, although condemned as unfit for export, may suffer, due' to lack of strength, during the journey from farm to meat works. Veterinary officers in charge of meat works, police officers, and officers of the R.S.P.C.A. should take an active interest in the conveyance of the calves so as to obviate any cruelty, even though such cruelty may be unintentional. All calves should, if not at once slaughtered, be fed within twelve hours after leaving their dams. The decision as to fitness for human food of veal from immature calves should be made by a veterinary officer, and not, as at present in some works by lay inspectors.” m