LIVE STOCK AND THE FARM

Southland Times, Issue 21662, 26 March 1932, Page 12

LIVE STOCK AND THE FARM

ON THE LAND NOTES FOR THE MONTH. (By "Working Fanner.”) March is wearing away and the sooner the sowing of autumn pastures and catch crops is finished now, the better. The dipping of the main flock should also be completed as soon as possible and the ewes which have been on short rations can now be given a better paddock in order to freshen them up before the mating season. Anythin ewes which are to be bred from should get special feed both before and after tupping time in order to ensure a fair crop of lambs and strength to carry them through the rough weather. It is well spent time giving the feet a look over as a lame ewe will not freshen much even on good feed, and if she does not have a lamb her wool will not pay the board. For long hard hoofs a pair of fruit tree pruners is much more speedy and humane than the knife, but where foot-rot is deep-seated a good sharp pruning knife will make a neater job. In bad cases of foot-rot soak the feet after paring in a pickle jar of kerosene in which some bluestone has been dissolved. This is a good disinfectant, but is inclined to make the feet dry and hard. If, however, the worst cases are drafted off from the main flock they can be treated a week later with stock tar and bluestone which will soften the effect of the kerosene and usually complete the cure. The purchasing of suitable rams will occupy the attention of a good many farmers and those who are not good judges cannot do better than seek the advice of a friend who is a good judge and for preference a successful farmer. For the fat lamb trade the Southdown is very popular at present and no doubt they are bonnywee lambs, but a fair percentage are inclined to be rather wee and, as it is by the pound they are sold, that will tell against them when it conies to the annual balance. On the other hand there is a rumour to the effect that a premium is likely to be paid for Down cross lambs and if that eventuates it will even things up a bit. The freezing companies tell us “that is the lamb London wants,” but practical farmers, who, when in England visited Smithfield frequently, tell us that the big, fat lamb brings the most money. Coming nearer home, we never have a lamb that is really fat turned down by the buyer on account of being oversize, although they often turn down ths smaller ones, especially' when buying at per head. The great trouble this year is. to get them fat and in many cases to keep them alive. They seem like the Gaderene Swine, to be ‘‘possessed,” but instead of going in one fell swoop they have acquired the habit of prolonging the agony. During the past six weeks there have been many paddocks of rape and grass cleaned up without any appreciable improvement in the condition of the lambs and in a good many cases those which have been running on clean, grass paddocks have gone to pieces. Whether the seasons are accountable or not, it is an acknowledged fact that lambs are getting more difficult to fatten each year. Now that the growing season is practically over, ditches should be cleaned out and they will then remain free from weeds for a considerable time. It makes the job of looking after the sheep much easier when one can see from one end of the ditch to the other and sheep and lambs are much less liable to get in. Dairy cows will shortly be encouraged to keep up production by being given turnips. If these are given immediately after milking, they are less liable to taint the milk.

A Warning. When ordering turpentine for drenching lambs or for any medicinal purpose, it is not sufficient to ask for turps for that purpose, but make very sure you get it. Pine tree turpentine is the correct kind to get and it will give good results. Many nf the mineral turpentines on the market, though quite suitable for paint work, etc., will kill the trouble all right, but in doing so will kill the patient. It seems a pity that all those who trade in turpentine do not realize the very serious results attending their carelessness or ignorance, whichever it may be. A careful farmer when dosing a percentage of his lambs, usually gives the ones dosed a dab of raddle as a distinguishing mark so that he can observe the results, but if he has unknowingly given them poison instead of medicine, the result is fairly certain and turpentine gets the blame of being no good. True turpentine is good and can be bought, in Invercargill, so that the onus is really on the farmer to see that he gets the right thing. Pasture Cultivation. A strong argument in favour of severe cultivation of deteriorated or outrun pastures in which bent and other matt .rasses . have got the upperhand is the ability of | perrenial iwegrass to withstand treading and consolidation. It is pointed out that this grass has comparatively thick roots which penetrate directly downward, while the leaves and sheatha are flat, and, therefore, offer a flat surface to crushing action, while the seat of origin of new leaves and shoote is situated well below the surface of the earth. On the other hand, the grass species most easily injured by excessive consolidation and bruising are for the moat part surface rooters. It naturally follows that an implement which will tear into the sward does much more damage to the matted rooting grasses than it does to ryegrass and similar meadow grasses thereby giving the good grasses and clovers room to grow. An authority quotes one example of an area which was so severely disced that it was “worked into a morass of mud and matter material”—it was then rolled. Within a period of four months the whole character of the herbage had changed. Bent had been reduced from about 35 per cent to 9 per cent and wild white clover, smooth-stalked meadow grass and perennial ryegrass, formerly present in traces, were contributing in telling amount to the herbage. One of the main causes in the predominance of inferior grasses is under-grazing. A paddock which is evenly grazed is much less liable to run out be cause sunshine and moisture can reach the better grasses. On the other hand, in a paddock which is under-stocked the stock eat down the good grasses, leaving the inferior ones to run wild with the result that these become tufty and unpalatable so that nothing will eat them. Stock are actually starving in the midst of seeming plenty and the better grasses are choked out. Another great factor in deteriorating pastures is lack of fertility and it is a well-known fact that as soon as the stand ard of fertility is lovered ryegrass will soon disappear. It is also a fact that by increasing fertility the inferior grasses tend to disappear, because, although they may not actually die, their palatibility is increased and the stock eat them. There are pastures in many parts of Southland today which appeared to be completely run out a few years ago, but which have been brought to a high carrying capacity by drastic harrowing and moderate topdressing. Many farmers prefer to break up old pasture and after taking a rotation of crops of it to re-sow it, but it has always to be remembered that the cost of - sowing it down amounts to approximately 30/- per acre and that would go a long.way in harrowing and top-dressing. Lamb in America. A Kansas farmer sold seven lambs to a Chicago packing-house. After the deduction of insurance, commission, inspection and other charges, from the wholesale

AGRICULTURAL CLUBS ’ THE SOUTHLAND ASSOCIATION. ( CALF REARING COMPETITION. In connection with the Southland Agricultural Clubs Association's calf rearing competition for the current season, the following is the list of calves which have qualified for the championship parade at the Invercargill Winter Show: — Large Breeds. (Shorthorns and Friesians). — Group I: 0. Dunn, Edendale (Friesian); J. Christie, Tuturau (Friesian); W. McBride, Mimihau (Friesian); J. Wylie, Seaward Downs (Friesian). Group 2: Colin Dodds, Charlton (Friesian) ; David Smith, Waikaka Valley (Friesian); Keith McPhail, Waikaka Valley (Friesian). Group 3: William Wright, Makarewa (Friesian); T. Morton, Waikiwi (Friesian) ; Edward Callaghan, Makarewa (Friesian). Group 4: John Fallow, Thornbury (Friesian) ; Robert Hassed, Otautau (Friesian); William Anderson, Waimatuku (Friesian). Small Breeds (Ayrshire and Jersey).— Group I: M. McFadzien, Edendale (Jersey) ; M'. Frame, Mimihau (Ayrshire) ; D. Weir, Seaward Downs (Ayrshire); E. Fallow, Waimahaka (Jersey). Group 2: Ronald Dynes, Maitland (Jersey) ; Elizabeth Dickie, Croydon Siding (Jersey) ; Thomas Logan, Otama (Ayrshire). Group 3: Gilbert Mortimer, Makarewa (Jersey) ; James Holland, Limehills (Ayrshire) ; Arnold Morton Mains (Ayrshire) ; John McLean, Makarewa (Jersey). Group 4.: Stewart Muirhead, Waimatuku (Ayrshire); Thomas Muirhead, Waimatuku (Ayrshire). prices, the farmer received 3/- each for his lambs. The Department of Agriculture, on investigation, found that consumers, ultimately paid £l7 for the prepared lambs. In the Senate Mr A. Cooper violently denounced the nation’s food distribution methods. Which was the lamb, the producer or the consumer? It certainly wasn’t the middlemen.

At the dispersal sale of the old established Windsor herd of Herefords belonging to the King four bulls and 28 cows and heifers were sold and realized £B20 —being an average of £25 12/6. The top figure was lOOgns.

Agricultural workers in England and Wales have decreased in numbers by 25,000 since June, 1930, while there was also a net reduction of .82,000 acres in agricultural land in the same period. On the other hand there has been an increase in live stock with the excention of horses.

A Reminder. Breeders are reminded that entries close for volume 21 Friesian Herd Book on March 31.

Disinfecting the Cowshed. Sometimes disease will get into a cowshed and a thorough disinfecting is required. This can be done by having the floors of the cowbails, partitions, heel-posts etc., well scrubbed with hot water and soda and scraped clean. Then apply with a brush or spray a solution of copper sulphate (bluestone) 21b dissolved in three gallons of soft water liberally used.

Water-proofing for Boots. Melt together 4oz of beef tallow and loz each of resin and beeswax and when nearly cold add as much ncatsfoot oil as the above mixture measures. (6oz). It is to be applied with a soft rag both to the soles and uppers. The leather should be warmed before the fire and the application well rubbed in. It requires two applications to make the leather thoroughly waterproof.

Sore Teats. The contention of Dr A. S. Alexander that a large percentage of the mammitis cases start from the spider or scab on the point of the teat is in accord with the experience of many dairy farmers. A remedy which has proved effective is to put some iodine into an egg cup and soak the affected part in it.

Cows Holding Milk. Wet a sack, double it, and put it on the cow’s back while milking. . This is much better than punching the cow under the stomach, which only makes the cow sulky and stubborn. Another method is to get a piece of rope or strap about 3ft in length and tie a fairly heavy weight at each end (about 41b). Put it across the cow’s hips. You will notice the cow will slightly bend her back. This diverts attention from her milk. Repeat this method until the cow is cured, which would probably be in a week.

Are We Downhearted? The Duke of Wellington on the eve of his death (1851) said: “Thank God I will be spared from seeing the consummation of ruin that is gathering about us.” Disraeli (1849) said: “In industry, commerce, and agriculture there is no hope.” William Pitt: “There is scarcely anything around us but ruin and despair.” Lord Shaftesbury (1848): “Nothing can save the British Empire from shipwreck.”* " Wilberforce in the early 1800’s said: “I dare not marry. The future is so dark and unsettled.”

Queen Adelaide said: “I have only one desire —to play the part of Marie Antoinette with bravery in the revolution that is coming on England.” Lord Grey in 1819: “I believe everything is tending to a convulsion.” Bobby Burns in his day deplored the trend of the younger generation to frivolity and no doubt as those frivolous young folks grew older they deplored it in the rising generation and the same state of affairs is not unknown to-day.

Overseas Pig Market. In a letter recently received by Mr Eliot Davis in England concerning the prospects of the nork and bacon trade an extract reads as follows: “The top price the Danish farmer was getting for his bacon pigs was 3d per lb dead weight, the Polish farmer approximately 2d per lb and the American farmer 2d per lb. These countries could not produce pigs on a payable basis to sell at these prices, and it was generally accepted that the Danish farmer was killing off his pigs, and before long his supplies would decrease. Although the Danish farmer had grown a certain amount of feed, he had to import considerable quantities and now that the country was off the gold standard it made the position even worse as his feed supplies would cost him more. . . . Although prices might seem unremunerative at present there was bound to be an improvement before long.” In the event of a rise in prices New Zealand’s chief hope lies in the export of porkers, as owing to foot and mouth disease regulations only cured bacon is allowed intp England from the Continent.

MILK YIELD AND FAT EXPERIENCE IN VICTORIA. HERD TEST FIGURES. Government herd test reports in Victoria show consistently that the heavy milking cows give the highest butterfat yields. Out of 99 cows of all breeds which have given over 6001 b. butterfat in 273 days under test, only two have produced less than 900 gallons of milk, and the yields of only three others have been under 1000 gallons. On the other hand, 35 big records have been made from milk yields of from 1000 to 1500 gallons, and 40 more from yields between 1500 and 2000 gallons. There are 19 big butterfat records in connection with which the milk yields were over 2000 gallons in the 273 days and these show an average of 6961 b. butterfat for each term. The 19 records have been made by twelve Friesian cows, and the top yields of each of these give an average of 2172 gallons of milk with 720 lb butterfat. These big yields have all been attained in the seven years from 1924 to 1930 inclusive by such cows as Dominion Queen Mercedes, 719 lb fat; Springfield De Koi, 6651 b; Halecote Oakleaf Fobes, 693 lb; Holland Lass 2nd of Berry, 678 lb; S.P.C. Lenora Canary, 6661 b; Westmere Oakwood Piebe, 7261 b; Westmere Oakwood Duchess 8171 b; Dominion lona, 7491 b; Tarrawarra 56, 6411b;.Bainfield Netherland Sylvia 2nd, 7461 b; Halecote Opera Girl, 7611 b; Victoria Freemartin, 6531 b; Bolobek Trixy, 7361 b; Springfield 9,8591 b; Greenvale Piebe Patch, 6591 b; Bainfield 40, 6391 b. All these except Springfield De Koi, S.P. C. Lenora Canary, Victoria Freemartin, and Bolobek Trixy, were 2000-gallon cows. The top cows of other breeds for the years mentioned were Babs of Somerville (Jersey), 8431b’fat; Poppy of Ben Kell (Ayrshire), 6921 b; Goldy of Strathbow (Jersey), 6681 b; Molly Bth of Banyule (Jersey), 6371 b; Beauty- 4th of Somerville (Jersey),- 7131 b; Fairy- of Willow Park (Milking Shorthorn), 7311 b; Princess 2nd of Strathbow (Jersey), 6541 b; Cherry of Willow Park (Milking Shorthorn), 7371 b; Mercedes Pansy of Avalon (Jersey), 6361 b; Ipomea of Swansea (Jersey), 6741 b; Duchess of Avalon (Jersey), 66Slb; Miss Guy of Tarnpin (Jersey), 6311 b. The 16 leading Friesians, it is pointed out, have totalled 430 lb butterfat more than the 16 best cows of all other breeds. The 12 Friesians which have exceeded 400 lb of butterfat more in their highest 273 days’ term than the 12 best of all other breeds tested in those years. Friesians have two records of more than 8001 b., and six exceeding 7001 b. All other breeds, the publicity officer says, have one of over 8001 b and six of more than 7001 b.

FARM AND DAIRY NOTES FOR THE WEEK. CITY MILK CONSUMPTION. “A paragraph appearing in your issue of March 12 dealt with payment for milk for city consumption in Ontario, Canada,” writes Mr J. P. Kalaugher, secretary ol the New Zealand Friesian Association to the agricultural editor. ‘The statement was made that it is compulsory to pay for such milk according to its butterfat content, the increase in price at about 5 per cent. This statement is indefinite, and decidedly inaccurate. For city milk in Ontario the standard of butterfat is set at 3.4 p.c., and a differential payment of 4 cents allowed for each tenth per cent, up or down. This premium extends only to 4.5 p.c. A very interesting comparison results when a study of Report No. 22, the last test record of performance report issued by the Canadian Government, is made. This gives all records of all breeds completed under government supervision during the period covered by the report. All Holstein-Friesians in the 365-day division had an average production of 140171 b milk, average test 3.52 p.c. All Jerseys had an average of 88601 b milk, average test 5.43 p.c. Therefore, standard milk being sold at 2 dollars per 1001 b, 1001 b of Holstein-Friesian milk reckoned at 3.5 p.c. would be 2.04 dollars, while 1001 b Jersey milk reckoned at 4.5 p.c. would be 2.44 dollars. Income from the average HolsteinFriesian cow 14017 x 204 — $285.95 100 Income from the average Jersey cow: 8860 x 244 = $216.18 100 or a difference in favour of the HolsteinFriesian cow of $68.77. 305-day Division. Holstein-Friesian average production: 115751 b average test 3.5 p.c. Jerseys average production: 77221 b average test 5.34 p.c. Income from the average HolsteinFriesian cow: 11575 x 204 — $236.13 100 Income from average Jersey cow: 7722 x 244 = $188.41 100 a difference in favour of the average Hol-stein-Friesian of $47.72. Friesian Production Figures. “In your issue of March 12” Mr Kalaugher also writes, “the production figures of the four-year-old Jersey, Woodlands Felicie were given, showing that her record for 135 day-s was 44.051 b fat. This is certainly an exceptionally fine performance, but the record of a Frieisian 4-year-old, Totara C. R. Buttercup, owned by the Piri Land Co. of Orini, Waikato, Is considerably better. Totara C.R. Buttercup, calving as a senior 2-year-old, produced 7901 b. fat; then calving as a senior 3-year-old she produced 890.101 b fat (a N.Z. record for all breeds) ; and calving as a senior 4-year-old, her production reads:

“It will he seen that Woodlands Felicie’s best, months were 110.241 b for November, 107.181 b December. "and Toiara C.R. Buttercup’s wore 123.841 b and 125.711 b respectively for the same months. Another Friesian 4-yenr old heifer; Rosevale Queen Paphne Sylvia, owned by T. Sherrill of Can deboy e. Temuka. produced 108.,51b fat in 28 days in November, and 111.061 b fat in December, 1931.” Interesting Comparison. Mr Hugh White of Kuku, Ohau, Manawatu, has a grade Friesian herd on his 37| acre farm. Last season his factory returns showed 73001 b butterfat. A grade Jersey herd on a neighbouring farm of 42 acres on the same class of land produced during the same season less than 60001 b fat. Fall in Stock Values. A Waikato farmer, Herbert Stevenson, attributed his bankruptcy to a fall in stock values. It was stated in examination that bankrupt owed £B2 to unsecured creditors I and £4OOO to secured creditors. There were |no assets. Bankrupt said he took over a property containing 648 acres at Ngaroma in 1927. He had £5OO in cash at the time and a house property in Auckland with a nominal equity of £3OOO. He did well for I two years, but then lost heavily with his ! sheep. After wintering a flock of 600 hogI gets he sold them for 8/- less than he paid i for them. Of 800 ewes he lost 200 through (•sickness. The remainder he sold for 3/6 a head. The Auckland property had proved to be an encumberance. Mineral Requirements of Pastures. It has been definitely proved that in the “good fattening” pastures of Britain the ash of the grass plants contains a high percentage of lime and phosphate while the bad fattening pastures contain a low percentage. If the good pastures of Britain are good because of the lime and phosphate the grass contains it is even more important, says the Hawkes Bay Herald, that the grass of New Zealand dairying pastures should contain a high percentage of phosphate and .lime seeing that the cattle obtain their sole nourishment from them and that they are grazed on them practically the whole year. Emphatically lime and phosphate are the most important mineral requirements of our pastures, not only for the sake of maximum milk production but in order that our cattle may be kept in vigorous health. Sales of Marked Calves. Sales of marked calves from tested cows have been held in the Waikato for several years past and the first sale in Taranaki was held recently at Hawera.’ The sale was arranged by the South Taranaki Herd Testing Association, which had marked nearly all the calves. One hundred and thirty-six were sold at auction and others privately, the average price of the auctioned calves being £4 7/6 and the top price was £7 5/- per head for a lot of five. Jerseys predominated and met with the best sale. The average butterfat backing of the calves catalogued was 3741 b in 280 days and in some lots it was considerably over 4001 b. Double Stripping of Cows. Speaking at a meeting of the Matamata branch of the New Zealand Farmers Union, Mr Rollctt said that some farmers held that double stripping of cows was _ a payable proposition. His boys had tried it, but had later abandoned the practice. Though the supply had appeared to increase at first, they had not noticed' any difference when the practice had been stopped. He had written to Massey College on the matter and had been advised that the practice was not favoured. If cows -were double stripped it had to be continued as cows developed the habit of holding milk waiting for the double stripping. Certain individual cows, mostly through nervousness required special treatment. These, however, were the exceptional cases and should soon be known to the farmer. Members generally agreed that the practice was not to be encouraged. The chairman remarked that the practice was a fairly general one in America.

SCIENCE IN DAIRYING. IMPORTANT INVESTIGATONS. THE CONSTITUENTS OF MILK. How is milk made?. This is one of the unsolved mysteries of science, according to Sir William Dampier,. F.R.S., who reviews, in the Empire Marketing Board's latest report, the extent and objects of dairy research. Scientists have still to discover how cows turn the raw material—grass— into the finished product of which we make such good use. This report will be of special interest to New Zealand for it answers the question “What is dairy research” and gives a complete picture of the many types of scientific inquiry which are necessary to procure a better packet of butter—or to produce it cheaper. Dairy research covers a multitude of sciences, from the breeding of better pastures to provide food for the cow, to the study of the changes which occur in milk when it comes in contact with certain metals. All fiekls of research are reviewed in the report and suggestions are made as to the most important problems of the future. Sir William Dampier, a well-known scientist who is secretary of the Agricultural Research Council in Britain, states that future research is most urgently needed in the following fields:— Improvements of pastures bj’ plant breeding and by better management—e.g., frequent cutting and intensive grazing. The effect of differences in rationing on the composition of milk. The inheritance of high milkr-yielding qualities in cattle. The physiology of milk secretion. The innoculation of cattle against tuberculosis. The survival of disease germs in dried and condensed milk. The ripening of cheese and the effect of storage conditions on butter and cheese. Economics of the industry. One of the suggestions made in the report is that the New Zealand system of payment of inilk on the basis of butterfat content instead of purely by volume should be adopted in the United Kingdom. It is also suggested that the New Zealand test fdr adulteration —which is based on the freezing point of milk—may be fairer than the British test (which is based on fat and total solids percentages), and that an enquiry into the pros and cons of adopting the New Zealand method should be made by British experts. Another recommendation is that, cold storage plant should be installed at the National Institute for Research in Dairying at Reading, so that conditions of transport and storage of New Zealand and other Empire butter and cheese could be exactly studied. The Dairy Institute has recently co-operated with the Research Institute at Palmerston North, New Zealand, in a study of the ripening of cheese, and in particular of the changes which occur in cheeses during the voyage to London. Science has already achieved results which are of direct interest to New Zealand. In the field of nutrition, for instance, the most recent advance is the discovery that young, fresh grass.has a high protein content which makes it comparable with expensive concentrates such as linseed cake. “Young grass is specially efficacious in increasing the yield of milk,” Sir William Dampier says. “It is now, or soon will be, available in the form of ensilage or dried cake, and more experiments on its influence on the quantity and quality of milk should be made as quickly as possible. It is of great importance to the Overseas Dominions as well as to Great Britain.”

The discovery that natural pastures often fail to supply sufficient minerals to keep grazing animals in sound health is already well known in New Zealand. The work now going on in the Cawthron Institute (assisted by an Empire Marketing Board grant) is part of an Empire-wide investigation of the problem which has its counterpart in Australia, South Africa, Kenya, the Falkland Islands, and Scotland. Science is gradually triumphing over disease, the most deadly enemy of the stock fanner. The report records two big advances. One is the working out at Cambridge of “8.8. G. vaccine, which protects cattle from the scourge of tuberculosis. Very promising results are being obtained although the vaccine is not yet a commercial possibility. The other is the discovery of a method of diagnosing Johnne’s disease, one of the most costly complaints of dairy cattle. By using this test, the disease can be detected in its early stages, and the infected animal can be separated from the herd and fattened.

lb. milk lb. fat November, 1931 2934.7 123.84 December, 1931 3142.8 125.71 January, ' 1932 2893.8 101.86