A Farmer's Note-Book

Southland Times, Issue 23408, 15 January 1938, Page 14

A Farmer's Note-Book

A heavy rain fell during the weekend, but unfortunately it was accompanied by very cold southerly winds which caused dairy cows to drop in their production. Newly shorn ewes also had a rough time unless shelter was provided and it is on such occasions that the value of a good gorse hedge or other shelter belt is appreciated.

The high country sheep owners were unfortunate to strike such a heavy fall of snow at shearing time as in many cases the sheep are not in the best of condition after the extra dry season. In fact, in a few instances during lambing time the lambs had to be destroyed to save the ewes which were so thin that if the lambs had been left on them both would have died.

Carnation Ormsby Segis Beauty, an American Friesian cow, has completed her third year’s record with a total of 33931 b of butterfat in three lactations. As a junior three-year-old she gave 9111 b fat, following the next year with 11911 b fat an dthis with 12901 b fat.

Four new 10001 b fat producers from four different states now brings the total of such producers on the books of the American Friesian Association to 258. The new arrivals are Carnation Ormsby Pontiac with 29,0811 b milk, 10071 b fat, 3.5 test at the age of 5 years 4 months. She is the eleventh daughter of Matador Segis Ormsby to have a 10001 b fat record. Mapleon Colantha Segis Aaltje, with 27,1011 b milk, 10201 b fat, 3.8 test, at five years 11 months. May Heilo Sensation produced 25,4291 b. milk, 10061 b fat, 4.0 test, at eight years five months. The fourth is Colantha Rose Mooie which is credited with 24,1901 b milk, 10031 b fat, 4.1 test, at the age of five years four months. During these tests for 365 days 15 official tests are taken by as many as eight different supervisors.

It is a great pity there is not a ruling authority over the cutting of cocksfoot seed. Children an dadults can be seen on all roadlines and sections, some having commenced two weeks ago. The seed is not ripe yet and is valueless to the farmer, but seed merchants are buying this seed which will be eventually mixed with good quality seed sold to farmers. Is it any wonder so many complain of the poor germination of cocksfoot sown? Seed merchants would do a splendid service to the farming community if they refused to buy any cocksfoot seed showing signs of greenness or seed that is not properly filled. This is the only method at present to stop this waste of valuable seed.

Fifteen years ago Professor Collins of lowa State College invented the“horse dynamometer,” which is a machine designed to measure accurately the pulling power of a horse. The idea caught on in the States and in Canada, and many competitions were held. More than 15 of the big show associations have dynamometer classes for the horses exhibited. In these classes the grade Clydesdale has held its-own with the other draught breeds. lam uncertain, at the moment, as to which breed claims the record, but for a time it was heck and neck between grade Clydesdales and Percherons. An interesting scientific contribution has been made on this subject, which shows the relationship between the weight of a horse and the load it can pull. An examination of the conformation of the horse in relation to its pulling power is also detailed. Weight is the most important single factor, though heart girth is not to be ignored. Height and length of cannon bone have little influence upon the pulling power. The Germans have also evolved a dynamometer, and have conducted various tests, particularly with breeding stallions. The German work stresses the importance of. temperament, and confirms that size of cannon bone and height at withers are not correlated with the pulling ability of the horse.

A pony 33 years of age which originally came from Iceland is still working on the farm of Mr James Turner, Balfron Station, Stirlingshire.

The result of the second experimental shipment to Great Britain of lamb carcasses in wraps specially treated by Dr W. A. Bowie, of Gisborne, New Zealand, has been made available. As was the case with the first shipment in July 1936, the carcasses in the treated wraps lost less weight than comparable carcasses, in ordinary stockinette, prepared and exported at the same time. For the second test 300 lambs slaughtered at the Kaiti works in February and shipped towards the end of April were used. Half the number were wrapped in ordinary stockinette and half in treated wraps. The,.150 in the treated bags lost 301 b less weight than the checks, and in addition showed a very slight improvement in bloom. It is gathered that the cost of treating the wraps is about 1/8 each, and that the process includes waterproofing the material to some extent.

According to the Standard Bank of South Africa, the 1937-38 South African wool clip is expected to total 276,900,000 lb, compared with 262,000,0001 b iij 193637. Indications are that the wool will be sound and well grown.

An extraordinary occurrence is reported from the Goondiwindi (Q.) district, where hailstones killed 200 lambs and about six grown sheep on Ulupna, 60 miles to the north-west. At Retreat one of the hailstones was lib in weight.

What surely must be one of the largest pig farms in Ireland is to be found at Clough-mills, Ulster, where Mr A. McGuckian keeps no fewer than 600 head of breeding sows, and sends out over 1000 bacon pigs annually.

Some Merinos of the Wanganella type are cutting very heavy fleeces under Tasmanian conditions. Mr J. A. Wilson, of Plenty, in the Derwent Valley, who obtained some of these sheep from Hay, N.S.W., has a stud Merino ram which this season produced a fleece, of 14 months’ growth, weighing

351bs. A nine-year-old stud ewe with lamb at foot cut 181bs.

Dealing with farm pests in this country is a simple matter compared with the precautions some African farmers have to take. On the farm of Messrs Lamont Bros., Ardlamon Headland, Southern Rhodesia, crops have to be guarded day and night from the time the seed is put into the ground (according to the South African Friesland Journal). Eight boys are on duty all day and two each night watching for baboons, wild pigs and porcupines, and in addition to this a team of bullterriers is kept in readiness for the purpose of chasing these animals when necessary. Frequently these dogs chase baboons on their own, when it is not uncommon for the troop to come home minus one and the others badly torn. Leopards, too, make occasional raids on the Friesland calves bred on the farm, and a special look-out has to be kept for them as well.

An ordinary man drinks half a gallon of water a day. A bacon pig drinks a gallon, but a suckling sow, Cambridge scientists report, requires five gallons or more every day. This is a figure that some pigkeepers will find difficult to swallow, but many sows need more water than they get with their buckets of slop. Suppose, for instance, a sow is being given 101 b of meal a day, and that a gallon (101 b of water is usually added to every 31b meal in making up slop. Even if she is given some roots or cabbage or gets some grazing, the sow may still only be getting less than four gallons of water a day.