FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1916, Page 7

FARM AND DAIRY.

At- the Bel] Block mooting- of dairy suppliers considerable discussion tootplace on the question of continuing the Cowtciting- Association. In allowing a free and full 'discussion, Mr. Connett is to be commended, as any mutter that can be introduced that is likely to improve the millf yield loserves recognition and encouragement. The success of the association was proved by the fact that at the commencement of the season the association mnubeied 16 members, and at the close bad increased to 30. This is substantial progress, but the fact that there are. nearly i'C suppliers, shows that many ar- not yet alive to the value of having a record kept of each cow's yield. In some other matters the farmers proseni showed they were very much alive, but some looked askance at the suggestion that they should join tlu association. Those already members have appreciated the value of the work accomplished, and probably as a result of their experiences may be able tc persuade their neighbors to fall into line, and work up -better milk-producing herds.

In this connection the figures.published a few mornings hack of the winning herds in South Taranaki competing for the Hawera A. and P. Association's trophies must have been very interesting to those who make a close study of these matters. Compared with average herds, the figures obtained by the herds ir competition cannot fail to create interest. The writer knows many farmers who were well pleased witli an average of £lO to £l2 per cow, but if the herds can be blended to lift these figures along it will make a wonderful difference to the fanner and the province. The number ol aairy cows within, sight of Jit. Egmont must go into many thousands, and if the milk yield of all these improved by at least £2 per head the monetary gain would be substantial. At the 801 l Block meeting one farmer was emphatic in declaring against the purebied bull. His is surely au isolated case. He gave it out that he had paid 70 guineas for a bull that was very nearly useless as a sire, and the farmer obtained very satisfactory results from an animal purchased in the saleyard? a{ a tenth of the figure given for the purebred beast. Unfortunately it does happen occasionally that a buli, or cow, for that matter, fails to come up to expectations, but there is generally a mongrel in all strains, no matter how good the breeding may be, but because a beast fails to throw good stock or fails altogether the purbrcd should not be condemned. It is quite evident the farmer .ruoted spoke unthinkingly. , A moment's reflection on his part should .convince him that the high standard sbown by the dairy cattle to-day is not gained by the indiscriminate use of any sire picked up in the saleyards, but rather to the wisdom and thoughtfulncs.': of those breeders who paid big money and bought the best from foreign clinics. Probably they, too, have at times secured a beast that failed to perform up to expectations, but if so it did not drown their enthusiasm for the particular breed thej were cultivating. The bull is half the herd, and though the man complaining bad the luck to strike a good bull at a low figi ure in open competition at a sale, there | were probably few in tbe room who would care to build up a herd on similar conditions. Much depends upon the care and attention given the stud animal, and probably if the male member of the herd was given more consideration the results would be more satisfactory. Apart from this instance the purebred sire predominates in the paddocks of Taranaki and it will be a bad da) for, the province if any false economy caused farmers to drop the best offering in sires and adopt an attitude of "anything will do" to increase their herd. Increasing the number of stock is one thing, but improving it is entirely different. Three good-quality cows yield better results than four inferior animals, but it should not be necessary for a milk-testing association to prove that. Tbe farmer's general knowledge should prove sufficient.

CHEESE AND SHIPPING. BOAR]} OF TB ADE'S OFFER In an interview with an Auckland Star reporter, a gentleman interested in the cheeJe trade commented on the probable effect upon the cheese market of the Xiew Zealand producers declining to accept the offer of the Board of Trade for the total exportable surplus this season. l; It was worth while," he said, "for farmers to have accepted a halfpenny per pound less' for their cheese from the Br'tish Board of Trade, apart from any question of desiring to help the Empire. For one thing, "it was worth one-half-penny per pound less to be assured of receiving your money as soon as the cheese was delivered to the freezer at this end. I know, of course, that offers have been received from London firms at Od per pound for the output of some factories, but of what use is that if the facilities are not available for getting the stock to England? If the cheese had been sold to the Board of Trade it would assure ships being sent here to get the stock away, but now the vessels will, as far as the war authorities are concerned, go to the country that is supplying the cheese, and it is just possible people at thir end may later on find it difficult to got their butter and cheese away. Then there is another point of view that affects the merchants. Had the vessels been sent out here for the cheese, they would have wanted cargo to bring out, which would aho be an advantage at the present time."' To thoroughly understand the position it is just as well to state that last year one-third of the season's output in >'cw Zealand was purchased at per lb by the Board of Trade, and the balance in London realised higher prices. It is understood that this year, with private offers at Md per lb, the producers of cheese were willing to sell to the British Government at B%d per lb, and that the buying rate wa> raised to Bd, which was declined at the conference. As mattes now stand, unless some fresh arrangement is made, producers at this end have to face the problem of getting their cheese to the London market, instead of that onus being thrown upon the Board of Trade, which can secure the vessels for such a purpose.