FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 February 1923, Page 12

FARM AND DAIRY.

PROPER MANAGEMENT. THE CULL COW AND ITS DISPOSAL. (By A. R. Young, M.R.C.V.S., Director of the Live-stock Division.) The subject of the proper disposal of all dairy cows, in such a manner as to prevent their being resold for dairying purposes, has been before the farming community for a considerable time without any definite solution of the problem being arrived at. The -fact that, it is just as important, and more economical to prevent the necessity for culling as it is to find means for the disposal of such cows has .suggested that it mighc assist if attention wei*e drawn to the many and various causes contributing to make up this class of unprofitable animals. Before discussing the disposal of cull cows it is necessary to point out that if legislation is to be enacted for this purpose a definite standard must be fixed as to what constitutes a cull. No progress can 'be - made until this is decided, and it is a’ matter of some difficulty, for what one breeder who has been culling for years considers a ?di cannot generally be accepted a-; a standard for the beginner, at least for some years to come. The matter of replacement is a serious consideration, as the first man's culls might be considered by the other to be as good as his own best. This position might be met by the information of an “A” and “B” grade, leaving “C” to represent culls. With a recognised first and second grade of milkinganimals the position would be simplified but would still leave sufficient difficulties for serious consideration before a working scheme could be adopted which would promise a fair measure of success. BAD MANAGEMENT. Tn considering some of the agencies which tend to bring about unfavourable conditions it must be recognised that the selection of milking strains will not by itself (although it is an important factor) be sufficient without co-operation in other directions, be 'arise, while many animals are fated from birth to be unprofitable, a very large number are not. These latter are afterwards made so by sheer -bad management at some period or other of their existence, and not on account of any inherited anatomical or physiological disabilities. Therefore, although careful selection for milking propensities may have been made, it is still important that every precaution should be taken to look after the animal's welfare so as to prevent her from becoming unprofitable. This can be done only by educating the stock-owner in the most up-to-date methods of stock-management suitable for the requirements of New Zealand conditions. Here is the weakest link in

the whole chain of the dairy industry at -the present time, and the matter should receive prompt attention if we are ever to attain a general improvement in quantity and quality of milk.

SOME RELATED FACTORS. i

Many of the causes operating to make unprofitable cows could be prevented by the stockowners themselves if they would only recognize that proper stockmanagement is both interesting and profltable, and conducive not only to the health and comfort of the animals but also to the owner’s pleasure and that of every one connected with their establishments. It is recognised that a short article such as the present one cannot contribute much to the farmer’s knowledge of stock-management, but if it merely arouses his interest in the subject the object of these notes will itave been attained. THE SCRUB BULL. The use of a bull about whose history Jittle or nothing is known is to be at cnee condemned. True, some use these animals just because they want their eows in calf and have no intention of rearing the calves, but, on the other hand, it is a fact they frequently change their mind as to the selling of some of the cows or the rearing of a few calves for sale; or, seeing a good-looking heifer calf, they may decide to keep her. This is probably a aniall but it is a contributing factor in the production of unprofitable cows, and I have known instances where such a bull did not confine his activities to his own herd, but devoted a considerable amount of attention to adjoining herds.

Would it not therefore be advisable that some action be taken in the direction of registration of all bulls other than purebred? This would allow ownr»rs who desire to keep what they consider a good grade bull to do so; but if upon inspection by competent officers it is decided that any bull other than pedigreed stock is unfit for registration such decision should bo followed 'by compulsory castration or slaughter. This, in my opinion, would be only a reasonable precaution to protect owners who are doing their best to build up a good herd, and would relieve the dread of many stockmen of the scrub bull upsetting their calculations and thereby causing serious delay to the object they have in view. REARING OF CALVES. The calf should be kept going from the very start. It should always be kept in mind that with every setback a youngster gets its general development is for the time being retarded, and concurrently with this the proper development of the udder in the female is also affected. (Evon where the animal is being well eared for, special attention should be, given to the immature udder. If found not to be developing as well as desired, hand massage will be found very beneficial in attracting a fuller supply of blood to that organ and extending and enlarging the cellular tissue. Dogging and chasing of calves should be avoided, strict hygenie conditions should be observed in shelter-sheds, and plenty of shelter should bo available at all times. The young animal should have clean grass-runs and attention as to body-lice. When there is evidence of coming horns, the ‘button" should bp removed by knife or causticWhen one remembers the number of times he has observed calves tied up to a log or stake, standing in a filthy pudd’o and exposed to all eonditions of weather, the wonder is that the number of unprofitable cows is not, greater.' On the other hand, calves are often well done by until weaned, .and then sm often as not turned out on most unsuitable pasture (often mostly scrub and fern), and there left to fond for themselves until they are required for the second stage of their existence. By this time all the calf-flesh has disappeared, and hard, dry-coated, pot-bellied, emaciated, expressionless youngsters are put to the

bull with never a chance of doing justice to themselves or their foetal calf. Here ’s £he double chance of first the mother be«

ing made an unprofitable cow, and then of her calf being bred to be one.

ATTENTION AT CALVING-TIME.

At this period many a promising cow is ruined for life for want of proper attention. Sanitary conditions are not observed, neither is any examination made to see whether or not any internal injury has been received. Where treatment is required and is neglected the milk-yield is at once affected, and such neglect may lead to the animal becoming permanently sterile, as there is a close sympathetic relationship between the womb and the mammary glands. Sufficient attention is not given to nursing the cow over this critical period, and she becomes to all intents and purposes a cull. In this connection it may be here represented that the time has arrived (if it is not long overdue) when all unqualified men practising as so-called veterinary surgeons should .be- registered by the Department of Agriculture, if upon examination they are found to possess sufficient knowledge to be able to efficiently assist stockowners. At present it is no uncommon occurrence to find that more harm than good has resulted from their being called in. Some protection to the stockowner is required in this direction, as far too many men are calling themselves veterinary surgeons without having any qualifications whatever, and misleading the farmer into consulting them. PURCHASE OF COWS. Everybody pretends to know about horses, and, before purchasing, make a good examination as to the animal’s suitability for the purpose for which it is required, even although the price asked is a small one. With the cow, however, it is different; in many cases not only “new chums” but older hands do not exercise the care in selection necessary to guard against purchase of defective animals. In this they are not wholly to blame, as at many saleyards no facilities exist for examination to-.be made. Why farmers as a body do not some reform in this respect it iT difficult to understand. If cows were penned up singly then practical men at least would Lave a better opportunity of examining .-is to defects, especially those pertaining, to the udder. The question of a written guarantee should also be considered, embracing freedom from all defects likely to influence the milk yield that is. defects known to the seller or which by reasonable eare could have been knov.n to him. This would include abortion, vaginal catarrh, and defects of the udder, whether caused by disease or injury. All these Lave at one time or another been the subject of articles in the Journal, and need not -be gone into now, but it may be interesting to state that not of the cases of mammitis (mastitis) reported are of contagious origin. The majority are therefore preventable more easily than it the contagious form. Unsuitable feeding is a frequent cause of mammitis, as also are chilte, which could be prevente'd. or at least not neglected, in the early stages. The milking-machine, although a groat blessing generally, has its drawbacks in that it is a powerful agent in the spreading of udder-diseases and a fruitful cause of injury to the udder.

It is needless to point out that all the above-mentioned conditions contribute largely to the number of unprofitable cows. They by no’means exhaust the list, but may be sufficient to demonstrate how complex the subject really is and how difficult it would be to introduce legislation at the present time which would not leave many loopholes available for dishonesty, thereby giving only a false sense of security and tending to make purchasers even more careless in selection than they are now.

It has often been said that something should be done to protect returnedsoldier settlers and other inexperienced persons against the purchase of cull cows And it seems to be the general opinion that lack of experience alone accounts for their purchasing such animals. This is not always the case. My experience of returned soldiers and observation? of their qualifications to make good farmers is not that they do not possess the average knowledge essential to success but rather that they are handicapped for want Qf sufficient capital with which to buy good cows. Under present circumstances they buy ■cheap cows, trusting to their luck in that a discarded animal may do much better in a new home or do better this season than last. In this tncy arc sometimes not dissapointed but the risk is decidedly against them. Are w6 not, therefore, attaching too much importance to the cull cow’s disposal, to the neglect of more pressing reforms? MILK-TESTING. Needless to say, milk-testing is the primary step in the eradiction of the unprofitable cow. If its economic'Value is to be judged by the progress made by testing associations and individual owners since its inception in this country, then here is a reform which should be heartily supported by every one interested in the dairy industry. Finding out the unprofitable cow is of more importance than her disposal, because even if she is disposed of to the butcher at a present loss this would be more than compensated by the ultimate gain. But even here sound judgment as to stock-management is required in conjunction with the milk-testing, as every experienced farmer knows that tne milk test, both as regards quantity and quality, depends largely upon general conditions. As a cow to do her best must be under the most favourable conditions for doing so, her general health must be good; any neglect in proper feeding is fatal to success. Con-o-enial surroundings are necessary, and the human touch is indispensible. She must be treated as a ehum and a profitable partner in the concern, and not just a part of a milking-machine. Good sanitation must bo always observed; her disposition, likes, and dislikes, must be studied; and, above all, regularity in attendance should never be overlooked. CALF CLUBS. , Another good move is the formation of calf-rearing clubs, which should be encouraged throughout the. Dominion in every possible way, oven by tnoso interested only in the prevention of cruelty to animals, because here the coming farmer‘is educated to take a pride in the health, well-being, ifeul comfort of the animal under his or her charge, thus developing a love for animals' worthy of all support. If clubs committees will guard against any competitor taking an advantage over the others by giving his calf “tit-bits” not mentioned on the feeding-shoot, there is groat promise for such clubs being of immense value, but nothing discourages

children more quickly than to have reason to believe that they are not having a fair deal. DISPOSAL OF THE CULL COW. Although several suggestions have been made as to the best method of disposal, including branding or spaying, none seems to meet with general approval, because the honest farmer who • wishes to dispose of an unprofitable animal can readily dispose of her to the butcher, and will do so without any coercion. The action of many others would be doubtful; in fact, they would neither brand nor spay without compulsion. The spaying of cows has a few advocates, but this practice is not likely to come into general favour, and, indeed, has been already discarded by many who have tried it. The operation should never be performed unless the animal is under the influence of an anaesethetic, otherwise it is a cruel operation, and at best it requires skilful manipulation.

hollowing upon the lines already taken in suggesting a better system of management, 1 believe that the solution of tlie cull-coflv problem is in the hands of the stock auctioneers. The time is opportune for auctioneers to come to the assistance of their clients, the stockowners, by throwing their weight into this question and establishing a special line of their business under the management of capable men dealing solely with dairy cattle. These men could make it their business to find out all about the animals and their records. They could then be classed as specially good milkers, good or culls. If the latter, it would be arlanged that the animals be all penned separately from the others so that no mistake could be made. I have no hesitation in saying that such action on the part of auctioneers would be of the greatest assistance to the dairy industry, besides reflecting to their own credit and profit. If we could only secure the co-operation *of salesmen, confidence would bp placed in them, a groat relief to the inexperienced buyer would result, and the cull-cow question would be settled in the most satisfactory manner it is ever likely to be.