FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1923, Page 10

FARM AND DAIRY.

PECULIAR DAIRYING PERIOD; MORE FEED, LESS SUPPLY. It is a remarkable fact though the farms round Morrinsville are carrying more stock there is more feed on the pastures than there has been during a corresponding period for many years past. It is remarkable, also, that, despite the abundance of feed the butterfat returns have gone down more quickly than has even been the case. Many farmers have complained of this, a case or two being mentioned where cows have dried off from flush within three days. The Tatua and Norfolk factory returns bear testimony of the rapid drop. Up till recently the factory returns had been slightly in advance of the previous season, but during the past month there has been a pronounced decrease. The month’s supply for the Tatua dairy factory for a similar period last year was 1,272,075 lb of milk yielding 52,6721 b. of butterfat, while for the period this year the milk received was only 913,0001 b and butterfat 38,9671 b. Norfolk’s figures were 547,5221 b and 23,550.81 b of butterfat for the present period, and 661,9771 b milk and 28,4141 b butterfat for the previous year’s period. The pay-outs were, however, a trifle better. Several explanations may be advanced for this sudden drop. The theory that the farmers are carrying too much stock is discounted by the fact that there is an abundance of feed. The cause may be that the cows arfe coming in earlier this season or that during the past wet period and the consequent abundance of mud, the farmers may have only milked once a day or the better butterfat payments this year made the farmers a little indifferent as far as getting the last ounce of fat is concerned.