FARM & DAIRY

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1924, Page 15

FARM & DAIRY

HOW TO BUY A COW. ‘•MORE OR LESS A -LOTTERY* HINTS TO PURCHASERS. Many men will give the assurance that the purchase of a cow is “a gamble anyway,” and it certainly is more or less a lottery. Still, there are measures of in buying which will X the z proposition comparatively safe~4f remembered and put into practice. What should a purchaser look for iii purchasing a cow for dairy purposes? The subject is one which will bring diverse opinions but at least it can be said that there are rules by which a purchaser can be safely guided. The attention of an old Scottish breeder was once drawn to the presence of a large bone- spavin upon a hack joint of one of his cows, and when cornered with it he answered,“Never mind the spavin; she has a graun* mouth and poke.” The spavin would have been a very serious matter on the hock of a working horse or upon that of a service bull, but to this wise owner it seemed of little moment, as the cow had a large mouth and a capacious udder. Care should be taken to buy no cow that has not this needful combination, for it is required of every cow that is to prove profitable in the production of milk and butter-fat that she shall have great capacity for taking in large .quantities of feed. A prospective buyer of a cow should beware of an animal that has a long, anxious-looking face and muzzle that Could easily feed from a rubber boot or an old-fashioned deepsetting mi Ik-can. The elongated head and narrow muzzle indicate with absolute fidelity lack of constitution, narrowness of make-up thoughou-t the frame, and inability to take care of the great amount of feed needed for generous milk-making and calf-building. THE FOREHEAD AND FACE. Always give attention to the wide forehead, face, and muzzle. Width between the eyes means more than what is deemed to be “intelligence” in an animal. It is the indication of aptitude of bony development, of large skull sinuses or cavities, of the great capacity for the drinking in of air, and so is associated with a large windpipe and large lungs, which mean much as indications of robust constitution, vitality, and endurance. The wide muzzle indicates a big dental battery for the mastication of feed, and that always means capacity of digestive apparatus to care for the feed consumed. The cow that has large, bright, nrominent eyes should always be favoured. They tell of good condition and good health. Beware of the cow that has dull, sunken, and listless eyes, or eves that are retracted in their orb’ts and apparently swimming in water. The latter symptoms are frequentlv seen in the cow that i« in an advanced eta*e of tuberculosis, while the dulness Is the sure sign of lack of thrift. “The duller the eye the deader the beast.” One also should note that the eyes are free from disease for “pink eye” (contagious ophthalmia) quickly spreads to the herd from an infected animal introduced into tlie herd, and is indicated bv capacity or cloudiness of the eye. swollen or inflamed eyelids and flowing of tears.

THE MILK VEINS. Bear in mind, too, that the abdominal milk veins which carry blood awav from the udder develop with age. calf -bearing, and milk-giving. A heifer, then, Is not to be condemned if she has not a great tortuous set of milk veins. They will come later if she has the right kind of udder and the natural capacity for milk production indicated by other signs already mentioned, together with wedge shape of the hindquarters, and thin, long thighs and long, fine-boned tail. Very prominent milk veins are varicose veins, and it can be depended upon that they will not be there without sufficiently capacious “milk wells” or orifices of the abdominal wall for passage inwards of the veins. The big veins of the big wells are associated naturally and •necef’Mjrilv and develop jointly. An undeveloped heifer that has small milk wells need not necessarily be condemned.

Alwavs prefer the cow that has a large udder well forward without hanging in four prominent pouches, and that is revered with one silkv skin and characterised by four sufficiently large and long teats properly placed to balance the udder nicely. Extra large teats and those that are close together are objectionable. while the pressure of several additional or supernumerary teats also ics objectionable. The udder should be of normal colour, and onp quarter should correspond with its mate in shape, size and colour. Beware of the udder that is dark red, or has a purplish hue in part of whole, or that shows one quarter or more greatly enlarged. Re also much afraid of the that is “hard as a stone and cold.” That is a combination that generally spells tuberculosis, and so <lopk the presence of hard large mash high up at the back of the udder. But do not be satisfied with a visual examination of +hp udder. Sit down and handle every part of it carefully, for hardened masses mean that "<»rget has been present, that milkitg abilities have been injured, or that a quarter has been lost through disease. Strin away some milk, from each teat in turn. QUALITY OF THE MILK. Look at the milk, smell it, taste it, and so make sure that it is normally rich in butter-fat, correct in consistency. and free from all evidences of disease. It would also be well to see the cow milked clean, if possible, and the milk weighed, and to have a butterfat test made. Lastly, a cow should not he bought for dairy use unless she has been tested with tuberculin and found free from tuberculosis, and is also found by examination to be free from disease affecting the generative organs, such as contagious abortion. It would be wise in innuire if she has carried a live calf the full time, and if not ascertain by what bull she has been served and the cause of the calf slipping. It must be borne in mind that a disease-free herd is often contaminated bv a newcomer, and that the introduction of disease may be responsible for very heavy losses in the animals themselves. the loss of the calves, and a decreased milk yield. Extreme precaution in the purchase of a new cow m.v possibly avert disaster. —Auckland Herald

DAIRY STOCK FEEDING. FEED IFOR THREE PURPOSES. Mr J. A. McLean, an American Guernsey cattle breeder of repute, tells us that a cow needs food for three distinct purposes. The first law of life is self preservation, and so the first demand that every cow makes upon its food supply is to keep up her own body. If the food supply is very scant she will cease giving milk, but she will live and be in fairly normal condition. This amount of food required to keep the animal’s body in normal healthy condition is called the maintenance requirement, and is a demand that will always be met. It is equivalent to nearly ten pounds of grain in the case of a 10001 b cow, or may generally be considered as about one-half of her entire ration when a cow is well fed. The second demand upon the feed is for the production of milk. Every part of the milk produced must have its source in the feed box and water trough. How great that demand is is readily seen froro a study of milk. Milk is about eighty-four per cent, water. The solids —about 10 per cent. —consist of the butter-fat, the casein, which we all recognise in various cheeses, the milk sugar, and the mineral matter or ash. The butterfat is the most variable in quantity. Each cow tests higher just after she has been freshened. She then drops to a uniform level for about three months, when the percentage of fat .slowly increases until she goes dry. The condition of body and the state of health change the ’ percentage of fat, the percentage of the protein, .the sugar and the mineral matters all vary with the fat. They do not vary to as great a degree, but when the fat increases in milk so do the other solids, and likewise when the fat decreases eo does the protein, sugar and ash. The third demand for food is for the formation of the new forming foetus. To continue to produce profitably in successive years a cow must give birth to a calf every year. Its formation and development create a demand especially for minerals, protein and vitamines. The needs of the foetus do not create as large a demand ae does maintenance or milk production—nevertheless it is important, and since the cow is producing milk at the same time, unless attention is directed towards supplying liberal amounts of minerals and protein, the calf is likely to be small, weak, and low in vitality at birth.

SALES OF STUD JERSEYS. WAIPIKO AND MIDDLEMARCH HERDS. Messrs. Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd., report having conducted two sales of stud Jerseys in the Feilding district on account of Messrs. C. G. C. Dermer, “Waipiko,” and Kilgour and Gibson, “Middlewood.” These sales had to be postponed recently on account of the /Strike, and as is‘generally the case in 'such circumstances the attendance, especially of buyers from a distance, suffered severely*. Nevertheless, 92 head, all agetf, were sold at the two sales for an average exceeding 50 guineas. At the first day's sale conducted in conjunction with Messrs. Levin and Go., a draft of 52 head from the “Waipiko” herd were offered. This herd has produced in the descendants of Eminents Fontaine (imp.) some of the greatest butter-fat producers and sires of producers in the Dominion, but owing to the fact that there was a reserve on the pick of the cattle offered, bidding was not spirited. Thirty-one head was sold at an average price of 65 guineas. ComI petition was keenest for the nine-months-old bulls, which averaged 75 .guineas for the seven head sold, which is sound proof that dairymen are at last awakened to the necessity for heading their herds with pedigree sires bred from proven butterfat producing strains. The top price of 162 guineas was paid by Mr. M. Crimmins, Waikino. Themes, for a seven-months-old eaK out of Waipiko Jolly, which produced 610.4 lb butter-fat at a junior two-year-eld, and won second prize in the Hawera £5OO C.O.R. Stakes. Top prices for females were 185 and 100 guineas for daughters of V.C. (imp".) and out of Eminent’s Fontaine cows. Th? purchasers were: Messrs. A. N. F. Bignell, Whangaheu; S. W. Wearing, Nelson: C. J. Masters, Hunterville M. Crimmins, Waikjno; Mrs. D. E. Symes, Takaka, Nelson: J. Ormonde. Wallingford, Hawke's Bay: C. Larsen. Cunninghams; G. C. Hare,. Cheltenham; J. Lawson, Waikato; B. N. Sandilands. Feilding, 93 guineas; Hamish Wilson, Bulls; A. C. Hall. Ruahine; F. Hoult, Feilding; C. Dixon, Rongotea; and J. Nairn, Feild-

ing. At the second day’s sale, held in conjunction with Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., the buying public soon appreciated the fact that the complete herd was offered without reserve. Although it could not be claimed that Levin: A. Hall. Fordell; AV. G. Clapthe “Middlewood” herd had a wealth of butter-fat backing supporting the stock offered, the lines of breeding represented were known to be standard ones for production. Bred on country 1800 ft. above sea level, it was also certain that the stock would do well in any district, hence competition was consistent right through the sale, and the 61 head averaged 41 guineas. The best prices were paid for heifers sired by Bridge ViewMagnet, a grandson of the great butterfat 'sire K.C.8.. and a, son of Pulchra’.s Queen, 6561 b fat at four years of age. The top-priced heifer, a rising three-year-old by this sire, realised 116 guineas, to the bid of Mr. W. Ross, of Fox - ton. This was a heifer of very handsome appearance. The 4*2 in-calf females averaged 46i guineas, and the 16 heifer calves averaged *26A au'ineas, "while the herd sire mentioned above, a rising five-year-old. realised 50 guineas. A number of commissions for distant buyers were executed by Mr. C. E. Robertson, this system of representation at these sales being now a very popular one with clients, and the cattle were distributed as follows:—Messrs. R. Evans, Levin ;A. Hall. Fordell; W. G. Clapham, Feilding; A. G. Somerville. Takapau; G. W. Shannon, Palmerston North: J. I. Fox. Feilding; E. Hale. Hamilton: T. Watson. Wanganui; W. E. Thomas, Feilding; C. -I. Bennett, Feilding: H. Hall, Feilding; J. R. Kelly, Feilding; J.

Mason,. Feilding; 11. .IVilliams, Tokomaru; E. R, Robinson, Mariakau; AV. Ross, Foxton; A. Benge, Aorangi; R. Martin, Kiwitea; AV. E. Thomas, Aorangi; H. Beatsdn, Aorangi; J. H. Y. IJughes, Marlborough; J. A. Cornfoot, Pahiatua; J. Livingstone, Kiwitea; Chisholm Bros., Hunterville; A. Hodgkinson, Nelson; B. N. Sandilands, Feilding; D. Wright, Palmerston South; Mrs. A. Banks and Son, Kiwitea; and J. T. Kotlowski, Pahiatua.

SALE OF AYRSHIRE BULL. RECORD PRICE OBTAINED, The 'Southland Ayrshire breeder, Mr. A. M. Weir, of Edendale, who bred and tested the champion butter-fat producing cow of the Ayrshire breed, in Ivanhoe’s Fancy, 724.011 b fat in 365 days, recently sold an 18-months-old son of this great cow for a record price for a bull of the Ayrshire breed, the purchaser being Mr. Quinton Donald, of Featherston, who maintains several dairies on the good lands of the South Wairarapa. An .unusual circumstance attached to the purchase w r as a condition that the bull, which was actually purchased at the time of the Southland Metropolitan Show, last November, should not be delivered until after his (breeder had used him for the entire season. The bull, which is stated by competent judges to be one of the best types of dairy bulls in New Zealand, has been delivered.

The sire of this high-priced bull was a previous champion at the Southland Metropolitan Show, and his dam was also a great champion, and finally was sold and exported at a record price. The sale of this bull at a record figure is a further tribute to the growing popularity of tho Ayrshire breed, representatives of which have lately made many fine butter-fat records. Tn Mr. Weir’s herd, for example, a half-sister to his champion cow has produced 6461 b fat, and other members of the same family are making great records this year. These cattle are also testing well, as Ivanhoe’s Fancy has an a-verage test for the year of *5 *per cent, butterfat, and another of her half-sisters, 5.2 per cent.

It is unfortunate, seeing the progress tliie breed is making, that the proposal 'by Ayrshire breeders, to import 12 of the best young milk-record bulls from Scotland, has in the meantime been shelved owing to the restrictions placed on Home-bred stock, on account of foot and mouth disease. AVright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd., who report having made the sale to Mr. Donald, announce, however, that the enterprise will be proceeded with when the outbreak of this serious disease is quelled.

POOR COWS. Someone has said, “A loss of a drop of milk for every shaver.” This may not be strictly true, but the general thought of it is. Many dairy farmers forget that a dairy cow needs greater protection than does a range animal. I do not wish to say that a dairy cow is particularly a tender animal. I have in mind that a dairy cow should produce a maximum of milk from a minimum amount of feed. This cannot be done if a dairy cow is forced to be outside in cold, stormy weather without a warm rug or some place where she can take shelter from wintry conditions. The cow may appear comfortable outside, ; yet it is impossible for her to be bodily exposed to extremely cold surroundius’s to keep up the warmth of her body, and at the same time make good use of her feed for milk. By keeping the cow outside in cold weather and feeding expensive grain and hay, we are compelling her to use her body as a stove for heating up the atmosphere, and using grain and good feed as fuel. It is easy to imagine how much extra heat will be radiated off from this warm cow’s body during a very cold day, and how big a fire within the cow is necessary to heat up that body during such cold surroundings. Shelter is important, and even necessary, if a dairy herd is to produce economically. Every farmer should have a comfortable sanitary shed in which the cows can be kept and be protected .from cold weather, without giving very much expense.

VALUE OF LUCERNE. PASTURING OF STOCK. The value of lucerne as a grazing crop must commend itself to stock owner.-? in dry districts. Being very drought-resistant, it often provides acceptable green feed when other succulent fodder is scarce or non-existent, and after a long, dry spell it is almost an axiom that lucerne is the first plant to grow when rain comes. The pasturing of stock upon lucerne, however, is attended by two risks—one to the plants and one to the stock. Lucerne should not be pastured during the first or second season of its growth, as the plants are not then sufficiently strong to withstand the inert table trampling. Again, it will not stand continual grazing at any time, and the method should be to put sufficient stock to eat it down quickly, and then to move them off before the young plants have commenced to shoot. The paddock should bp subdivided into small lots for grazing, so that the stock can be moved from one to the other in quick succession. Temporary fences (says an officer of the New South AVales Department of Agriculture) should be erected and shifted as required. This prevents injury to the plants, and reduces the loss of feed.

Even with reasonable care the use of lucerne as a pasture will inevitably lessen the life of the plants. Lucerne not irrigated and fed off bv stock in the drier districts will probably require to be re-sown .after a very short period, perhaps as short as four years. Whenever possible, a cut for hay or green feed should be taken. AVhile grazing is permissible on the higher lands, it should neve’* be practised on rich alluvial flats It will inevitably result in the lucerne being thinned out, with the further result that not only will the yield be reduced, but the hay will bo of a coarse, rough quality, possibly full of weeds. “Bloat” or hoven, is caused by feeding stock upon green, succulent fodder at a time when the stomach is practically empty; or by giving an abundance of gas-producing feed before the digestive organs of the animal have been accustomed to dealing with such material. Cattle and sheep appear to be the only domestic animals subject to it. If i the lucerne is wet at the time of eating, the liability to bloat is increased, an<! the danger is especially great when the crop is in the early stages of .growth, jin the drier there is not as great danger of bloat as on rich allu-

vial flats, for the simple reason that there is not the same abundance ’of succulent fodder.

Stock should not be -put on lucerne when it is wet. The danger is accentuated in humid, windy weather. If possible the animal should go in with a full stomach. They should first have their appetite appeased with grass, green maize, sorghum, or other similar feed. Bloating usually occurs when hungry animals are put on the feed and eat large quantities, and it also occurs if they are put on and taken off for periods. They should be kept on continuously and never be allowed to get hungry. If the stock cannot be placcfl in the paddocks with full stomachs, they should be taken on and herded for twenty minutes or so* and then taken off for about an hour; then put on for another twenty minutes, and the process repeated until the stock are no longer hungry. This practice is recommended whenever stock are being introduced to lucerne after other feeding. AAThen they have become accustomed to the feed they can be left