FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1925, Page 10

FARM AND DAIRY.

DAIRY HERDS. SEILEOTING OF COWS. The question of selecting cows for the dairy herd was dealt with by G. G. Humphrey, head of the Animal Husbandry department, University of Wisconsin, at the last American dairy congress. The following paragraphs are from his address(Profitable dairy cows are highly artificial in contrast with the natural and the average cow of the bovin© race. Their production under present-day conditions, when milk must be produced in large and economical quantities, demands a rigorous selection at all times based on intelligent and painstaking methods. Conformation is only one of the . indexes of merit on the part of a dairy cow. Dairy conformation of the parts of the body of the dairy cow bear a relationship to one another and to her functional activities in a manner correlative conformation with milk production capacity. Dairy conformation and the inherent milk production tendencies in improved dairy breeds of cattle have become pronounced and definite to the extent that they may be quite readily recognised. The high regard for beauty and the desirability of suitable size, age, health, vigour and disposition, as well as the undesirability of blemishes and abnormal characters in cattle, attach a high degree of importance to a careful study of conformation in choosing ‘ cows for dairy purposes. '

, VAWE OF RECORDS. The value of the milk sale and butterfat tester cannot be over-estimat.ul as a fiieans of selection in building the most profitable herds. . A milk record, even for only seven days. has..been found to be two and a half times as good an indication of a cow's ability to produce milk as any of the physical parts, of her conformation. It is true, nevertheless, that there are a vast number of instances in which dairymen must depend upon conformation in’the selection of cows, and in no instance can one aflbrd to select, and build a herd without regard for it. Keen power of observation and judgment, combined with knowledge of the parts and characteristics of an ideal dairy cow, render one proficient in the selection of £ows by conformation. . . . 5.

The contrast between well-developed and efficient types of beef and d'-iiry cattle respectively form a : good basis for the study of selection of dairy cows by conformation. In the case of underfed, poorly-developed cattle conformation is 6f comparatively little value in the determination 'of merit. Under such conditions dhance judgment, pedigree or record production., all have, to serve. 'Dairy cattle tend to be triangular or wedge-shape in ; outline, while beef cattle tend to he .rectangular. The wedge-shape outline .is significant in that the base end of the wedge-like body indicates roomy feed or body capacity and large udder capacity, while the sharp end in the region of the withers and neck reveals ar. absence of flesh development, indicative of dairy temperament, or the disposition to convert feed into milk rather than beef. Feed capacity and temperament are two of the important characteristics of a dairy cow. IMPORTANT CONSIDtRATION’.

Well-developed milk organs, including the udder and mammary veins, are a highly essential characteristic of good dairy cows. Good size, and quality are most important considerations in judging the udder. Such udders with uniformly well-developed quarters, and with teats of convenient size, are most ideal. The mammary, or "milk veins 1 ?’ ‘Shduld be prominent and tortuous, and carry well forward to wells or openings through the wall of the udder side of the body. The appearance of veins over the udder and on the face ofi tlxs. cow, are further evidences of a strong circulatory system

of blood, important to milk secretion. Evidence of impaired health and low vitality by a narrow condition of the head and body, small nostrils, contracted, listless eyes, a harsh, dry, stiff or papery hide, and a staring coat, detract meterially from the milk productive capacity of a cow. There should be evidences of perfect health and vigour. Style and beauty of outline in the dairy cow please the eye of the owner and the buyer, and have a monetary value. Such qualities may not affect milk production, but are worth while to consider an building a herd. Men who own the most successful dairy, herds are keen observers and good judges of. cows by conformation. They appreciate records of production to know’ most accurately the milk production of their cow’s, but would not divorce judgment by conformation in building their herds. MANURING ROTATION & GENERAL MANAGEMENT. Tt is an almost 'invariable rule that phosphatic manures pay well with all fodder crops. An increase in yield is to be expected, and feeding value is enhanced to such an extent that in many cases it alone covers the cost of the manuring. Super is, of course, the most popular phosphatic manure and should always be used if only to bring the crop away. On the heavier and moister soils super alone is probably the most economical dressing, but in the case of light soils that dry out quickly, there is reason to believe that quickly-acting, phosphates are apt to hasten maturity at a rate too rapid to be altogether desirable. Greater growth may be obtained by the use of a mixture that quickly and slowly-acting meal of course; naturally suggests itself, being gradual in and leaving ■.enough -nitrogen to ■ assist' the / crop through cold weather. Its *• however, is so much against it, that for all ordinary purposes, a mixture faf‘. super and basic super or super and bhsije slag is more profitable. Nitrogenous Jmfnures may be omitted on accohnf jof- their high price. In most soils tfifey*. will considerably increase the- ’ yieW but unlike phosphates are apt to lower the feeding value rather an increase Potash can be used inr -conjunction with phosphates for clover':'crops in light soils, but its suitability fior other crops must bb a matteV of experiment. Not less than two hundred-weight acre of phosphatic manure should be sown with any of these crops; i in most eases three hundred-weight is .pro-, | fitable. If an abundant yield is ja matter of urgent importance owing to I scarcity of feed, then it would be false economy not to use four or even five hundredweight an acre.