IMPROVING THE HERDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1930, Page 6

IMPROVING THE HERDS.

While the dairying industry just now is facing difficulties that are admittedly serious, there is less evidence of dismay among those engaged in the industry than a stranger to it might expect to find. For some years- past dairy farmers have been exceedingly progressive—more s.o, perhaps, thaii the people engaged in any other branch of productive work in this country. They have been eager to obtain and to follow sound advice with relation to the better farming of their properties, the improvement of their herds and the systematic care of their stock. When opportunity has offered they have willingly undertaken new methods of dealing with the produce of their farms. A case in point was the adoption of in the manufacture of cheese. Having reason to suppose that this process might meet soma of the difficulties they .had encountered, they diet not hesitate to try the experiment, but now that the process has fallen under suspicion many of them are promptly making the readjustment seems to be necessary. The dairy farmer is in business, as everyone else is, to make a living, and something more if he can, and he realises that he can serve his own interests best by doing his job thoroughly and turning out produce of good‘quality. While the value of his produce is no higher than it is to-day, his task is anything but an easy one, for he has to pay as much for most of his requirements as he did when his produce was worth considerably more than it is now. So far as the farmer is concerned the sooner the rest of the community brings about the necessary readjustment of values the better. The prices of other commodities certainly must be brought into line with those ruling for the produce of the soil, and when the change has been effected the dairy farmer will again be able to command a fair return for his enterprise and his labour. The best return naturally will be. obtained by the farmer who has tried to keep up the standard of his farm and his herd. At this season of the year they both keep him fully occupied, and the futqre of the herd is especially a matter for careful thought. It is at this period that Taranaki farmers have their opportunity to introduce fresh blood and build up quality by the piirchase of bulls. This year particularly it will be well, for them to consider earnestly the building-up of their herds in readiness for the better times to come.