ON THE LAND

Taranaki Daily News, 22 August 1931, Page 12 (Supplement)

ON THE LAND

BUTTERFAT PRODUCTION.

CERTAIN ESSENTIALS. ■ (Contributed.) ' At the present time the dairy-farmer is considering ust jvhat items of expenditure are essential for the coming season. At no time in the history of dairy-farming was it more necessary to be certain, that what one proposes to do is the right’ thing. A study of the. methods of the really successful dairyfarmers will definitely convince you on any points on which you are in doubt. It is the successful farmers, whose methods are efficient and who waste little money ,in unprofitable experiments. In nearly all cases it is found that’ the successful men adopt herd-testing and fertiliser as integral parts of his dairyfarm management. They realise fully that the actual cost of testing is more than made'up by the extra butter-fat obtained through the herd being under test. They know that testing results in keener management and in more thorough milking. Cows do not milk to the machines in the same way year after year. Some cows are quite ready to have an “off.” season if they get half a chance. The comparison, cow by cow, of the test sheet for the first month of the new season with that of the same month the previous season will indicate definitely which cows must be given careful stripping. The fact of the milkers knowing just what each individual cow is giving, and what she should give, brings about that keenness in the actual milking which gets the maximum results. The monthly testing figures bring the work in . the shed under review month by month. The efficiency of new milkers dr in fact any change in management is immediately cheeked up through- the. testing figures. Farmers employing sharemilkers or wages men are now recognising the great value the testing figures are to them. Through a study of the figures they know more about the cows than the men milking them. The definite statement that a particular cow is giving only half the 'butterfat she gave the previous season will result in more”attention being given to that cow. The milkers themselves, even if they be members of the family, will get better results from the herd if it is under test. Few farmers realise that ’ these better results have only to amount to say' 51b. of. butterfat per cow to pay for the testing fees. Put in another way, 2 per cent, increase in efficiency will • pay the cost of testing. Don’t hesitate, join up with your local Group and thus keep your herd management right up to the mark.

CONSERVING NITROGEN*.

USE FOR SUPERPHOSPHATE.

Overseas authorities have recently recommended superphosphate as an absorbent, deodorant, and conserve, of nitrogen in stables. The scattering of super in the stalls and gutters of horsestables' and cowsheds has for its objects the removal of obectional odours and the absorption and fixing of ammonia in the manure.. Anyone accustomed to enter a hprse-stabl- in the early morning is familiar with the pungent odour which assails his nostrils — proof that, valuable ammonia is being lost by votalilisation. The use of superphosphate for the purpose mentioned is very rational, as this particular fertiliser contains a considerable proportion of gypsum (hydrated sulphate of lime), says Mr. J. A. Bryce, Inspector of Fertilisers, in the last issue of Cue Journal of Agriculture. It is a 'well-known agricultural fact that gypsum in a finely divided state is specially adapted as a preservative agent of the fertilising principles of farmyard manure.' Superphosphate should not only prevent the loss of ammonia but also add phosphoric acid plant-food, in which farmyard manure is somewhat deficient. The ammoniation of superphosphate is a ’ process recently introduced by the fertiliser industry, whereby ammonia liquor is added); to and absorbed by superphosphate,.’which fixes the ammonia (or nitrogehj in a chemical' compound. ' The same principle is held to apply ,to the use of superphosphate as an ammonia absorbent in stables.

MOLASSES for stock. EXPERIMENTS IN HAWAII. : The University : of Hawaii has recently been conducting extensive feeding experiments cane molasses and '.raw sugar as constituents of the rations. Especially promising results have been obtained frohspig-fattening trials using raw sugar, at® similar tests are now being made wi,|h other livestock. The university is ako carrying out a seven-years trial with cows, using a ration containing 25 per cent, of cane molasses. For this purpose 24 cows are being tested, with 'six others to serve as a control; the latter are being fed with an equivalent proportion of grain concentrates instead of the molasses. Already this experiment has run for six years, and, although the, final results will not be published until its completion, it is understood that to date they show the molasses in a very favourable light as a feeding s,tuff.' INCREASING PRODUCTION. J 7 CONTESTS IN AUSTRALIA. It is becoming more apparent each year to those interested in the dairying industry that the so-called lean months can be made a- high production period by the employment of intelligent feeding methods. ’ j • :>. .•••••

A scheme to bring about this Increased production han been inaugurated in .South Australia by a firm of linseed oil and linseed meal manufacturers. . A contest fs being he’d for £2OO prize money. Results co far are regarded as highly satisfactory. Substantial increase in production has been obtained. Cattle coming into the flush season in good condition will naturally r :pond more quickly than those which have had no attention during the lean months. ' The final figures covering the Meggitt’s meal milk production competition are being awaited with much interest.

A similar competition held recently in New South Wales among the suppliers; to the North Coast Co-operam-ey. ■Limited, disclosed surprising results. •. ■ 1

MILKING THE HEIFER.

PATIENCE. AND ; GENTLENESS.

The way in which the young cow is treated when she has had het fiist ca.f goes a long way towaid deciding her temperament as <1 milker, and no gi cater mistake can be made than to adopt harsh or improper methods if every - tiling does not go smoQjhly. Much deupon the condition of the udder; if this is all right, and the stock belongs to a man who knows how to be merciful to his beast, there, need .not be a moment’s trouble. -, It is a good practice to handle the incalf heifer some time before she is due to calve, and if the udder, is .rubbed <rentlv and the teats taken carefully in the hands without being squeezed, she will become accustomed to the preliminary handling and rubbing which expert milkers indulge in before commencing to draw the milk. . If the udder is hard to the touch, as is often the case, no attempt should be made to force the beast into quietness by blows and angry words. The only remedy is patience and a good lubricant carefully applied. Just as much force as is necessary should be applied to draw. the milk. No greater pressure than this should be exerted, and, too rapid motion will cause more irritation than aiiything else. Care should be taken to move the fingers properly, so that the niilk is always forced downward and never, forced upwards. A suddfen though accidental upward pressure will cause more or less pain, and there may be a sudden kick or lurch, after which it Will take some time' to restore confidence. the legs to prevent .kicking should °rrot be resorted to unless absolutely necessary. All cattle resent beino' hampered in this way, and if there is °any difficulty it is better to have someone to stand at the opposite side from the milker and assist by a little cajolery. . . ' In case of real- refractorrness, par-, ticularly when there is no evident cause for it, it is a good tiring for the assistant to put his arm right round the heifer’s neck so as to be able to lay the flat of his hand on her jaw. This will help to give the impression that there is a superior person on the job, a powerful incentive to good behaviour. should not be continued any longer than necessary, and need riot be done at al unless no other way will do. ’ . To have the heifer stand properly is not always an easy matter, though good milkers are usually wonderfully accommodating in this respect. They will stretch gently forward, making it an easy matter to reach -the hind teats, thus showing that they appreciate the milking process. Others will persist in putting the leg nearest the. milker slightly' forward, thus hindering him considerably. The way which one is tempted to try to alter this may be to try to push the leg back. If this is done too roughly, kicking may be encouraged which would make matters worse. If it is found that a slight pressure on the inside, of the leg will make the heifer move it back, this may be done, but if there is any stupidity, the milker should proceed as well as may be, hoping that there will be a voluntary movement which will •bring about the desired, change. If this ddes° riot come and it is impossible to proceed, a gentle touch on the back of | the other leg may answer the purpose, i

MERINOS IN ENGLAND. BEGINNING OF BREEDING. England began to’ breed Merino sheep in 1791. In that year application was made to the King of -Spain by King George 111. of England to obtain a flock of selected Merinos. This was at once granted, and a small lot, consisting of four rams and 36 ewes was presented to the King of England by the Maichioness w’yth eight splendid coach horses. ' ■ ' There was a flock of smuggled sheep from Spain in England at the time, but it had been gathered together indiscriminately and was disposed r on the arrival of the new shipment. This last shipment, according to the historian, Samuel Copeland, during t' - five years 1798 to 1802, cut about 311 b. of washed wool and 2Jlb. scoured w;ool. This flock was kept at the Royal farm at Kew, and at the first sale of sheep from this flock in 1804, 45 sheep were of, the prices ranging from £6 7s to £44 2s each. Among tlie purchasers was ‘Captain Macarthur, who bought eight sheep, which he imported to his; farm in New South Wales, where he already had some of the Gordon Merinos purchased at the Cape. At the dispersal of the Royal flock after the death of George III", the sheep found new owners, one of whom was Thomas Henley, who afterwards came to Australia. .Some of the sheep which remained in England were kept pure, while others were used to cross-breed on the different varieties of ■ English sheep. Some success was attained by the breeders, and in 1811 a Merino Society was formed, with Sir •Joseph Banks "for its first president. But, despite the exertions of the president, 45 vice-presidents and numerous members and branches, the Merino Society was only a temporary success. The’ cross between Merino and the native sheep was disappointing. The progeny were smaller and less hardy than their British parents, and of inferior form. The higher quality of the wool could not make up for these disadvantages; so the farmers gradually gave up the Merino cross, and the pure Merino flocks began to dwindle, until only a few remained. Before he brought his flock to Australia, Mr. Henry was the most famous breeder- of high-class Merinos in England. His sheep were of such superior excellence that he was debarred from competing for prizes at exhibitions.