Prospects for Springing Heifers.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 June 1934, Page 24 (Supplement)

Prospects for Springing Heifers.

A North Taranaki dairy farmer who is dairying in a large way expresses the opinion that next spring will see a considerable demand for springing heifers. If he had the feed he would not hesitate to hold his heifers till the spring. He bases his calculations largely on the fact that there has been very heavy culling this year, also that conditions in the dairying industry should be better next season. All dairy farmers will hope that his prognostications are correct Increased Production.

What can be done by hard work and good farm management has been demonstrated by Mr. A. G. Colson during the nine years that he has been farming on the Bishop Road, at Bell Block. Nine years ago, when he took up his property of 135 acres, it was carrying 31 cows, 7 yearlings and 5 horses. At that time the property was largely covered with fem. Mr. Colson has ploughed and regrassed a lot of the land, as it would have taken too long to have endeavoured to bring the pasture back by top-dressing. He has since secured an additional 43 acres, and on the area of 120 acres is now carrying just 200 head, comprising 155 head of cattle, including milking cows, mostly pedigree Jerseys, and young stock, eight horses and 37 sheep. He has consistently top-dressed, last year using 2J cwt of slag to the acre. He converts his surplus pasture into hay and ensilage, having this year six stacks of hay and one of ensilage, whilst he also grows about five acres of white turnips and maize for autumn feed and about 4 acres of swedes for winter use.