BUILDING UP A DAIRY HERD

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 13013, 28 June 1906, Page 7

BUILDING UP A DAIRY HERD

SOME VALUABLE INFORMATION. I 5 (Manawatu ** Standard."} At the Dairy Conference at Palmerstoa,, a valuable and informative paper was read by Mr J. G. Harkne**, secretary of the National Dairy Association, on the object of "B»* to Boild up a Dairy Herd. The paper was a lengthy on*,.but being written ! in a strain that was always* interesting; it held the attention of those present. „ Some excerpts from the paper follow: "The dairy industry » new firmly established a* one that has tome to stay, and it* importance is acknowledged the colony. Being one of our principal industries, it will probably rarovide, with' proper' attention, in the nea* future, one of the largest, if not the largest, of our exports. The manufactured articles made front. m3k bow exceed m value £2,250,000 pear «nnwßß. The- industry has conferred adrttntagst, and wSI costume to benefit onr aettkra' year by year, if we pursue intelligently the 'elementary principle* that tie within o«r grasp,'and meet rightly the varying |ooditi©ns f which present themselves to w Jo. the prosecution of car work. Jft »* ofcvSSm* 'jthat one of the conditions wljJ4^,ia-near, at homJ" tsj.keener competjraoßv. 'attendant.'"" conse%itlisav " _lt a fop|almesa to boUte^l^' wrMyes withV the ejcpeetatioo that;; tbftt" w2t ;be a ■ continuance of the high jricea which narve been ruling in the of the worJd. J. lot view of thk yt> reasonable -nwa'.' will deny, tM*/grefflf "problem' ~thaf "faces.',t!he. to reduce*!-!* 1 cost of manuJ&etnre keting, so an to obtain better for the producer j or can w* coat of groducttan by atpresent cVtatff'/;"TBdw ;ew tto»j two'' paths we' lg*£.!fi& Intnl. k In reference to the format), /***&£ ; frs some c&eetions may be effected, IprV it wKI not. when all is accomplished* even if brought down, to a mJoJatnafr xmomsh to much per head per cow. On the other hand, the latter may, by attention, akiß, and judicious management, be added to by at least 33 l-3rd per cent. This may appear at first btusr* a large order, but it cart be brought about and would establish the industry on a permanent and satisfactory basis. Not only wonid it add to imfivKfooi returns, bat any sraeh approxhmtt increase w»ntd legitimately retrace the manuJatftnring coat of a pound of commercial batter at least 20 to 25 per cent. It can emiv be accomplished by the dairyman applvirt!? to his work those principles which make for suee«*» in every department of profession of lift. It is, frequently asked, * Does dairy-

ing pay?' 'Will it pay *o make it my business m life!" Yes, ii you have brains and know bow to use theni intelligently. Physical strength and muscle are not. the only capital which spells success in business. It is just here where the value of agricultural knowledge comes in. There it. little cornnion-aense in the oft-repealed formula that your father before you was a good farmer and succeeded well in his life work without the advantages of much schooling or special instruction, and, therefore, there is no need for you to amend or improve your methods. The answer is obvious. Such men lived and worked in difierent times and under varying conditions. The advantages of to-day possible to you were not perhaps available in their time. If preparation is requisite for a man to fill successtnliy any professional or business capacity, is it not just as essential when life is more strenuous that there should be some preparation in life to become a successful dairyman. It is here and now that we are face to face with the necessity of imparting knowledge on agricultural matters to our children. The majority of such who attend country schools live in an environment of agriculture. Is it not possible that eucb children could be taught along the lines that will help them to develop their powers of observation in respect to the natural objects and beauties around them. If they were given some acquaintance and knowledge of those elementary principles which form the foundation of natural results they come in contact with every day, more good would ecsue than from a close adherence to the present school curricalnm. It is not possible to teach all the elements of practical agriculture, but many things can be taught beneikbHy and with advantage about the composition of sous, the growth. ttf crops, domestic animals, and their car bits, trees and dairying, which would help to make them practical farmers, and in no slight measure infuse a new intera-t ir-to their life and work, and so counteract the prevailing tendency on the part of our youth to look with distaste on the pursuits of a rural life and its various forms of work, and to gravitate towards the cities and larger towns. It is an accepted axiom of life that few men succeed in anv calling uniesH their heart is in the work and they love it. Unfortunately, many of our dairymen, are In the business to-day not because they like it, but because it is a means to an end. Hence we find failure w&ere there should be victory. Did they but understand the fundamental principles upon which their work rests and the wonderful opportunities that surround thenf only waiting to be appropriated, there would be no need to urge the course now proposed to improve their herds. For every farmer worthy of the name would seek to have the best crops, the best herds, the tidiest farm, and the best qnalitv of milking procurable. \ ~ " Now, consider briefly the reasons which have brought about existing conditions, and that so large a percentage of our dairy cows are unprofitable. Firstly, it . is due in a measure to the fact that dairying has increastd so rapidly within the last few years that fanners, to complete their herds up to the maximum carrying capacity of their farms have bad to bring under contribution every heifer that would come into profit. Selection and culling have, therefore, fc rough force of circumstances, been neglected or left severely alone. Secondly, a large percentage of cows.used i for dairying purposes are not adapted for j the fulfilment of the conditions for which jthey aire kept, in conceornence of the use lof sires that are mongrels or not capable |of producing milkers. Thirdly, many ne- ; ver have the opportunity through want of 'proper treatment, such as thei care and ■education of the heifer—which will be reiferred to later oa—and beicg underfed an 4 neglect develop their best m&k- ---;«!§ qualities and prove taeir usefulness. Everyone -of these disabilities is removable amd should be rectified withoot delay. The greatest need to-day of the industry is that producers should take mere pleasure and interest in their work; deteroiined to remedy every defect that lies in their power, whether is has relation to the farm, thej herd, or the production of good-c:.ndit v>r.ed m2k-" Having thus introduced the subject, Mr Harkness proceeded to discuss the "dual purpose cow." to urge proper feeding and shelter, especially winter and early «?pring feeding, to deal extensively with breeding, to elaborate the statement that the fundamental principle to bring about, immediate improvement was "complete knowledge of each, individual cow in the herd," gained by testing, and finally to deal with the "education of thfc cow." Mr Harkness received hearty applause on the conclusion of his able paper.