NEWS AND VIEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20261, 9 November 1935, Page 15

NEWS AND VIEWS

TRIBUTE TO PROFESSOR RIDDET The awarding of a £4OO Carnegie Fellowship to Professor Riddet, Director of the Dairy Research Institute, is a well-merited' honour. The grant has been supplemented by a like amount by the Government and also by the Dairy Board. This will enable Professor Riddet to make a thorough investigation of dairying problems in all the leading dairying countries of the world. Dealing with the Culls A unique type of meat factory has just been opened in the Irish Free State. It is solely for the purpose of dealing with uneconomic cows. The meat will not be used for human consumption, but every device has been installed in the up-to-date factory for converting every part of the animal into a commercial product. Meat meal, bone meal and meat and bone meal will be made for pig-feeding and a meal for poultry will also be made. Edible and commercial fats will be produced, and full use will be made of the hides, hoofs and horns. About a thousand cows a week will be handled. The Young Pig The young pig, in order to be healthy should have the milk of its mother. In cases where the dam dies, has not sufficient milk, or refuses to nurse her litter, and an effort is made to raise the young ones by hand on cow’s milk, the development of diarrhoea will be probably noticed in a few days. The milk of the cow is not suitable for young pigs, unless it be diluted with about half of its bulk with warm water, and a teaspoonful of molasses added to each pint of tfte mixture. The same appears to be treu, to a certain extent, in the case of milk from other sows. The milk changes and becomes stronger a few days after farrowing, hence the milk of a sow with a litter two or three weeks old is not likely to give good results if partaken of by a newly-born litter. New Zealand’s Seed Crop A very valuable line of production which is extending in the Dominion is that of seeds, for which there is a good export demand. The business is growing and last season 54,000 acres were used for harvesting perennial ryegrass seed, the yield being over 17,000,0001 b., compared with a little over 12,500,0001 b the previous season. Italian and Western Wolths doubled last season in acreage and production, the total weight of the crop being 4,800,0001 b. Cocksfoot harvested for seed in 1933-34 amounted to 724,6841 b. but last season this had risen to the fine total of 1,876,3681 b. To show what a satisfactory trade is being built up for our grass seeds, exports of clover and grass seeds for the seven months ended last July were valued at £153,015, compared with £66,000, during the corresponding time in 1934. Plant A Tree The example of the English nobleman who, “whenever he had an idle moment, planted a tree,” is followed by a well-known swagman on the South Coast of New South Wales. He carries seeds of various gums with him wherever he goes, and when he decides to camp for a while he sows some of the seeds about his tent. He reckons it is sufficient reward to come back later and see the little trees growing. He is called an old crank by many, but he is doing a national service just the same, for reafforestation means more to Australia than many a much more talked-of activity. The American lyrist who wrote, “Poems are made by fools like me; But only God can make a tree!” was certainly correct; but many a mortal can help in the divine creation. Impressed by Waikato Pastures Mr Albany Bell, a farmer of West Australia, who was at Hamilton recently expressed himself as being very impressed by the pastures of the Waikato. Mr Bell inspected the wellknown farm, “Grasslands,” the property of Dr H. E. Annett, at Matangi. during his visit to the district. He said that he was simply astounded by the remarkable grass growth at “Grasslands" and by the great carrying capacity on grass alone. On the 96 acres there are 82 cows, of which 75 are at present in milk, 14 yearlings. 11 calves, 4 bulls and 3 horses. In addition there are 74 head of sheep including lambs, and thus altogether there is a total of 188 head of stock, including 11 calves and 41 lambs. At the present time 34 acres are shut up for ensilage, the making of which will start this week. Mr Bell said that in his district they relied on irrigation for feed and the Waikato conditions, as represented to him at “Grasslands,” were therefore a real revelation. Bloat A note on bloat in cattle from the University Farm, St. Paul, U.S.A., supports the commonsense advice being given by keen observers in this country. Bloat is caused, says the report, by animals eating large amounts of easily fermenting foods. While clovers are most likely to cause it, rich and rapidly-growing grasses, as well as frosted feeds, are also likely to cause it. Giving animals a partial fill of dry feed before turning them to pasture will prevent the trouble, and for the first few days on rich pasture the animals should be allowed to graze only short periods. These are two most important means of prevention, and their efficiency has been proved in this country. Reid, in his work, “Diseases of Farm Animals in New Zealand,” advises using a quarter of a pound of common salt in the drench to be used after the attack of bloat. He advises Epsom salts for the drench, but other authorities recommend glauber salts, which is less irritating to the intestines, though Epsom salts is to be preferred about calving time.