ON THE LAND

Waikato Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2579, 1 August 1922, Page 3

ON THE LAND

BEEF AND MUTTON WHII HE AD G EXT IXE LEADS Thai on the London market beef and mutton from the Argentine should be preferred to that from Australasia has exercised the minds both of those who deal in these things and tlio.se who are desirous of seeing Australasia’s trade to the fore oil the other side of the world. It is recognised that, from an Imperial point of view, Australasia should have the call over the Argentine; and it is also admitted that the cattle grown in the Commonwealth and the Dominion are in every way the equal of those which graze on the plains of the* big South American republic. Yet the London buyer will always give the bigger price for the Argentine production, and the consumer lias no doubts about the matter when he claims that the latter is tin* more palatqbJe article, .'. Faulty Methods

The fact seems to be that in the antipodes we can grow beef and mutton equal in quality to, if not actually better than, that of the Argentine; yet when it reaches the big markets of the world it is decidedly inferior. It is claimed by those who have marked this state of affairs that the reason is a simple one, and one that could, and ‘should be, remedied. In short, the trouble is faulty handling and careless methods. And while this continues Australasian producers will be throwing money and reputation away. The Sydney press has been devoting some attention to the subject lately and according to the Sun one recognised expert, Captain A. W. Penr.se, who has travelled in the Argentine, and has first hand knowledge of wliat is done there, puts the position in a nutshell when ho remarks: ‘ ‘We turn out magnificent stock, mutton, lamb and cattle; but between the place of departure and arrival at ships’ holds they are depreciated in quality and value enormously, because we do not believe that our methods of travel and treatment can be bettered elsewhere.” POINTS TOR MERSEY BREEDERS One of the main causes of milk fever in cows, said rvir W. P. Bcgg at a lecture to the Jersey Club members at Dargavillp, last week, was the milking right out of a cow just calved, and heavy feeding just, after calving. It was always a safe plan to let the calf have some of the milk for a couple of days a/tor calving; heavy milkers were, the most susceptible to milk fever.

Touching upon another matter, Mr Bcgg said that the opinion expressed by number of dairymen, that a cow wi arco quarters was as good as one with four was a fallacy. The udder was composed of four quarters, each with separate functions, and it was only common sense that a cow with all

;hc quarters in full use was far superor to one with only three or less.