THE DAIRYING SEASON

Waipa Post, Volume 37, Issue 2191, 2 August 1928, Page 4

THE DAIRYING SEASON

BRIGHT PROSPECTS. "The cows are coming in too fast," seems -to be the general remark .among farmers in this district. They go on to state that they already have 20, 30, 50., or 70, (as the case may be) now milking, with more coming in every day. It is evident the dairying Season ha..', opened this year" earlier than last yaar, and some dairymen were caught unprepared. They had not finished corns of the many tasks that usually/are attended to during the slack season, such as fencing repairs, yard improvement, etc., and these jobs will probably now have to be deferred until the next slack period. Inquiry rhews that while there is still a fair amount of loss due to calving troubles, this bane of the farmer is nothing like so prevalent as formerly. The mild winter season and early spring are given credit for this, but an important factor is that cows have been better looked after, receiving more and better feed right through the "off" season. In anticipation of a harsh winter, many district dairymen put down extra acres for 'hay and ensilage, and thus their herds r.re in good condition to face the heavy strain of the new milking season.

One of the local butter factories opened yesterday for daily delivery, and the supply was appreciably greater than when the factory opened a year ago. It is very evident that more cows will be milked this season in Te Awamutu district than ever before, while herd-testing has enabled progressive dairymen to weed-out the unprofitable cows. T'he three "cull cow" drives organised by the Farmers' Union also assisted in this respect, for several hundred culls were sent away, thus leaving more feed for the profitable animals. There is certainly encouragement to expect a very good dairying season this year. The "bobby" calf industry has assumed fairly large proportions in this district, and this presents dairymen with a splendid opportunity to get rid of unwanted calves at a fair price, and enables them to keep the best for the milking herd. The "bobby calf" industry and herd-testing go hand-in-hand in this respect. District Jersey and Friesian men have imported from other' districts some very fine cattle, with splendid butterfat backing, and this means improved production. Round the countryside are many_ instances of farmers' faith and application, for new farm houses and buildings have been erected, notably in the Pirongia district, where for years there was little activity in this respect. Sheep men also report very satisfactory propects. Lambs are not yet very much in evidence, but the pastures are good, and the breeding ewes look healthy. With a. continuance of the present mild weather, the lambing percentage should be quite as high as the previous best. A fair amount of new country has been brought in during the past year.