THE DAIRY INDUSTRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19478, 26 December 1925, Page 21 (Supplement)

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY

WORK DURING THE WINTER. SOME OF THE BENEFITS. There is always a ready sale for dairy products both in summer and winter, this branch of farming is not confined solely to the warm season of the year. Winter dairying is now being carried on somewhat extensively in many parts, though owing to the plcntifulness of pasture feed during spring, summer, and autumn, dairying is practised more extensively during these months than during the close months of winter. On the other hand, winter dairying has made large strides of late. The main reason for this is that, by an improved system of rotation in which root-growing for winter feeding is extensively practised, the carrying capacity of the farm can be raised, and the farmers’ net returns will be more even throughout the year. Moreover, during winter, the produce from the dairy cow is much more valuable than at any season of the year, and though the cost of production is much higher the increased prices for winter dairy produce usually compensate the dairy farmer for the increased cost of production. This is especially so, if the dairy is in the near vicinity of large cities, where there is always a ready sale for fresh milk and butter. Dairy farming is usually closely associated with intensive farming. As an;; country becomes more thickly populated, so is intensive farming more extensively practised, partly owing to tho increased value of the land, in which case intensive farming must be practised in order to get most out of the land. By intensive farming is meant that the land is subjected to a higher state of cultivation, resulting in a higher rate of production. This can only be done by adopting a thorough system of rotation, together with a more liberal application of manures, both in an artificial form and by what is termed the natural manures of the farm, that is to say, the manure derived from the constant feeding of animals on the land. In modern farming however, tho two are associated with each other, and therefore must go hand in hand, whereby the natural manures <;f the farm are combined ■with the application of artificials. Manures For Different Crops. Different crops require different manures. The same may be said o the different classes of soils. For mo.’-; Now Zealand soils, however, phosplmte are perhaps the most importam manures, because they form the basi* of manuring for most of our cultivate* crops. It is next to impossible to grov. large crops of roots, rape, lucerne, am clovers, etc., without phosphates, am these crops grow with freedom the carrying capacity of the land is mud higher and the manure from the stool is enriched in this element. Thus phosphates indirectly pave the way for thi manuring of the land with manure which is richer in nitrogen than would otherwise be tho case.

If the land is rich in lime super phosphates may be used. If, on the other hand, the soil is deficient in lime, basic slag, basic super, or superphosphate followed by a dressing of lime will be more useful, the lime being supplied in sufficient quantity to neutralise the acid in the superphosphate, also the acid in the soil. By practice it is found that in most New Zealand soils these manures encourage tho better classes of grasses to respond in a generous way. Effects Of Nitrogenous Manures. The additional application of nitrog enous manure is also usually followed by a rich crop of white clover, which is highly prized among dairy farmers. In Denmark, where very intensive dairying is practised on highly profitable lines, a systematic rotation of summer and winter forage crops are grown. These supplement the pastures and increase the carrying capacity of the land to a very large extent. For spring-feeding, oats, rye, barley and vetches and other similar crops are grown. For spring-feeding these crops are sown in autumn so ajs to be ready to feed in late winter, or early spring. The sowing is aranged so that there will bo a continued supply of succulent fodder all through the milking season.

For winter-feeding roots are extensively grown. These aro usually sifted and reserved for winter use, to he fed in conjunction with hay and straw. For early winter feeding, swede turnips and kahl raid are largely used, followed by mangolds. Ji.s mangolds are practically unfit for use before midwinter, it is necessary to have some other roots ready for feeding, to keep the stock going until the mangold:mature.

Much harm is often done by too early and too free a use of the mangolu. in the early part of the season; many valuable beasts have been lost (especially among in-calf cows), in this way. To guard against this loss and to got most use out of tho mangold crop, it is. therefore, essential to have a liberal supply of the crops above-mentioned as their equivalent. A patch of swedes, or any of the yellow-fleshed turnips, is very handy on tho dairy farm. These can be cheaply grown and as cheaply fed to the stock. Feeding Off Crops. In feeding off tho crop the cows can be put on to a break, fenced off for the purpose, for an hour or so each day. When fencing turnips for cattle a fence with two barbed wires is all that is necessary. The posts are put in according to tho size of the break required, then strain the wires and drive in the stakes about six or eight yards apart and staple the wires to the stakes, and tho whole thing is complete. The bottom wire should be about 2ft from the ground, tho top wire ft Gin. Hay or straw racks can either be erected in the turnip field or in the grass field where the cows are pasturing. Some object to feeding turnips to milch cows for fear of tainting the milk, but if the cows arc put on to the turnips immediately after milking and taken off a reasonable time before the next milking there is bi tie danger of tho milk bring tainted by the use of turnips. Before commenring to feed turnips to dairy cows, however, the tops should be, fed off by calves, or old cows whose teeth have disapi.)eared.

It is in the rank tops that most of the j rank taint comes from. Many farmers may not know that j much of the taint found in milk that | is drawn from cows being fed on 1 strong-smelling foods is transmitted! into the bucket from outside sources I while in the milking yard, or, for in- I stance from the odour from the thighs j and udder of the cow, as well as from j the excrement allowed to lie about 1 liemilking shed. Practically the same rule applies to the souring of milk. It should be understood that milk as secreted from clean healthy cows is sterile and that any bacteria subsequently found in it are of the nature of contamination.