FARM NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8005, 10 September 1906, Page 1

FARM NOTES.

PROFITABLE USE OP SKIM-MILK. It is now becoming more and more the practice in miny districts, especially of the North Island, t» tuilk to a greater or less extent all through the winter. There are many reasons given for this "all the year round dairying," and some of them are certainly sound. The most important perhaps, id the better prices obtained for Che butter fat, and the convenience of having " something coining in all the time." The abortion epidemic his been largely responsible for the practice, for it has resulted ia a no inconsiderable portion of many herds coming in very late. Winter dairying is certainly a thing to be avoided, if possible, especially in clay iands or msrshy cuntry, bat wh u re it ha? to be faced, it is certainly as well to make the most possible out of it, with the least possible discomfort. A certain amount of skim milk is available every day or every second day at least, and the majority of farmers convert this either into pork or bicon. Now every farmer knows that unless he has the very beat of accommodation for his animals, winter pig keeping is by no means a savoury pastime. Moreover, they don't do nearly as well as tbey do in summer. Even if kept dry and|clean (a difficult task), they require more tucker to get them off, than for a corresponding period in warm weather. They are much more subject to diseases, such as heavings and lumbago. Then why not convert the skim-milk into "eggs," which are invariably a good price during the winter and early spring months? Ihe Americana reckon there is more profit in feeding »kim-milk to laying hens than to pigs. And of this fact there can be very little question. A farmer spoken to on this subject, who goes in for winter production of egg 3, said he was quite sure there was more in fowls than in pigs. In June his laying hens were producing four dozen eggs a day, which, at 2s 6d per dozen, represents £3 10s per week. Skim-milk contains albumen, and eggs are largely composed of this substance. It also oontains lime in a form readily digested and converted into shell by the fowl. Of course, grain would have to be fed as well, but far less would do if the laying birds were on a milk diet. To get the best result it should be fed curdled and warm. And as with skim-milk, so with butter-milk, and even more so, and the man who has the contract for taking the factory supply, and is feeding it out to pigs, would do well to oonsider this fact, for it is a question of pounds, shillings, and pence, and more if the former than the latter.— N.Z. Dairyman.

MESSAGE TO MILK SUPLIEiJS. One of the best butter-makers in the Colony, writing to his Directors on the subject of the milk supply at his factory, says:-It is very disheartening for me to have to assure you our milk supply this seasons is below the standard of other seasons as regards quality. Can you tell me why this is so ? Is it because the market iE higher and the majority of suppliers are therefore careless; or is it because they consider it will not pay to put in the necessary time and labour at the game. Personally, I admit tint I find it vory hard to understand, but the fact remains all tha same. I wish it were practicable for all my directors to spend every morning for at least two weeks on the receiving platform. They would then be quite satisfied that the above remarks are only too true, and that I have just cause in making this earnest appeal on behalf of those suppliers who are sending a real good milk, which is mixed up and cocttmined by their more or less careless dirty neighbours. 'J he practice of bringing milk too soon from newly calved cows is far too common, and though, as a'practical man, I admit that no hard and fast rule can be laid down, still, all people in charge of the milk supply should be conscientious, and ask themselves the question whether they would drink some of the " colostrum " they sometimes bring to the factory or creamery. The practice of washing cans wilh cold water is far too common ; cans should be rinsed out with warm water, and then scalded with boiling water and soda, and left lout to air in the sunshine. Gentlemen, this hard slavish industry will admit of no sentiment. The great maj ,rity of the suppliers are in business for the £. s. d , and why !, oh why ! will they not go to work the right way, and make every penny that is in it.' I would ask, " Will it pay to keep back all premature or bad milk for the calves or pigs ? Will it pay to discard your old milk stands and aerators if needs be, and place your new milk stands to the prevailing windward of your cow and pig yards, and get a new serviceabe aerator, and use in systematically ? Will it pay to have plenty of clean water at hand for the cows' udders and teats, and the milker's after each cow he milks? Will it pay to bay i;ood table honey for healing sore, softening, and keeping in good order, all the teats instead of buying ordinary axle-grease, as I am assured is frequently used? Will it pay to put your whole heart and energy into the business, with a view to maVing your factory the most sucoesgful in New Zealand?" To all these questions, I answer, most emphatically: Yes, it will, ard the man who won't admit it should go out of the business. Why should producers lay up large sums of money in up to-date buildings and plants, and pay away large sums for salaries wages, if they turn round and beat themselves every time by handicapping their officers with inferior raw material. In conclusion, the whole question is a matter of cleanliness from beginning to end, so we trust suppliers will co-operate with us and endeavour to make our factory the most successful in New Zealand.