DAIRY NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8051, 7 November 1906, Page 1

DAIRY NOTES.

The farmers of Canada have started an interesting experiment into the introduction of a system of registration for dairy cows, which, whatever other effect it will have, will almost certainly result in increasing the mi'king properties of the dairy breeds. The project so far is confined to the Ayrshire and Jersey varieties, and it aims at encouraging u'ility in milk and butter productiou >is the chief, if not the sole end and object in keeping the breeds uamed. Eligibility f"r registration is governed entirely by the milking performances of the individual animals, and in the case of bul's I the milking record of their offspring. For bulls the standard of admission is four or more daughters each from a different dam qualified for entry in the record, and for cows aid heifers the standard varies according to age. A two-year-ild heifer is required to have a rfcord of at least 55001bs milk with 198lbs butter fat, a three-year-old 65001bs milk with 2341ba butter fat, a four-year-old 75001bs milk with 2701bs butter fat, and cows over four years old 8500lbs milk with 306!bs butter fat. It trill be seen that the qualifying standards are fairly severe. and would certainly effectually exclude a large proportion of the dairy cows in this country, yet they are easily attainable if proper attention is given to the selection and the breeding of good dairy animals. There is one risk in connection with a pro* ject of this kind which requires to be guarded against. If the milking performances of the animals are to be the exclusive consideration with the management, it is almost inevitable that depreciation in constitution and breed merit of the varieties concerned will eventually ensue. A milk famine is announced in Chicago, owing to dried up midsummer pastures, a common fate of pastures. But where there is a sup. ply of silage to bridge over the pastureless period, there is no shrinkage in milk-flow of cows, and their owners rejoice in their ample supply and the higher price they gat for it. There is another point to rejoice over Cows that shrink in milk for a period cannot be brought back to a normal flow thereafter, and there is a loss during the remainder of the lactation period, no matter how long. Ensilage for summer use prevents interruption of milk flow, not only while it is being fed but for the entire time of milk giving. And there is no loss involved in having summer silage if it is not eaten then, for it will be just as good the following winter, and new silage can be put on the top of the old without harm. More dairy farn a should be supplied with silage for summer use, when mch use is necessary, and it is quite likely to be necessary. —'• Farm, Stock and Home." Co-operation in relation to milk, butter and cheese production has effected marvellous changes among the peasant farmers of France. In one parish, a recent writer states there was was but a handful of milking cows fifteen years ago; there are now 9000. Three years ago there were were 3300 co-operative dairies in a given number of districts in which the system was unknown, but where the work is still increasing, and in rhich 253 million gallons of milk were handh d. The French, moreover, import a smaller quantity of meat alive and dead than they export, sending from their own farms 5 \ million cattle annually to the butcher at a wholesale valuation of 44 millions sterling.