THE HERD

Waikato Times, Volume 115, Issue 19272, 2 June 1934, Page 19 (Supplement)

THE HERD

Mineral Matter. The latest teaching of science is that while lime is imperative to heavy producing animals, especially cows and sows, there is a danger in an oversupply. Research workers at the Rowett Institute show that the principal medium for the assimilation of lime is the gastric juice, and that if there is too much lime in the system it prevents the hydrochloric acid of the gastric juice functioning properly, and the assimilation of phosphoric acid is thereby retarded or prevented. The lesson from this is that the providing of lime should be done through the pasture—given, in the most natural way and in a way that it can be easily assimilated and probably in the right

proportion to other minerals especially phosphoric acid. Another finding of British research workers is that where lime is supplied direct to the animal it should not be in combination with phosphate. Thus it is wrong according to this finding to give steamed bone flour as a lick, If this 'be so It again emphasises the importance of complete fertilising, liberally. supplying through the food the animal needs all the mineral matter. It was recently stated that there were carriers of foot and mouth disease, and that this fact made importations of stock exceedingly dangerous. The statement, it appears, was based on information published many years ago, and which lias now been proved to be unfounded. Scientific investigation has failed to find proof of the truth of the now discarded view. One thing that is definitely in favour of the lifting of the embargo in regard to foot and mouth disease is the failure of the disease to gain a foothold in Australia, which lias been importing stock from the stud farm of the world for many years. Study Your Own Clients. Just as in some older countries the breeders of pedigree stock in tills country are coming to realise that it will pay them to cater to the ordinary farmer. The day has gone by when the pedigree breeder had to depend on selling good surplus stock to fellow breeders and only looking to the farmer as a possible client for his oulls. The ranks of pedigree breeders have so greatly increased, the expansion of the dairy Industry has been so great and the splendid extension of herd-testing is creating such a demand for the purebred milk-record bull that quite a different class of trade is developing for the breeder of pedigree dairy stock. Indeed In many cases the dairy-farmer Is now the breeder’s best client. The. dairy-farmer is appreciating the high-class bull and is keenly discriminating. The day has gone by when lie will purchase the culls of Ihe pedigree herd, lie wants Ihe best, and be is exacting in his re(|iiirenienls. There is no sentiment behind his trading. Type concerns him iContlnued in next column.) ,

lit tie. AYliat lie wants is good bullrrfat hacking, undoubled constitution and the hull (o in' in a vigorous, serviceable condition. The lesson is flint llie pedigree breeder musl be prepared lo meet this new and rapidly increasing circle of euslomers. lie musl lest and make deoenl records and lie musl bring Ids bulls out in a proper manner. The reward is certain,