THE WAIKATO FARMER

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20207, 29 May 1937, Page 22 (Supplement)

THE WAIKATO FARMER

EDITED BY O. E. CUMING.

A page devoted to assisting the Waikato fanner to make the fullest possible use of the great natural advantages of the Waikato and to thereby develop the most prosperous farming community in the world.

Blitter Trade. Practically all butter exporters look to Great Britain to absorb the major part of their surplus. In spite- of all that has been done to encourage home output, it does not exceed 10 per cent, of the total United Kingdom requirements. Under the pressure of receding prices, New Zealand, which is now the world’s chief exporter, has increased her output so that the value of shipments was 29.6 per cent, of the Dominion’s total trade last year, as against 22.8 per cent, in the 192630 period. Denmark, on the other hand, has been compelled, by the restrictive policies of former customers, to curtail output. The proportion of her butter shipments to general trade is 9.5 per cent, below what it was 5 years ago. In the 6 years to 1935 world butter exports increased by 18 per cent., but those from Empire countries have advanced by 81 per cent. With the exception of Australia, all the principal suppliers of dairy products to the United Kingdom with whom trade arrangements have been made have substantially increased the value of their positions. The situation revealed has special bearing on the discussions now in progress or contemplated with Canada and New Zealand for the conclusion of bilateral trade pacts in advance of the wider plans due for consideration at the Imperial Conference.

American Breeders’ Lead. The American Jersey Cattle Club feels that milk production alone does not constitute a superior herd, so a j few years ago the Type Classification Plan was originated. To qualify, I all cows must be officially classified by an American Jersey Cattle Club judge. The animals are rated as follows: Excellent, score, 95 per cent.; very good, score 874 per cent.; good plus, score, 824 per cent.; good, score, 774 per cent.; fair, score 724 per cent.; poor, score 60 per cent. The whole herd must average at least 82 per cent., which is practically a good plus rating. The health of the herd is of prime importance for production and reproduction. Therefore, every applicant must certify that he has a federal accredited herd, free from tuberculosis. Furthermore, his herd shall be free of Bang’s disease or he shall he actually engaged in a Bang’s disease eradication programme under the supervision of the state veterinarian of his state. To the Jersey owner who accomplishes this complete programme of breeding a high producing, healthy herd of outstanding good type animals, the American Jersey Cattle Club will award a certificate each year that he qualifies.

• * * * Instructive Competition.

In view of the fact that so much is being made of the declared value of medium-testing milk over higher-test-ing milk for cheesemaking the case of the Jersey cow, Tararua Mayflower, which sold at auction at Levin recently for 209gns., is decidedly interesting. This cow was the first Jersey to take part in the cheese test competition at the Hawera show, and she won the competition. She gave less milk than the Friesian cow that was second to her and the same amount of milk as the Shorthorn that was third, the Jersey and the Shorthorn gave 561 b. of milk ant! the Friesian 631 b. The Jersey gave 5.45 per cent, of fat, 2.11 per cent, of casein, a cheese test of 10.8 and her milk produced 6.048 cheese; the Friesian gave 3.28 per cent, of fat, 2.19 per cent, of casein, 8.5 cheese test and gave 5.355 of cheese; the Shorthorn gave 4.23 per cent, of fat, 2.17 per cent, of casein, a cheese test of 9.5 and produced 5.320 of cheese. Thus, it will be seen, that cheese production followed fat per centage. as well as milk yield. Of course, this is only one test and a day’s test at that, but the fact remains that milk yield is not everything in the production of cheese, but that the fat percentage of the milk has a decided influence. Air and Fertility. Air in the soil must be ranked in importance with moisture and fertilisers. Plants wilt nearly as quickly without air (oxygen) as without water. Wilting occurs in waterlogged soils very quickly in hot weather. Unless plant roots can obtain oxygen they cannot absorb water, regardless of the abundance of the water. The best aerated soils, com-

patible with satisfactory moisture conditions, are most productive. Island Jerseys. Apparently 1937 is going to be a record year for the importation of Island cattle into the United States. In the three months of this year over 200 head were brought over to the States and many more importations have been arranged. * V * • Margarine Menace. The Australian Government is proposing to introduce legislation to compel margarine to be white in colour. Last year 8 907 tons of margarine were made in Australia, so it is time they did something. The manufacture of margarine is steadily increasing in this country, and some such idea as that of Australia will be necessary. The Americans, who have to face very heavy margarine competition, are advocating that the best way to meet the competition is so to improve the quality of butter that margarine will have no chance against it, but the margarine manufacturers are all the time improving their product, making the fullest use of science, so much so, that many people could not tell the difference between the pure article and the substitute.

Great Romney Dispersal. What was probably a world's record were the averages obtained at the dispersal of the great Parorangi flock of Romneys, twelve stud rams averaging 82gns. and 800 ewes averaging just on llgns. The founder of this flock, the late Mr E. Scott, was generally admitted to have been the greatest breeder of sheep this country has produced. There have been many notable flocks developed, the ciedit for the standard of type created being due rather to some of the very capable Scottish shepherds that have settled in the Dominion than to the actual owners, but in the case of the Parorangi Romneys it was the work of the owner that was solely responsible. The late Mr Scott had a rare natural gift as a breeder and no importer of British stock to this country was more ready to buy the best regardless of cost. For the benefit of the many readers who are now developing sheep flocks for the first time it may be well to emphasise the importance attached by the late Mr Scott to the head in judging an animal. When the boys in the agricultural class of the Fielding High School were camping on his farm for instructional purposes, he had a portion of a fence boarded up and holes cut in this so that the heads of sheeps could be put through and studied apart from their bodies. Then he talked for some time to the boys on the heads—on the importance of width between the eyes, and the value of the good nostril and good mouth, the jaws meeting well, while the matter of good expression was empnasised. The ram had to have a masculine expression and carriage, while the ewe required a matronly expression quite different from the pretty head that appeals to many. After the boys had been well impressed with the points he wanted to drive home, the sheep were brought round and it was demonstrated to them that the good bodies, and even good fleeces, accompanied the good heads. And several of the best Scottish shepherds who developed some of the country’s best flocks have also attached great importance to head, expression and carriage. “Ah, what a gay ey*,” said one of these shepherds when he first caught sight of a notable imported sheep. And Parorangi Romneys were noted for many years for their great heads and for their outstanding style and character.

Dual-Purpose Cattle. Changes that the new Live Stock Bill is likely lo effect in the cattle industry of Great Britain, in view of the higher subsidy for home-bred fattening cattle, were mentioned by the Earl of Stradbroke, the president of the Red Poll Cattle Society at its meeting in London recently. He, like other breeders, visualised in the near future a big trade for Red Polls, and especially the bulls for cross-breeding. It was claimed there would be a strong trade for Red Poll sires for crossbreeding with dairy cattle such as Friesians, Ayrshires and Shorthorns.

Danish Co-operation. It cannot be emphasised too often that the secret of success of Danish co-operative organisations, both for manufacture and marketing, is that each member must undertake to supply for a given number of years. Speaking of this subject recently, C. E. Christensen, Danish Consul of Alberta, said: “The Danish co-operative organisations were organised as associations and each member signed a contract with the association obliging themselves to deliver all of their production of the particular kind which the association was to handle or process—for periods varying from 10 to 15 years. State laws did not permit breach of these contracts nor persuasion to that end. In other words the contracts and the contractors meant what they said—in fact the contracts were the joint security to the banks where the entire capital was borrowed with which to build, equip and operate their plants. The Credit System. Credit on the security of land in Denmark is organised through mort-

gage credit societies, in a manner which facilitates the obtaining of cheap loans, and at the same time offers the lenders satisfactory security. These societies are, with one exception, associations of joint loan seeking property owners, who through joint liability offer greater security and therefore obtain cheap loans. The mortgage credit societies grant loans on first mortgages up to three-fifths of the appraised value. The hypothec societies give loans on second mortgages as a rule, so that the maximum liability incurred may reach up to 75 per cent, of the property value. The hypothec societies which are principally concerned with second mortgages on farm lands, are operating as a bank with a state guarantee as to its capital. In this manner credit has been readily obtained by the farmers and owing to the joint liability no losses of consequence have been experienced, and due to the unquestioned security such mortgage loans have been obtained on the basis of 34 to 44 per cent. To sum up the fortunate economic position of Denmark, credit must therefore first be given to rural education—high schools and agricultural colleges—through which developed the co-operative movement resulting in profitable operations of the farm and the ability through the co-operative borrowing or joint liability, to obtain necessary financing at a low interest rate.