FARMING NOTES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 1, 21 April 1939, Page 8

FARMING NOTES

BUILD UP A NEW DAIRY

IMPORTANCE OF THE SITE

When it becomes necessary to erect new buildings and yards, the matter should be w r ell considered from all points, and thought might be given to the selection of a new site rather than used ground which has become fouled over a long period of use —in some cases, of very many years. The decision, to change the site or not would, of course, be made after consideration of such factors p.* the existence of stones, paved or concreted yards s proximity to wells or bores for water supply, or the general satisfactory lay out of fences, and other farm buildings in their relation to the dairy buildings. Glean surroundings for the dairy premises are most important. Whenever possible, a gentle slope Should be selected, and this should slope away from the building and yards. If a somewhat stony site is available, so much the better.. This will largely prevent the ground breaking up and becoming boggy from cow traffic during rainy weather. The slope, which preferably should face the north or will carry away surface water,' and the yards and approaches would always be less muddy and dusty than if situated on flat ground. The north, or north east aspect has an advantage, as it permits the sun's rays to dry the floors of the milking shed and the cooling breezes in, the summer time give comfort to the milkers and the cows. Flies are also less prevalent when a breeze is blowing, and better and more effective ventilation will be given to the separator room and the cream room. A study of the prevailing breezes in any locality is most important. It would be very unwise to erect premises in, a position'subject to windberne infection ar odours, such as from a poultry yards or stock yards. AH these factors should be borne in mind as the atmosphere of the milking yards, bails and dairy must be kept as sweet as possible at ■all times. .. THE DAIRY COW'S FOOD The food of the dairy cow is-util-ised for. two different purposes—the maintenance of the body and the performance of bodily functions, and milk production. Until the animal's 1 bodily requirements are met there is nothing available for milk production. Admittedly the highly bred milkeY with her urge to produce will tend to withdraw the requirements for milk production from hei 4 own body t but as this cannot last in* definitely without a complete breakdown, its consideration does not enter the realms of practical management.

Yet in spite of this recognised fact j many cases are found of cows being particularly starved during the nonproductive period apparently without realisation of the effects of running them through the winter months on bush runs or paddocks al-most-bare and with no adequate provision for supplementary feeding. It should be remembered that the capacity of the digestive system is limited as regards the quantity of food that can be handled at one time. After the period of winter starvation the first call on the food is towards restoring wasted tissues, and while this restoration of body wastage is slowly proceeding little of the food supply is available for milk production. Under these conditions the spring flush of feed, which should be utilised to produce the greatest possible a. mount of milk, is being largely wasted in repairing ravages due to neglect* Efficient management necessitates the provision of an ample supply of foodstuffs all the year round to maintain the body and the body functions of the cow quite apart from the additional amount required for milk production. Not only does the dairy cow re. quire an abundance of feed, but the foodstuffs provided must comprise a balanced ration which is both succulent and palatable. Every dairy farmer recognises that his herd normally reaches its maximum production during the spring and early summer months when there is a luxuriant growth of pasture. It must follow then that to get the best results these conditions must be imitated as closely as possible for the whole year, by artificial means when necessary.

DRAINAGE PROBLEMS 4 - i| ROUND THE COWSHEDS '^J Possibly' the disposal of the drain- % age from dairy buildings is one of ? the most unsatisfactory matters be dealt with where the premises are situated on level ground. It is :■$ not always easy to provide for the i discharge of drainage at a distance . of 45ft by means of open concrete j as required on level ground, and often, a sloppy, stagnant puddle hole exists at the end of the drain. On a sloping site the drain can ber easily extended and the discharge kept much further awaj r from ther buildings. Where the character of the sub r sort is sufficiently porous, the drainage from the dairy buildings may be conveyed by close earthenware drains > properly trapped near the to rubble absorption pits. These pits are provided with sub-earth radiate ing lateral rubble drains and the - pits themselves are covered with ol<f sleepers' and earth. system, where the earth conditions %re satisfactory, provides a very inoffensive* and satisfactory means of drainage disposal. Care should be taken thaF the least possible amount of manure is washed into the closed drain. Cowyard odour is readily absorbed" by milk and cream. If this odour isabsent from the dairy and surroundings. one of the principal causes af-' fecting cream quality js removed. where 1 there is odour thereare also many minute particles of* " manure in the form of dust floating in the air.