FEWER HEIFER CALVES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 141, 13 August 1941, Page 5

FEWER HEIFER CALVES

POSITION THiS SEASON

EFFECT OF CHANGE TO CHEESE

WHAT FARMERS ARE! THINKING

Fewer heifer calves will probably be reared in the Whakatane district this season than Avas the case last season, That was the opinion expressed to a representative of the BEACON by a local resident who is in close touch with fanners throughout the district.

The changing over of several hundred dairy farmers from butter supply to cheese supply is certain to mean that considerably less calves nil] be reared on those farms, he v:iid. Farmers who expect to bp tending milk to tlie cheese factory next month will not rear any late calves. Ihdeed, on some farms no further calves are now being saved, although only about half the cov.s have yet calved. Thus many heifer calves from good cows will go on the bobby calf lorry during the remaining weeks of August and in September and October.

Use of Whole Milk,

In previous seasons these farmers have had plenty of skim milk tor calves and pigs. Now, with the change over to cheese in the near future, the skim milk supply will cease. However, farmers have beeti advised that no objection will be raised by the authorities if a reasonable amount of milk is separated to provide skim milk for calves until the time for weaning. No doubt many farmers wilf do this, although it will entail the labour of setting up and washing the separator for a Small quantity of the milk from the herds. Some farmers say they will feed their growing calves on whole milk to which water will be added,

as is a common practice in cheese factory districts., Calf meal will probably be used to a greater extent than will be the case were skim milk is available in the old style.

Half as Many,

Farmers in the new cheese district expect that their calves will be fairly well grown before the change over takes place (probably next month). Hence the disinclination to save any but the earliest heifer calves. Thus it is not uncommon to hear farmers say they will rear only half as many calves as last year. No doubt the same state of affairs exists in other districts of New Zealand, where it is said about 4000 butter suppliers have or will change to cheese supply.

It will be remembered that last season the Government urged farm-

ers to rear as many calves as possible with a view to increasing production in future years, or at leasl of maintaining New Zealand's herds at full strength. Farmers responded well to this appeal, and there must be a good crop of yearling heifers as a result.

Conditions Altered

This year conditions are not the same. For one thing, there are less hands to do the work on many farms, owing to young men being in the Armed Forces. Labour on the farm Is no small factor in determining how many calves shall be reared, and how many ■ shall be sent away as bobby calves. Feeding calves twice daily means work lor someone, and fortunate indeed are those farmer 0

who- have children big enough to take over the calf feeding. Where those left on the farms are over

worked they will be disinclined to save and rear more than the minimum number of calves needed to replace annual losses of cows.

The Short View,

Another factor is the matter of £ s d. Whole milk consumed by calves will not be paid for by the dairy coy on the 20th of next month, while milk in the can brings in a sure and quick return. This point is important at the present time, when many peoj>le are inclined to take a short view, ratiier than a long view. Farmers and sharemilkers can hardly be blamed if they rear fewer Calves and thus get bigger cheque? in the spring months, when mos: folk's bank accounts can do with a bit more cash.

In the meantime the fate of many newly-born heifer is in the balance. To rear, or not to rear? That is the question which farmers have to consider. Fortunately for the future strength of the dairy herds there is a certain amount of swapping bull calves for heifer -o l vf.s by neighbouring farmers, where one man is getting more c,i are of bull calves early in the season.