HIGH PRODUCING FARMS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 85, 27 June 1944, Page 7

HIGH PRODUCING FARMS

SUMMARY OF METHODS

Recent visits to high-producing dairy farms in the Manawatu and Wairarapa districts have thrown into shape relief the main reasons for the success obtained on those properties (states a bulletin Issued by Massey Agricultural College). A summary of impressions gained from those visits may assist in the Do-minion-wide drive for more dairy production. It must be emphasised (1) that onlj r the less, obvious methods arc outlined here, and are actually in operation 011 those successful farms; they are not the only ways whereby production could be increased, and (2) that it is realised that there are. probably many properties in New Zealand even better farmed than those visited, but that, on the other hand, the country's production would be much greater if farms not so well conducted could be. brought up to this level. Pasture management, whereby the grass is kept at a uniform level of up to three inches for cattle, figures most prominently. This involves daily rotational grazing of. paddocks, of about eight acres each, all of them preferably having direct access to a lane, which should be along the driest part of the farm, and have a concrete runway where there is risk of pugging the ground tluring winter. Hay, and sometimes ensilage, is taken off in racks or milking shed, and any paddock which can be spared are shut up from mid-April to provide l'resh feed at cal-ving time. Chou moellicr, occasionally sown with swedes, supplements hay as the winter ration. Few heifers are kept whose mothers have not averaged upwards of 3501b butter fat; and a layout of the piggeries to give cleanliness and warmth, with a corresponding reduction in the amount 'of food necessary to bring pigs to marketable weights, is insisted upon. Mole and tile drainage is carried out on the heavier clay subsoils, with box drains on the areas inclined to peatiness. Gateways are well gravelled, and in one case, the herd brings little, mud into the cowyard because of a square concrete wate» tank, 12 inches in depth, stretching across the lane giving entrance to the yard. A plentiful water supply for cleaning the wellplanned sheds, and for the use of stock in the paddocks,, is considered essential. Water for ed"ch paddock is supplied through pipes to con? cretc troughs fitted with a ball-cock joint to prevent flooding; and gravel for a few yards round the troughs keeps these places dry. A system of sliaremilking or pro-fit-sharing in cases where the owner also works on the place, appears to have given additional incentive to steady work and careful management.