Dairy Year Begins Well

Chronicle (Levin), 5 November 1949, Page 3

Dairy Year Begins Well

w Once again the dairy production year has opened well for local farmers. Conditions so far have proved generously favourable for dairy stock, as is borne out by herd testing figures. The average output of butterfat per cow for the Shannon-Foxton herd testing group for August was 34.3 Ihs. against 30 lbs. for the same month last year. September figures for the group are 37.6 lbs against 35' lbs for 1948. Butter output from the Shannon dairy factory for September shows an increase of 20 tons for the month over Jast year, the output last month being 147 tons and for the same month last year 127 tons. The chief reason for this satisfactory position has undoubtedly been the favourable climatic conditions experienced during the past winter and up to date. Though perhaps the winter was too wet to suit many farmers on the heavier laaids, mild conditions ruled and a very good grass growth for the time of the year resulted. Cows calved in good conditions and inroads on feed reserves were not heavy. Growing conditions have continued to be satisfactory -to date. There was, however, a spell of cold and windy weather near the end of September which cheeked grass growth. In most cases farmers had sufficient feed on hand to overcome this period, but as a result those who made a practice of closing paddocks up as soon as they could be spared for an early ensilage crop have found that these areas will be ready a week or so later than was the case last year. The outstanding feature of the season has beeh th.> good growth that appeared- - early and this greatly helped in adequately feeding cattle at the start of the season. These early months are one of the periqds of greatest diffieulty for the f armer : and this 'year his -feeding worries have been at a minimuln, 1 " 1 ■' "r' ■' i •" " i - T riift-iriiBii ii't r -miii'- " —