THE FARM-INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 481, 14 April 1909, Page 5

THE FARM-INDUSTRY.

WHY CALVES ARE NOT KEPT.

the views of the dairy farmer. An element of interest to New Zealand dairy farmers is contained in tho following /r ?, m 'he " Livo Stock Journal (London)\ . "There aro several stock pieces of advico circulated in agricultural papers, and trotted out at aftor-dinner speeches, often applauded, but nevertheless not followed, 'i'hero aro tho old complaints that our cattlo and sheep aro mado too fat, that judges should disqualify breeding animals that aro overloaded with nosh, that sheep should be exhibited in a natural state; and, what it is desired at tho present moment to discuss—that farmers should rear their own calves and raise their own cows. As opinions all these ideas are sound, but they aro not likoly to bo followed by'those .who think differently, or, more correefcly, >uliosg most concerned. It is unnecessary to discuss tho showyard but a few remarks upon weaning calves may bo helpful.. It is the practico of so many cowkeepers to sell new-born calves as soon as possible, and to depend upon the market for buying cows, or in-calving heifers, that we cannot escape -from tho conclusion that they find this course the most profitabb. They have no ulterior or philanthropic notions, but simply act, ag they think, for tho best. "Tho demands of a contract enjoin upon them a regular supply of milk, and calves interfere with this obligation. Not only so, but young stock is slow in coming into profit, and requires years to develop into good dairy cattle. During this time heifers monopolise land which might support cows, and reduce the output of milk. A big monthly cheque is of great importance to the milk-seller, and it is with him a question whether ho is justified in. keeping a number of dry cattlo, when he could keep l cows in full profit instead. The upshot of' these reflections is that he determines to buy cows as they are wanted—i.e., when his milk! supply seems likely 'to fail. Of course tho ; difficulties and trials of milk-vendors . aro often serious. They tako the form of barrenness, abortion, loss of quarters, and othferi evils, sometimes of an unexpected and unexplained nature. In such circumstances they' are hampered by the slow progress of yearling and two-year-old heifers, ! and would gladly exchange them for two or three cows in full profit—-which, indeed, they are most likely to do. Hence they drift away from rearing and become cowi-buyers. Another" point is the character of tho land, for good

dairy land, suitably situated, may be better stocked with cow's than with young stock, and tho rearing and bringing out of in-calvers may be more profitably carried out in less' accessible places. The fact is-there is a good demand for heifer calves, which are deported to districts where they aro weaned and reared. _ "It may be urged with reason that milk is not a necessity for calves, as there are many milk substitutes. This is true, bnlj young calves ought to have milk at first, and do on nothing so well. The best time to suckle calves is, unfortunately, tho very time- when milk is scarce and. dear, and although milk substitutes may be used, the calves often lose their calf-flesh if deprived of new milk. Besides, a heifer calf which may make 405.. when; only a fortnight old is often worth very little as a weanling the next winter, and there are considerable risks of death, stunted appearance, slow growffli, and ultimate barrenness, Quick returns are not associated with protracted periods of keep and a heifer w ; t h her first calf is not highly profitable. -The'cow-keeper becomes impatient, and in many cases gives un weaning. '.'. •_;■.: ■ _ "The question has been argued rather'on tne side of selling young calves, but there-are many cases in which it suits tho farmer to wean his good heifer calves. This is the case' wherever a pedigree or even an improving herd, and £ood bulls, are kept. It require! no great effort to show the advantage of thissystem, but it is clear that milk production is not the sole object. "As to whether it is better to sell calves and replace cows or to wean calves and/bring them mto the dairy as heifers, all depends & c A roumstanoe . s ' bo* in good business hands the former is most likelv to yield the greater amount of profit/ It. is, open to-rather heavy risks, as much judgment is required ur buying cows, and a good deal of work is entailed Si looking out for them £ri?,wT n fi. flf h r e ; bml cal ™ more suitable for those who do not love the rough-and-tumb e of the market, with its deeepS w,t,b +1, ,SapP !il tme c uts -, U is Pl««Mt to watch the growth of calves and yearlings hfutt 0 Pro ?T of**™* cows coming but less stirring, less speculative, and sometimes ess profitable. Personalch'aracterwill often determine the course followed, for some men love the excitement of the market" S oiho™ p r ef er J. V™ »£ necessary rather than upon constant buying It therefore appears that b6fct systems % e the ' r . and that the%hoic*™f larm and the inclinations fof 'tU farmer The wnter ,s naturally the more contempative system, buf Mlv sees S to H "»V » less likely -to &■ hS/I

MELBOURNE VETERINARY COLLECE,

COMMEMORATIVE DINNER. <?ilruth's new charge, tho University Veterinary College of Melbourne, still remain, a cent f int(m£& the big citj Although several banquets in its honour have **?*, reoordKi ' there" had been left room for still one more function, a dinner to commemorate its founding. Tho event w™ cons,dered sufficiently important for the MeTreZ° U g ° \W* ik a >» half column report. It was held at thl Cafe Francais ■ Dy .a jarge. number of members of tho University Council, professors, graduates and others particularly interested in ve terinarv was in tho chair and with' him at the central l*ir ft tk T Ml ,% s h)?' f Agriculture™M Graham), the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, the vice-chancellor of the university (Sir Honrv Wrixon), tho warden of'the university (Dr th 6 «-»«■ of Agriculture tho Board o Health, .and various professors. «. Ar n et "The Founders of the Melbourne University School," referred to the new college for veterinary science, ami said tho wonder was that a State in which agricultural ■ and pastoral industries were so important have been without it so long. -The present Government had adopted the Bill of its predecessor, and tor that was deserving of all thanks, together with the City Council, which had helped m tho most material wav. Professor Baldwin Spencer, supporting tho toast, referred to "the excellent innovation" ot tho veterinary school as an additional proof that universities' were no longer tho' homo of conservative feeling. Tho Viee-Chancellor (Sir Henry Wrixon) proposed 'TJlo Incumbent of the Chair of Veterinary : .Dathology"-professor Gilnith. .1 rotcsspr/fcrilrotli, in replv, remarked that as regards,the future of tho veterinary profession tho prospect seemed to him quite satisfactory. The few highest prizes would be for the doctors, but a good and comfortable income was assured, ho thought, .for the hulk of/those who took.up the veterinary profession—provided, of course, they were thorough and'sincere. In the matter of national defence there was much to bo done by veterinary science. The breed of its horses was very important for a country, from the defence standpoint as well as from other standpoints. An act of Parliamont alono could not keep the country free from diseases of r stpck. They must have tho men in.tho country, ablo to do tho necessary work. ■ (Applause.* '

SECOND CROP OF APPLES.

VITALITY OF HEREFORDS,

DAIRYING AT PAHIATUA,

PERSONAL NOTE.

KEWS AND NOTES FOE THE MAN ON. THE LAN®.

THE PROPOSED WAIRARAPA FARMERS' FREEZING CO. {To the Editor.) • Sir, —References to the abovo proposed company often appear in your paper, the last one- being tho meetings held at Palmerston, PciMing, and AVoodville: With your permission I should like, as a farmer, to touch on one or two points which, if this concern is to bo made a success, will need rectifying. I tako it that tho first and most important step in organising any business is to get tho confidence of those from whom support is oxpected—a point which has been quite overlooked in the present instance. On tho first of April a meeting was held in Palmerston North, and it was then decided to discuss the project at AVoodville through tho coming week. Being a resident of the AVoodvillo district, and a member of a local branch of tho Farmers' Union, I kept a sharp look out for the advertising of a date iu tho local paper by those people taking an active part in this matter. Nothing of the sort appeared, but in your issue of tho Bth it transpired that tho proposed meeting had oecn held on tho previous day. Local farmers (unless specially invited) were thus kept in ignorance of tho matter, and yet it is from these pcoplo that support is expected. How can public confidence bo expected when it is plainly not extended? My own idea is that notice should havo been sent to every branch of the Farmers' Union both in Hawke's Bay and tho AVairarapa and Wellington Proymces, requesting suggestions, and the sonding of a delegate to a conference to be held at a given date and place. None could then have felt themselves loft out in tho cold, as in this instance. Among other things I notice, too, that the AVeber-Her-bertvillo district (the finest sheep-growing country in tho North Island, bar none) is not represented at all, although practically all its sheep go to Wellington. This, I feel sure, is a big mistake, for although that district is a good way back, it is well known that competition for its sheep is very keen, and the farmers there have for years past always received about Is. per 'head moro for their sheep than was obtainable about hero. Ono other point, and I am done. This refers to the matter of shares about to be issued. Being exclusively a farmers' enterprise (if it comes off), it ought to followthat no shares should be issued to any other than a farmer, and the number issued to each individual should bo absolutely regulated by tho quantity of sheep he winters —i.e., one share to each hundred sheep, at a price to.bo fixed by the directors of tho proposed company. In this way each farmer would have a fair and equitable voice in all matters at ballot—a vote for each sharo held by him. No single individual could then force the position in any particular direction beyond his real interest in sheepfarming. _ This is a venture which, if run on rioht lines, ought to and would, I feel sure, succeed, but it will not get tho support' of a whole farming community if it is to bo only run in tho interests of a few. Trusting my hints may be of some uso at' the present time.—l am, etc., INTERESTED. April 12.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Enclosed is a sample of second crop of apples growing on a-"tree "on the sido of the railway lino at Woodsido. -There is also blossom on the-trco. .The tree is one grown from a pip, thrown out, and it shows the suitability of the IVairarapa foi fruit-growing. I have never seen an apple tree with second crop on before, so I thought I would send you a sample.—l am, etc., ltr , ~.; , RUSSET. Woodside, April 10. ' [The apples sent are a well-developed sample for second crop. The suitability of Wairarapa soil for apple production is now recognised, but our correspondent is in error m concluding that a second crop of fruit is a good sign. Orchardists dislike to see a second crop. It. is usually a sign that the summer growth of tho" tree was checked bv dryness of the soil, and that the later arrival of moisture carried an unseasonable development of blossom buds, which should havo remained dormant to bear tho crop of noxt year. The second crop is never of marketable account, and it is usually produced at a disadvantage to. the following season s crop. Our correspondent's interesting lettor, however, draws attention to the special prevalence of second crop this season, which has been noticed in many districts. In all cases apples are' the principal culprits.]

Mr. Moore, of Kai Iwi, who owned the big bullock at the Masterton Show, is keeping the world well informed of the virtues of his favourite breed, the Herefords. This is what he said in a letter to the "Pas-1 toralists' Review," which the "Livo Stock Journal (Loudon) has now reproduced:— "Sir,—Duriiig the past two winters I have been struck by the marvellous capability of Horeford cattle to live on practically nothing. I have had weanevs and two-year-o ds on rough, bush-log country running witli sheep, and throughout the winter there was absolutely no feed for cattle. Yet they managed to live, and when the spring grass came threw off their old coats and put on condition wonderfully. '-/'After my experience I have no hesitation in saying that had these cattle been Shorthorns they would certainly have been all dead. • I am not saying this because I am prejudiced in favour of Hereford cattle, but because I believe it to be the simple truth. lam convinced that on good country one could fatten two Herefords to one Shorthorn, and on rough country carry three Herefords to one Shorthorn, also that the former would come out better than the latter, even under theso conditions. "Frank Moohe."

Despite the recent rough weather (writes our lahiatua correspondent), it has not proved bad for the farmer, and thorn is a prospect of reasonably good feed during tho winter, lor this lato season of the year tho milk supply is keeping up wonderfully well, and the Ballance Co-operative Dairy Comffin anticipates paying out upwards of £5500 during tho coming week for milk supplied. Iho average test all over exceeds 4 per cent. It is worthy to note the number of milkinc machines that aro being used. Most of the big sheds and a good number of the smaller sheds baye various plants installed, while several travellers have been round endeavouring to secure orders for next season.

Tho retiring State Apiarist, Mr. I. Hopkins intends to spend tho northern summer of next year in Engh-id. Mr. Hopkins's excellent health and activity at his advanced years seem to suggest that Leekceping may bo conducive to longevity, just as heo stings are now admitted to'be an oven more certain cure for rheumatismsthan are tho waters of llotorua. Mr. Hopkins joined the Department of Agriculture- about four years ago, at tho ago of Co, and during his service bo has endured an amount of travelling and traveller's hardships that would have shaken up many a younger man. But Mr. Hopkins lias come out of tho ordeal fit for a trip round tho world. If his retirement (under the retrenchment scheme) had been decided on a month earlier ho would probably have visited England this vear; but as he would now miss most of tho English spring and summer, he will defer the visit till next season. At present Mr. Hopkins is travelling in the North Island- finishing up somo of his official tasks.