THE FARM INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 568, 24 July 1909, Page 8

THE FARM INDUSTRY.

SHORTHORNS WIN. A BEEF CONTEST. In view of tlio Hereford challcngo to tlio beef-producing .world, which i» now hfiiigjng in tlio air in Now Zealand, it is interesting to find that in a summary of boot'.contests compiled by Mr. Herbert. Ingle for tlio "Transactions of tlio Highland iirnl Agricultural Society" (of Britain) tlio Shorthorn came out a winner. Tlio informal ion on which this conclusion was bnswl wim collect rd from reports of over 200 touts that bad been conducted during a poriod of 7fi years, up to 1908. Tho following table will show how tlio breeds compare: — • ■ • Average Number daily main Breed. of lots, por head. Shorthorn ... ... !1!) 2,03 Irish c.rossbrals ... 21 1.00 Welsh ... II 1.8(1 Aberdeon Angus- ... 'I 1.80 ' Norfolk polled \.. 'il 1.81! Hereford ... ... '10 1,793 Ayrshiro ... ... t! 1.57 Galloway ... ... 20 '1,62 * Blue-greys 12 1,60 Theso beasts, of course, woro fed on different principles , from thoso followed in Now Zealand, whoro grazing is tho nininaljiy. An grazing and "roughing it" aro the conditions chiefly under which Hereford mon claiiii that tlioir brood can "lick croation," it would not bo right to judgo thrau under British stallfeeding methods. Still, tho, results should oncourago owners of other breeds of cattlo to tako up tho Hereford challenge (whon it oomos out), for on tho figures shown, oven tlio ajigular Ayrshiro appoars to lmvo a sporting chance.- / ( When wo judgo theso contests on tho basis of tlio cost per pound of hoof produced, tho Shorthorn still ranks high, though tho Horpford runs it mo'ro closely. Tlio lop breed of all is tho Aberdeen Angus. Tho positions arc:— ' ■ Food ' , , , constituents Number por lb. of ...... Breed. of lots, increaso. ' Aberdeon Angus... ... ' 4 ' 8.375 Shorthorn 39 8.533 Blue-greys 12 8.858 . Hereford ... ... 40 9.74 Galloway : ... -... ~.., 20 10.185. ' Ayrshiro ... ... .... 2 10.20! i Welsh : ... ... ... .14 10.257 Irish crossbreds ... ..., ; 24 10.32, Norfolk polled ... ... 3 .10.50 Only twelve sox tests were conducted, but in thoso instances tho heifers, on tho: whole,. beat the bullocks in rapidity of gain. Tile 'same investigator shows tho differences in tho gains made by animals of different ages, as follow:— Age . ' Number 'Dailygain . (months.) - of lots. per head. G 8 , . , • 1.25 - . 12 14 1.63 13 . 11 • ' 1.83 : 24 51 1.79 30 . 18 \1.86 : 36 : 40 ' 2.08 ■ 48 2 . 1.46 , Thus greater daily gains were made by the older animals. But it was.done at a greater oost of food. The younger animals made better use of the i food they consumed as isshown:— ; ; Albuminoids and ■Age Number starch equivalents (months.)' of lots. per lb. of gain. . 6 . . 8 8.171b5. ' 12 ' 14 . ■. 8.151b5. ' 18 11 . 8.741b5; 24 51 !).991bs. 30 , • 18 8.9711)3. 36 . 38 8.551b5. 48 2 ■ , O.SOlba. ' Early maturity and early dispateh. to the butcher, are, therefore, desirable, and as that conduces to the tenderest beef will please the consumer. The .author of the compilation suggests an ideal 'ration for an animal of about IOOOIbV live-weight. It may interest New Zealahders, even though -it may be too elaborate to be acted upon. He recommends;—'* ' .; ' ' Linseed cake, 31b. ' . Decorticated cotton-cake, 31b. u,. -■. ■ Clover-hay chaff, 101b. • Maize or barley meal, 21b. [/■ y : Oat straw .chaff,'slb. Roots, ,401b. i<' . The alternative ration, in which an equal weight of bran meal replaces, the linseed cake, and grass or ■ silage replaces the hay, would como nearer .to, the New Zealander's liking. In any case, the New Zealand fattener, whose faith is- chiefly t in:.root's ; and good grass, will be able to see how far he has strayed from the ideal. As the New Zealand beef contest is to 'be waged on good rough forage, tho figures here given still leave the result interestingly open. ; \

SKIMMED MILK AS PIG FOOD. A further estimate of the value of skimmed milk as a .food for pigs is. given, by Mr. H. W.. Potts, principal of Hawkelsbury Agricultural College, Sydney.-, He was-, asked (1) what was the 50 gallons of separated milk as pig-food, in comparison with pollard-at Is. per busnel, bran at lOd. per uushel) and mill sweepings- at sa. per 1001b.; . and (2) what' foods should be inixed with separated milk to make a properly balanced ration; ' He replied as follows:— "It should be noted that'analyses of bran, pollard, and separated; milk / vary, considerably, and this will make the comparison only a general one.- Mill-sweepings cannot bo taken into account, as they are in no way a standard article, and would differ greatly m food constituents, even from the same mill. • Only an analysis of th« particular sample could enablo a comparison- to bo made; Food values are separated into three classes,- viz., protein (or the nitrogenous portion), carbohydrates' '(starches, sugar, etc.), and fat, and a general idea of the composition of the foods mentioned may bo gained from the figures given' in Henry's standard work on "Feeds and Feeding" Protein, Carbohydrates, Fat. percent.- per cent, per cent. Wheat-Bran ... 12.2 39.2. 2.7 Pollard ... 12.8 . . 53.0 ' ' 3.4 Sep. Milk 219 5.2 .3 The above are the digestible nutrients only. Perhaps the easiest method of' comparison is to give the am'ounts of theso nutrients for the quantities mentioned:— '. . Protein,' Carbohydrates, - Fat. 201b. Bran... 2.44 - 7.94 ..541b 201b. - Pollard 2.56 : 10.60 -,681b. 501b. Sep. milk 14.50 - 26.0 . 1.501b. Thus it-will be easily seen that the milk contains roughly' sis times as much protein, 2i times; as much carbohydrates, and. 2} times as much fat as pollard; and if the latter is worth Is,, the 50 : gallons separated mi|k, apart from questions of handling, sweetness,. etc., should be worth somewhere about 2s. 9d. . ...' All of the foods mentioned have a narrow nutritive ratio, i.e., the proportion of protein as compared with the Carbohydrates and fat is higll. Bran stands at .1:3.7, pollard 1:4.7, and separated milk about 1:2. To supplement the separated milk with a view to .making it a properly-balanced diet for fattening pfes, grain of some sort should be used, according to availability 'and market values. Maize (with tho wide nutritive ratio of 1:9.8, barley 1:7.1,. rye 1:7.1, or wheat 1:5.6) may be usejl. Feeding tests have shown .that wheatmeal and ■ maizemcal are of the same value in feeding pigs with a decided improvement if used in combination, equal parts of each. Barley and rye are also of about equal feeding value, and about 8 per cent, more of either is reqtiired than of corn or wheat to produce, the same increase in weight., : "It may also bo of interest to. note that from .feeding experiments conducted with pigs, both in Denmark and the U.S.A., 5 or 6 lb. of separated. milk has. replaced llb. v of maizomeal in ■ jtho ration, and • with corn at 3s. 6(1. per bushel, the skim milk, in a properly-balanced ration, is' worth as'high at l}d. per gallon." MASTERT.ON A. Awd P. ASSOCIATION. Mr. G. C. Summerell, manager of thoMaßterton branch of Messrs. Levin and Co., has ' boen elected unopposed as president of tho Masterton A. and P. Measra. }L Monican and ,W. Perry, have bom h*

elected vico-pitsidents, and Mr. J. B. Moodio president. Tho election of, the committee will Iks on July 31. Following arc tho .'lO nominations for 30 positions: —Messrs. W. E. llidwiU, W. E. Buick, D. Cascjborg, 0. C. Cooper, W. Cooper, J. D. Cruicltshaiik, H. J. Dagg, R. J. Dagg, C. E. Daniel], A. Donald, IJ. Donald, H. Evans, It. Gray, ]5. Harper, J. M. Jamos, F. Y* • H. Kummcr, T. P. Lett, J. M'Rac, H. A. Matt lews, D. M'Grrogor, jun., J. C. M'Killop, A. I). Al'Masbor,. J. M'Mastor, A. J. Percy, J. K Perry, J. P. Perry, A. G. Pilmor, Kavnor, G. Shaw, H. Smith, A. J. Wigg, h. Strang. C. Vallnnco, W. D. WirtBon, W. J. Wclcii, and W. D. Williamson.

WELLINGTON FARMERS' MEAT CO. Tnii SITE IUIOBLEM. Mr. J. Milno, secretary of tlio Wellington Fareiccs' Moat- Company, 1/ld,, informed our travelling ropmaenlntlvo Hint l,hci<r was at pixvsonfc no rriuiou for tlift hUUiitwjiil' whioli iind lunm inn do to tlio n(Trcl ( Unit tin) compuny intended to (jolent tho into ol 'ifl worjtfl nt 'I'awii Flal, it Wits fi. fftol., however. lio suid, Hint, u fiilo llioro wiifi iiiidor comtiflonvtion by th» illiwlorii, lm(< nothing would ho decided dollniloly until I'lio company'i) hUmilory mocliim on Bofili'itilior J. Ibo miMMon of ii Hiiilitblo Nil'" ffnii ulvliiß (;bo ilironUirH n lingo anioiiiili ol 1 unHoilii (M'ui.ildonitloii. Mo far as win bo noon l.ln'l'o Wim no plfico urixiJnblo in Wi'lllnii'M)!!, mid tlnv.lliilt dir.tno, iviui out ol' liio i nliiliiu'. bflOiiuHO .tlio.ro won (I not bo'tboro tlio jiH|iili'i'd flrainnfm fncilition, Tiuvii li'liil would bp H I'.'K'd pljico, but bo tboiiglit Hint 11. would bo objected to l>y Wairiu'upa i!liwroiiol<l«rrt. |ij», Himniholdm iu llwi i'Vty Mllo e * 10 1 t lO wcro at pramili'ili'tlio mujority, wante.d a sito iu or iui near Wellinglon iui poHHihlo. ivliilo novcrixi Wiiiroriniii nburoboldiirn wraiwl tho worlt!) lo bo iMTOt-iid botweon Oruirton and Mii.itort.on, or Waingnwa, or near l'oatliorHton, Mr, Milno wmt on to say that tlio sciiomo colli,iilued Ifl leceivo good support. Tho vnluo of tlw rfuiro# taken up was now about £22,000, with oKqllont prospccts of furtiior inoroano til) short intorviils.

AUSTRALIAN BHEEP RETURNB. DECREASE IN NKW SOUTH WALES, o Tho following figures sliow tlio state of tlio Now South Wales slieop. Hocks as compared with last year's position:— Becinning of Year. 1907. 1008. No. No. Sbcop on Jamiary 1 44,132,421 ; 44,461,839 10.105,680 8,534,032 S 'srir* jdu : 1,509,767 1.53M51 55,811,874 .54,525,822 , ■ • End of Year. ■ 1907. 1908. . .. No. No. Slaughtered for S 1,95i,550 2,132,620 Slaughtered for food . „„„ . on stations, etc. 1,119,635 1,237,692 Slanghtored . for 1 , q 1 meat-presorving 554,072 58a,033 Slaughtered. for f,« ip, «. w2l liW?5 171,649 26,085 siiSS,OS7 6^15,755 Exported during ~i . . ... 2,475,210 , 1,849,416 ilses ... : ... 4,201,267 , Total deduction 11,350,035 ■ 11,196,438 Sh combcr n 3l D r. 44,461,839 ' 43,329,384 Theso figures showed-an increase iu the year 1907 of 329,418 sheep_, but a-decrease, in-tho year following of 1,132,455. DAIRY COMPANIES AND MONEY- ' LENDING. \ ' . NEW LAW .WANTED; .

• An attempt is being mad© to remove the legislative farrier which forbids a cooperative dairy company : 'to borrow ■ money for lending out to suppliers, ihe law; whioh imposes this restriction is : the Companies Act, which, it is said, was intended, when passed, to apply to such, concerns its coining companies. On various occasions m recent years, co-operative dairy companies, nave desired, in pursuance of what seems to be a natural function of a co-operative dairy company, to borrow money for lending out to suppliers, but have found such a course would be 'illegal. ' Tno, Taranala Eroracial lExecutivoof'the Farmers' Union has lately discussed the .mattor in •• one> detail, and passed the following motioai:— That .tJie National Dairy Association be urged either to press for the passage of a new Companies Act suitable for dairy and other cooperative companies, or to have the present Act amended in various directions as required by co-operative companies." ■ ' APPRECIATED. The Taranald Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union' has expressed its appreciation of recently,-threatened Moumahaki Experiment Farm .'in the following resolution:—"That this executive expresses its appreciation of the decision of the Department in retaining Moumahaki as a state experiment farm.". ... ARMY MEAT CONTRACT. The Department tof Industries and Commerce has received from the British War Office, through the High -Commissioner in London, forms of tender for the supply of preserved meat to tie British War_ Office, 'iiiese tenders arc to bo delivered at the War Office, ~ Whitehall, London, by 12 noon on September 22 next.- : MOA DAIRY COMPANY. The Moa Dairy. "a mating this week 'decided to subscribe toward the Homo I agent fund of the National Daily Association. The company offered its output to the end of : the present month to Messrs. J. B. MacEwan aind Co. at Hid. PAYABLE PRICES FOR WOOL. It is always pleasing to obtain top prices for tie' products of the estate, station, or farm, but doubly so when markets are low and depressed. ~• .. ' ■ 1 The prospects of obtaining anything like paying prices for wool at, the opening sales in. November last were anything but bright, yet 'wo find on examining the priced catalogue (if Messrs. Dalgety • aiid Co. (Ltd.), Wellington, that ' the wool from Nikau Grange, owned by Messrs Frasor and Sons, Ashhurst, realised - the highest price paid. The condition of the wool reflected the highest credit on the management, and effectively ..demonstrated that the owners are thoroughly up-to-dato in their methods. This clip, liko so many mipre realising top prices in the world's' leading markets at the present time, was QUIBELIi-dipped.^^ MR. FARMER. ' Do you realise the importance of drenching yoilr cows at calving time ? Why does it pay you to drench your cows? . . 'Because it makes them healthy. ' ' Becauso healthy cows give more milk. Because more milk means more money. t Uso.Sjkes's Drench because it is the best. Itrwill thoroughly cleanso cows after calving and make milk puro. , It will cleanse the blood and system,' and prevent milk fever. . It will tone up the digestive organs and assist to sccreto milk. . - . It will act as a preventive of contagious abortion for the ensuing year. Road tho following.— "Wavorley. "A. E. Sykos. "Dear Sir,—Wo have drenched 150 cows this season with S.vkes's Drench, and consider they are healthier this year than last. They are also milking better this year than last, notwithstanding the shortness of grass. "Yours truly, ■ "NICHOLSON BROS." Use only Sykes's Drench, becauso it. is the best. Price Is. 6d. a packet, or 16s. 'by the dozen. Better buy it by the dozen. Write Xfcor Booklet. ! ®.