THE ROBBER COW AGAIN,

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 838, 9 June 1910, Page 8

THE ROBBER COW AGAIN,

SHOULD IT BE BRANDED? Of the 250,001) cows ill Tarannki Mr. J. R. Corrigan, of Hawera, estimates that 50,000 produce only 1501b. of butter-fat •per annum, and ure milked at an annual loss of 12s. Gd. per head, or in nil about .£30,000 per annum. The average profit .on the whole of the cows Mr. Corrigan puts at 15s. per head, after paying interest on the land and the cost of niilk- ■ ing. Mr. Corrigon's figures may possibly over-state the position, but there, can be no doubt that, the loss through robber cows is very heavy. Discussing the best means of remedying it, Mr.. Corrigan says:—"l think the 'Minister for Agriculture could assist, the farmers greatly if the dairy inspectors wore taught milk-testing and' provided with the necessary machinery. Then each farmer could get his cows tested, and, by keeping a record of each cow, : at the end of the season ho would bo able' to easily pick out his unprofitable cows. These cows when culled out. should; be all branded by 'the dairy or slock: inspector with a Government brand, then' they would not be likely to find their way into another herd, but would "he bought np by graziers for fattening purposes. At tiro present time these unprofitable cows are culled out of one dairy and sold, bought up by another dairyman, . and there they go round year, after year to, the loss of the unfortunate dairyman who buys them. If the Government and farmers, worked together, and, say, started with a minimum of 1751b. butter-fat as the standard, and put a cull brand on every oow that would not produce 1751b. butter-fat per. annum, I don't think .it. would be a hardship on any farmer. In fact, the opposite; it would be money in his pocket." _ -'Somewhat similar' proposals to this have been discussed at. the annual A. and P.. conferences. It has been suggested,' for instance, that all cows which have suffered from contagious mammitis and abortion should be branded with distinguishing marks,. and that all cows which, have undergone, a, milk-test should . be entered in a register, and have their numbers branded on them. It is . obvious enough that when milk-testing' becomes more general the robber cows will be put in the sale-yards, passed on, and. tested through the. whole Of their career by their, successivo purchasers. Such a wastevas this ought to be prevented. The time i» hardly ripe for dealing with the problem, however, though it is one that' .will have to be faced later on. ;; y