PRODUCING MILK TO THE ACRE

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1114, 29 April 1911, Page 8

PRODUCING MILK TO THE ACRE

AN IMPORTANT MATTER;

Tho. amount of milk and butter-fat produced to tho acre'is, generally speaking, the final test of profitable dairying where.all feed is raised on tho farm! (says "Hoard's Dairyman"). This depends not only on efficient cows, hut also on raising crops that contain a maximum amount of digestible nutriment, and especially protein, which is so essential for dairy cows.The journal develops its case by the ■use of figures which are somewhat foreign to New Zealand, but, nevertheless, servo, to illustrate an important contention. It says:—"There aro four different systems of cropping for dairy farms. By the first two, 160 acres of land will support the equivalent of 38 and 51 cows respectively. By the other two, the same farm will support the equivalent, of 65 awl 100 cows respectively. The first will make 9911b, the second 14751b., the third 20251b., and the fourth 31501b. of milk to the acre. The poorest system of cropping returns 15.16 dollars to the acre in milk, while the best system returns 48.20 dollars to the acre. The first system will give an annual return-of 2625 dollars from the farm, and tho last 8246, or more than .three times the first. "But this is hot all. The net results as to nitrogen in the soil is to lose 19001b. annually by the first system, to gain 1101b. in the second, 22801b. in the tliird, and 53301b. in the 'last. These differences are due to the kind of crops raised and their adaptability to the feeding of dairy cows; for the cows are figured at the same natural" efficiency •and sail equally, productive in each of tho four systems. It is certainly worth while to consider crop plans that make such a difference in the Teturns and the maintenance .o{ the soil.

"The investigation of the Department of Dairy' Husbandry "the. last dozen years show that the farmer is.not getting the profits lie should get for the investment of time and money in milk production. Thero' are several reasons. One is the inefficient cows, and the Department lias done much investigating, to show the difference in efficiency to individual cows. Another great waste is in raising crops that do not yield anything like the maximum amount of digestible nutrients to the acre that it is possible to obtain. This is especially true in regard to protein contained in the crops commonly raised on the dairy farm, and so essential in '"" "the ration for dairy cows. For example,', an acre of timothy hay does not contain more than one-tenth as much digestible' protein as an acre of alfalfa hay."