THE LECTURES

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1780, 19 June 1913, Page 8

THE LECTURES

EXPERTS TALK TO FARMERS, IMPORTANT SUBJECTS. This morning was occupied wilh ml', dresses to the firmers by Mr. 11. E. Guilliaui, State Dairy Instructor; Jlr. H A. lieid, F.K.C.V.K., .D.V.H., IUi.S.K, tftato Bacteriologist; and Mr. I'rimro.-e M'Connell, manager of the .State farm at lluakura. Infectious Diseases, Mr. Reid's observations concerned certain infectious diseases which affect New Zealand stock. Mr. lieid first dealt with manimitis, which, 110 said, still caused considerable trouble in New Zealand, though it was not as rife as it was four years ago. Mr. Ifeid spoke at length 011 tho question of treatment and other point?, and so-called cures. The beat treatment was to isolate the animal, apply poultices, use a little liniment, and give tho animal opening medicine. Contagious vaginitis, lie said, was a disease which lwd lately como under notice in New Zealand. 111 touching 011 tho subject of contagions abortion, he said that tho methods advocated by tho New Zealand Agricultural Department had had good results, and that a new treatment was just now being watched with interest in England. Ho explained the nature of Johnne's disease, a trouble well-known in Europe. As to tuberculosis, authorities' considered that bovine bacillus was communicablo to man. it was estimated that forty per cent., of the cattle of Great Britain were affected by the disease. To some extent the prevalence of tho diseaso in pigs was due. to the insanitary conditions under which they were kept-, In reply to a question, Jlr. Ifcid said that diseases of the udder were not hereditary, but a predisposition to disease might be. PHASES OF DAIRYING. Mr. M'Connell spoke 011 various aspects of dairy farming. On the subject of the building lip of a dairy herd, lie said that lie rocognised_ the enormous difficulties with which New Zealand farmers had to contend. 111 many eases both capital and experience were limited, and for such tho undertaking was slow. Tho demand for dairy stock was now so keen that it was a difficult matter for a beginner to gather up at once a reliable herd. It would bo better, however, if ho wero possessed of a few heifers and reliable cows than a large herd of cows that would not yield' suniciont butter and cheese to pay for their upkeep. When n choice offered itself, the selection should bo made by type aiul conformation, in tho absence of a pedigree. Tho points wero not infallible, and the only real test of quality was the milk record. 111 order to succeed a man must have a lovo for his work, and take a delight in attending to his cows. The next thing was to attend to the choice of a sire. It should be the ambition of every farmer to improve his stock, and this end might bo greatly hastened by the use of a siro of undoubted milking" strain. Tlio old saying, "tho bull is half the herd," should bo taken to heart. When a farmer persisted in using a cheap mongrel bull, lie, was employing the best means of courting disaster. Once the breed of the sire was chosen, it should be stuck to through thick and thin, ond crossing .-did reerossing not commenced. If indiscriminate breeding was persisted in, 110 real success need be looked for. and it was tho persistent crossing of all kinds of stock that was the bane of the whole industry. There was 110 animal more capable of improvement than the cow, and the produce of the dairy increased in proportion to the attention sho received. Iler produce could ba doubled by judicious treatment, yet this advantage was often ignored. Ho thought a little too much was made of tho fact that it was wise to give tho cows a spell between their periods of lactation. His own. experience was that if the cows, wore fed well, thov required very little rest. It had been abundantly proved that the great milkers were great feeders, yet they produced milk much more economically than the small eaters. To starve a cow of high milking capacity was nothing short of criminal. Tho value of Income as a fodder crop was'undeniable. , Failing this, a stack of ensilage hold in reserve was as good as money in the bauk. In the North Island, generally speaking, fodder crops of ono sort or another might bo grown in the average season all the year round, and to be completely successful, tho sower should tread on the heels of the reaper. When cows were being fed with green fodder, they should rcceive a full ration, and not allowed to depend partly on that and partly on tho pasture. On the subject of call-raising Mr. M'Connell stated that his experience iii the hand-reaving' of calves had possibly been as great as that of anyone present at' the meeting. The heifer calvcs would one day become members of a farmer's dairy lierd, and on them would his livelihood depend. Every care should bo taken ti givo them judicious feeding. Tho fact was that excessive milk production meant an enormous demand 011 the energy of a cow, aud it could be easily understood that too much pains could not be taken in developing a foundation 011 which to build that energy. It \vas tho common opinion that tho con; that was always thin was the greatest milk and butter-fat producer, but exhaustive experiments had proved that that opinion could 110 longer be supported. The treatment of the dairy heifer should, therefore, bo 011 very liberal lines. The lecturer described a system of rearing highclass dairy calves which ho had found gave the best results. For the first three weeks they should be given new milk, at tho end of which timo they should be taught to eat a handful of dry crushed oats and dry crushed linseed, in the proportion of four of oats to two of liusced. Good-hay should be available, and also plenty of good drinking water, and a supply of rock salt. Gruel might bp entirely dispensed with. When calves were turned out to graze tho paslures should bo sweet and eiean; the paddock that is used year aftei year for this purpose is- tho source of many calf troubles. Allowing all the calves to drink from one trough at the same timo could not bo too strongly condemned. A common and often fatal ailment among calves was duo to the curdled milk in the stomach becoming so hard that it could not pass into the bowels. Such a condition ultimately affected the brain, and the calf died as if in a fit. A sure preventive of this trouble was a piucli of carbonate of soda stirred into the milk. Calf feeding, to be completely successful, should be attended to by one man, and carefully at that. As winter approached," calves should be housed at night in a dry shed, and given hay and a little sweet oat sheaf chaff. A ration of roots might bo added with the best effect. The reasons why "Victor" Vats havo been so favourably received by Cheese Factory Managers aro not far'to seek. In tho first place the workmanship ami material of these vats are excellent, that they outlast tlio old style vats, and give years of good service. Secondly, (lie "Victor" with its sloping bottom' helps to produce cheese of a high-grade quality, that brings better returns. The "Victor" lias helped others—it can help you—if you don't'possess ono of the hundreds that have been installed. Send for particulars to-day.. Albert J. Parton, Plumber, Carterton—Advt. Develop the milking propensity anil high butter-fat test by using tho "Gilruth" Calf Food. Tlio constitutionbuilder. It is not only tlio best, but also the cheapest.—Advt. "Economy isn't meanness—it's mana"ing." "l'is because most farmers are good managers and progressive that so many "Anderson" Oil Engines are in use. The "Anderson" is tho most economical' Oil Engine made—it costs little for fuel and saves a lot of labour. It will drivo any machine about the farm—and it WILL drivo it—it won't start and stop and "back" as so many forni engines do. If you need a good farm worker, get an "Anderson" Oil Engine. It is an untiring worker, and will never "strike." Send for particulars Anderson's, Ltd., Christchurch.—Advt. Men in Chicago, owing to the closefitting clothes that American tailors are making, havo taken to vanity hags to carry their handkerchiefs, cigarette cases, and purses. " ' | Mothers need not worry about their ! children's coughs. A few drops of "NA- i ZOJ" 011 a piece of lump sugar allowed ! to dissolve in tho mouth quickly euros. In bottles, Is. (id. Keep one tiandv.— Advt. Custom? duMss cijllm-.ted at t.l-,n i-.rtrt .>[ a'auiwtioa to today nmouutcd to Ue,