IN THE MANAWATU

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 280, 20 August 1921, Page 9

IN THE MANAWATU

DAIRY FARMERS’ PROBLEMS AN EXPERIENCE WITH PIGS From Our Own Correspondent. Palmerston North, August 19. The question whether small dairy farms pay better in proportion to their size than larger areas was the subject of discussion when a few farmers got together in the Rangiotu district one day during the present week. Ono of them gave his experiences in connection with the matter. He eaid that three years ago he acquired about 300 acres of the best alluvial river land at what he considered a reasonable rate, and took over the stock, including a large herd of cows, and went in for dairy farming. The herd, ho discovered, was not a good one, and by means of testing he soon eliminated the "drones.” In tho process he was more than surprised to find that some of the best milk producers contributed a smaller proportion of butterfat than many that gave less milk. Even with the good prices ruling, he felt that he was not getting the best out of the land, and he came to the conclusion that it would be better for him to cut the property into smaller areas. A little more than twelve months ago he parted with 50 acres of land to a capable dairy farmer, who at the time had just enough money to erect a house and stock the place. The land was sold on terms, and. the new owner, with an average of 35 cows milked by hand, took more than .£lOOO off the place last year, tho cows averaging about 2751 b. of buttor-fat. This man is now testing and culling, and expects to get more than 3001 b. per cow next year. This goes to show that if dairying is carried out on scientific principles there is money in some of the high-priced lands, provided they are suitable for the purpose. One farmer, who was present, and who has had a good deal of experience in the Taranaki district, said ho considered that some of the Rangiotu and Kairanga lands were infinitely superior to the best Taranaki lands for dairying, being much heavier and producing much better and richer feed. During tho course of conversation the matter of improving dairy herds came up. and tho consensus of opinion was that if farmers only adopted this proc’tics of getting rid of the "drones” they would get much better returns from a smaller number of cows. One farmer pointed out’that th} labour and expense of keeping a herd of 50 cows was just tho same whether the return per cow per month was £2 or X 3. If by neglectin? to take the necessary precautions or by failing to provide adequate feed for the animals a dairyman made only £2 per month per cow, instead of, say, £2 55., he would lose £3 per head per year. On a. herd of 50 cows that meant a loss of .£l5OO in ten years. The dairy farmers in this and the Kairanga district are more than satisfied with their experiments in supplying tho Wellington market with milk from May to August at 2s. per gallon, and contract.'' hare already been made wth the authorities for supplies for next winter. Phis brings in money to producers at a time when the* cows would be practically idle, and it is certain that tt largo” number of dniryme” will arrange for *l c*3^’ r ‘ number of cows to come in for (Ha winter period in future. The only chAngo necossary in the farm curriculum iu the growing of roots and maize for autumn and winter fodder, and the returns should fully justify the expense of this. . . One farmer in the Rangiotu district, who had more land than he could profitably utilise for dairying, last year wont in for growing pigs under natural conditions. He started with a boar and a> sow, and by the end of the season ho had sold more than 50 baconers as the progeny of these two, while for the present season he has 86 half-grown pigs, which will soon he ready for the market. He set apart a paddock of twenty acres for the swine, and in various parts erected "mai-mais” of scrub for shelter. Tile pigs were rung when quite young to prevent their, rooting, and their sole feed (except the grass) was whey, which was led to their troughs through pipes from a main tank, the troughs being fitted with tall cocks. During the winter mangolds were also fed. The pigs are and Yorkshires of good strains, and look well. The owner assured me that at 6d. per lb. it paid extremely well to grow pigs under these conditions. The paddocks showed no signs of rooting, and tho grass was eaten off as regularly and clean ly as if sheep tad been fed from it. As a matter of fact the land is improved by the pigs, and to get the best results it would be advisable to change the paddocks each year. The weather during the past week has improved considerably. As the sun. is daily gaining in strength, tho land is drying up after the recent heavy rains, with the result that feed prospects are improving, while the change has enabled ploughing to be gone (in with. So far there is no improvement in tho store stock market, but if there is further set tack to tho growth of feed, a forward movement may ba expected in the course of a few weeks.