The Dairy Industry.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 163, 9 January 1895, Page 2

The Dairy Industry.

As the establishment of a cheese factory is occupying the minds of settlers in the Apiti district a correspondent sends us the following article, which will doubtless be of interest to a number of our readers : — " Through the introduction of a dairy factory there is everything to gain and nothing to lose. It has been said that the industry has a chance of being overdone. That is purely a matter of competition between New Zealand and Australia. We have a great factor to the success in New Zealand, haying a first-class water-supply. There would probably be a difficulty in tiding over the first winter, but that could be reduced to a minimum by shutting up paddocks a bit early for winter use and hay. Jf dairyfarming was not profitable, so many people would not be engaged in it. Over 250 factories have been started the last few years, over 100 of which were started last season. In the matter of competition in the English market, we would supply it in the Danish winter season. That market is open for our dairy produce from October till April, and if we want to cater successfully we must have our cows in early, which will also largely increase the supply of milk. In this district (Apiti) a first cross Shorthorn and Ayrshire would be the best breed for the purpose — viz., cheese-making. Whey is not sufficient to rear calves on, but it is very good for pigs, which will, in the near future, be as profitable to the farmer — through the cow — as the cow. In Canada they look on pigs for as much profit as they do on the cow. The best feed for calves in place of new milk is whey, linseed, and a little milk, with hay tea. New milk should be given tor the first three or four weeks. The great thing is to get the whey sweet. With regard to pasture, the larger the variety of grasses and clover the better the milk. On Banks Peninsula cows were fed principally on cocksfoot grass, and the milk was very good indeed. Ensilage should receive extensive attention, while maize and horsebeans should also be cultivated."