The Dairy Industry.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 57, 4 September 1895, Page 2

The Dairy Industry.

MR McEWAN AT COLYTON.

! Between forty and fifty dairy farmers : in tho vicinity nf Colyton met in the Manjaoao Hal'- Usb evening to hear an ; :u!iii-L'. :i troru Air McEwan, Chief Gov- ] cru-. c_.t Dairy Expert. Mr Pearce was voa ! to the chair and introduced the speaker. Mr McEwan then proceeded to give suggestions which he thought Avould be helpful to dairy farmers. Bince his arrival in New Zealand he had a fair ( opportunity in his travels between New , Plymouth and Invercargill to form an ■ opinion of tho capabilities of the colony ' and he thought they had splendid , advantages in the matter of butter and cheese making and its by-products. The experience of last season was that in the future the competition would be keen. They must, therefore, place the best bntter on the English market at the least cost. They were sometimes inclined to look to the market end, but there was a large field for good work at the producers' end, which required the closest study in its early phase. Dairying could be carried on here with the best results with the opportunities offered. Referring to the assistance rendered to the industry by the Government, he thought good work had been done in sending round experts, besides which dairy schools had been established in the North and South Islands. He considered the three importants links in dairying were: The producers' end, the manufacturing, and the marketing. In all these branches fundamental instruction had been given in the schools at Stratford and Edendale, at each of which places upwards of one hundred students and attendants had received instruction. They realised that the greatest point for improvement was with the suppliers, for if they didn't send their milk to the factory in good condition, it was impossible to make good butter. In that di-trict dairy farmers were connected with a factory which was talked about all over the colony, but yet tlierc was room for improvement. Referring to the milk supplied to the dairy schools, he s-iid some of it was the worst he had ever seen and not sufficient care was taken to procure good cans, which should be kept clean. One lot of bad milk would elfect the result of all suppliers, and it was their bounden duty lo see that everyone is careful with their milk. Referring to the best breed of cows for dairy purposes he said it was almost impossible to say therowas a best breed, butpedigreo and blood was an important consideration. To procure the best results the cows must be handled kindly and well fed. The most profitable cows of to-day were those which required the quietest treatment. This was not a matter of sentiment, but of £ s d. Talking about winter dairying, he failed to get any information which proved that it would not p-\y. In Canada it had been proved they can produce milk in winter almost as cheap as in summer, and it would almost pay them to feed all the year round. To be successful in the English market they vaunt have a continuous system of dairying. They must, also, keep their cows warm, as it took onethird more feed to keep up an animal when exposed as it did when stabled. Cows should not be fed on anything that would taint the milk, and he would advise them to avoid turnips. Mangolds gave good results, and he would advise their use. As to water, cows should not be allowed to drink bad water, and they should be given as much salt as they can eat. He advised them to milk with dry hands, and laid particular stress on the importance of all suppliers using aerators, which would produce a better result in testing. In Canada they found the composite test was the best, that is they took samples from the milk each morning, and these they kept to the end of the week, when a sample was taken from the lot and tested. In reply to Mr Revington Jones, Mr McEwan said that as soon as the factories worked all the year round, there would not be so great a difference in the local market between the price of butter in winter and summer, and by continuous shipments to the English market they would secure better prices. As to the cost of labor in Canada, men were hired by the year at from £35 to .£4O and found. Mr Pleasants moved that Mr McEwan be accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address. Mr Revington Jones seconded the motion which was carried. Mr McEwan thanked them for the vote, and the meeting closed with the usual compliment to the chairman.