Dairying Calculations.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 191, 20 August 1901, Page 2

Dairying Calculations.

(To the Editor of the Times.)

Sik, —I fear that Mr Lysnar is a trifle out in his flguros when he states that every cow in a milking herd should average over throe gallons por day for ton out of the twelve months, at the end of which produce a calf. The National Dairy Association of New Zealand in 1897 stated the average yield of milk por season from cows supplying the factories was 830 gallons, as against Mr Lysnar’s “ what-ought-to-be ” 909—a great difference. ■ Mr Lysnar may havo, or have had, a single cow that did that or more, but being by herself, and having no distanco to travel to the milking-shed, is all in favor of a good tally at the end of the soason.

The late Duke of Westminster, who certainly had more money than I have, and equal business acumen to Mr Lysnar, kept a herd of ordinary Shorthorn and Cheshire cattle at his homo farm in Cheshire, England. The number milked were 48, the season’s average per head being 630 gallons. Seven of them gave more than 1000 gallons, ranging from 1020 to 14821b5. One gave an average of 1000 gallons for six consecutive years; another ditto for fivo years. The best milkers in tbe herd were aged—-7, 8, and 9 years. Is it at all likely that a known business man as the Duke was, with England to pick from, would be content with a herd of 48 cows that produced 259 gallons por head less than what Mr Lysnar puts down as a minimum ? and, moreover, publish his returns. Hardly probable ! Or that his cattle were worse looked after than on our best dairy farms in Otago and Southland. The percentage of cream was not published. The Millionaire Jersey Club of Now York’s gilt-edged butter record at present stands at 44] lbs for seven days’ milking—a wonderful performance for a cow, but not wise to make calculations on. Onefifth of that would be a high figure for Poverty Bay to take for a herd. I fear, with, say, 50 cows, the proprietor would find that he might get ton months' milking, but what per contago would it take, more than the other two allotted, before coming to profit '? A hard query to answer, either by figures or practice. Of course, uiilk-fever, abortion, and barrenness are minor matters that have to bo considered by the practical man, if not by the theorist. I admire Mr Lysnar’s activity, mental and otherwise, for the public welfare, and am writing in no carping spirit, but to point out to intending dairy farmers that there arc two sides to the question; that of the man who does tho milking and of tho man who gives tho advice ; and I fear that a man going on Mr Lysnar’s “ ought-to-be’s ” would find in time, long or short, according to his purse, that all ho would have left to soli would be a second-hand leg-rope to Mr Attwood.—l am, etc., Cecil INI. Maunsell. AVhataupoko, August 19.