THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1589, 30 October 1905, Page 3

THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY.

ADDRESSES BY MESSRS GILRDTH AND KINBELLA. There was a large and representative meeting of farmers at the Masonio sample rooms on Saturday, when addresses were delivered by Messrs Gilrnth, ohief veterinarian, and J. A. Kinsolla, dairy commissioner. Mr J. A. Ciosar presided, and briefly introdnoed ,the visitors to the meeting. In the course of an hoar’s address, Mr Gilruth supplied the farmers with some valuable information in regard to diseases of cows and the remedies to be used. The diseases of the adder was gone carefully into by the lecturer, who by moans of charts was able'to place his views before bis hearers in a most practical manner. The contagious nature of the diseases was emphasised, the manner jn which diseases were spread boing gone into at length. Mr Gilrnth said [that he did not altogether blame a man for trying to sell a diseased eow, but he thought a farmer buying should first satisfy himself that the animal

HuUUIU urt)9 OnVlßljr UILUOUU iuou «uu was all right before taking it home. The Government, he thonght, should bring in legislation making it a breach of the law to sell a diseased oow. A disease that was common throughout the colony was oontagiows abortion, which was oosting the colony £200,000 per annum, an estimate based on the increased milk yield which would result through its eradication. The manner in wbioh the disease was spread was gone into at some length. Mr Gil* ruth's address was muoh appreciated, and at the close he was warmly applauded. The Chairman read a letter from Dr Levinge to Mr Kinsella, regretting his inability to attend the meeting, and giving bis views on the “ Calling anrl Tmnrnvino of the Dairv Herds

ana improving ge uue uuwy uwub of the Colony.” Dr Levinge oontinued: " I brought this up at the lata conference of A. and P. Associations in Wellington, when a rcsolntion was passed urging the Government to take steps, by formulating a aobeme, to promote this very desirable position. It i 9 lamentable and deplorable I think that go little has been done so far in the above direction, and that dairymen and oow-keopers generally are eo blind to their material interests as to keep no reoords of the milk productions and tests of their individual cows—for I believe comparatively few do so—without whioh it is of oourse imposeible to tell with any degree of scientific accuracy the value of particular members of the herd whioh may

be feeding at aloes, at any rate as compared with her neighbor. This becomes all the more important to those who rear their heifer calves, and keep them over to replenish their herds. All that is ueoessary to give effect to this enquiry and the keeping of the records entailed therein is so very simple and easily and expeditiously carried out that there is no excuse for anyone neglecting it, and I would go so far as to prohibit anyone from selling a bull to be used in a dairy herd unless the record of his dam at the pail had been kept and could be produced. I consider that the Government should have long ago insti* luted this praotice at all it 3 farms, as wel milking competitions of the various breeds of dairy cattle, which I trust will be carried out at the forthcoming Interpational Exhibition. The practice I advocate above was long carried out ia oonneotion with the large dairy herd I founded and controlled for so many years with the best re-

iCUIiOU U/e - mlts, and so effectively enabled me to cull ihat herd that it was admittedly one of the best in the colony. I need hardly say that the praotice is still strictly oarried out with my present herd, and I cannot too atrongly urge cow-keepers, in their own interests, to adopt it. I am a strong believer, as yon know, in the association's organisation for this purpose existing in Denmark, the details of whioh you will no doubt tell the meeting, and I trust ere long to see Borne such scheme operating here.” Dr LeviDge added; “As regards breeds, I do not think that anyoan be aaid to be the best—so muoh depends on environment and other conditions that the breed most suitable for one part of this colony or one man might not be at all the best for another; bat I would strongly

dbb» iu i buu«uo» | —r arge all to abandon the fallacious theory of the 1 general purpose cow ’ as the best for his purposes, and for dairymen at any rßte, who have to make a living by the production of milk and butter, one of the 1 milking breeds ’ should be chosen, since

it is quits impracticable to maintain a first-class herd. As regards culling, this must be done with judgment and discretion, lor otherwise a really good oow may be lost, I do net advocate that a oow should be ooDdemned with bad results of one milking period »lonc, lor I have many times kuown arimala that disappointed me one season afterwards turn out some of the beet in the ben 1 , As long as ao >w showed what, aro ordinarily regard.d us tho beet milkiDg characteristic 0 , or was knowD to come of a first-class milking strain, I would give her at least a second

chance." Mr Kinsella’s addroas was of a practical nature, and chiefly dealt with tho best methods to be adopted by farmers throughout New Zealand in regard to the roduoing tho coat of production. In New Zealand they farmed on more expensive land, and labor was dearer than it was either ia the Argentine or Denmark, Some interesting figures in regard to the plaoea mentioned were supplied, the lecturer also speaking at length ou impressions gained durmg his visit to Den* ' mark,. Mr Kinsella strongly condemned i Now Zealand’s method of selling butter at Home, remarking, “ Wo eb.p to every ) Diok, Tom, or Harry, in England, Scot* f land nr TrMn.nd. nn lnnt» an fihnv fi’lVfi 08

Jaoa, or ireiana, ao long as coey give uo the best price, and the result is that a particular braod is never to be found on the same counter eaoh year.” He bad beeD repeatedly told by retailers at Home that if they could get the same uniform quality for throe or four years thoy would willingy pay a penny a pound more for it. Batter winter feeding, methods of inspec- , tion, use of preaervatlvas, and inferior i herds were matters referred to by Mr i Kinsella in the concluding portion of his r address. Speaking of the question of inl specters, Mr Kinsella urged that it would f pay farmers handsomely to have an in- . speotor of their own iu each district, e On the motion of the Chairman, a e hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Messrs Gilruth and Kinsella for their interesting addresses,