KEEPING UP THE QUALITY

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 January 1911, Page 4

KEEPING UP THE QUALITY

Mi •ivenzie is determined that the quality of the herd shall he Avorked up to the highest pitch in order that thev may be of real value to the dairy farmer. The other day a famous American Holstein bull died, and his death Avas described by the Dairy journal as "a National calamity. • A son of this bull by a highly-bred cow Avas imported by Mr Newton King, and after he had served his coavs, he Avas sevured for Weraroa. He is turning out to ho a AVorthy son of his famous sire, and with the fine coavs already possessed he is producing splendid calves. Hut the Minister is determined to leaA*e 110 stone unturned to make this a world-famous herd and to thai end intends to procure the very best bull that is procurable in the World's best examples of the breed. So successful has been the policy .so far thai had the calves available been sold they would have paid the initial cost of the herd, and left a good profit-, but it was not thought wise to part with tihem at this , stage. "Meantime the other herds are hent.'Z similarly developed. Word came i'rom Australia that 'there Avere some vonderfully fine purebred dairy stork to liejiieked up here at very moderate prices, and Mr Drysdale, maii;?!rerof the farm, was sent over to 'hny anything tha-f Avould raise the Xew Zealand standard, but Mr Drysdale. according to a newspaper report, declared the other day that, so far. he had seen nothing, except in Avrshires, better than the good Xew Zealanders. Phis might have been expected by anyone familiar with Australian dairy conditions. The Ayrshires are particularly good there because they AVere the type favoured by the Berry Kstate. the owners of Avhich practically created the modern dairy industry of New South Wales, and through a course of years imported the best A.vrshires thatmoney could buy. The milking Shorthorn, too, a selected type, is good in Australia, hut othenvis;> we can better them here in spite of all the money spent. Mr Drvsdale is net yet back, so whether he fared better later Ave don't Iciioav. There is no doubt that a Avork of aroat value to the dairy industry is being done by the formation of the-e State farm herds.