WINTER SCHOOL.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1922, Page 1

WINTER SCHOOL.

THE ECONOMICS OF DAIRYING. In introducing the subject on Tuesday morning Mr Belshnw pointed out that the subject of the lecture wfl» so vast that it was difficult) to decide on which aspect of it to deal. He Would consider mainly aspects of farm organisation and would indicate possible future developments.

The dairying industry might lie K aid to have is birth in i 882 when the “Dunedin” landed the first cargo of 1 rozeil meat in London. This instituted the modern export trade in frozen meat and dairy produce. Before that tiriie, the market was limited to New Zealand towns, and to replenish the larder of outgoing vesols. This was supplemented by an uncertain and fluctuating demand from Australia. As a result price fluctuations weie violent, ranging from Id to 2s Oil per lb. The depressions before 1882 was accentuated by the borrowing policy of Sir Julius Vogel, instituted by 1870. This undesigned mainly to open up the country and to assist in immigration. It resulted in a speculative land boom which eventually busted like a pricked bubble. As a result a long depression set ih. The extension of the market to the United Kingdom improved matters considerably, hut it was not imli the period of rising prices commeneiiin 1805 set in, that the industry began to develop rapidly. In IRB2 l* dairying industry provided only 1 per cent of the total export trade. By IDDO this had increased to 8 per cent, and by 1010 to 21 per cent. This phenomenal development was due, not only to the influence of rising prices, hut also to tlie extension of the factory system and to the remarkable suitability of New Zealand to dairying. Tn view of our congenial conditions of soil and climate it was not surprising that and industry had developed from a position of insignificance in 1880 to second place in the export trade in 1021. The whole trend of agricultural development in New Zealand had been and still would he. towards small scale farming .and dairying was peculiarly suited to small scale production. The typical New Zealand dairy farm was seldom below 30 acres and seldom above 200 acres. The average size would probably he about 120 acres and the most common size between 7(1 and 80 acres. The family was the natural unit of labour. On 9 farms investigated by the lecturer, 03 per cent, of labour employed was family labour. 5 per cent was permanent hired and 2 per cent was casual hired. The census returns of 1010 closely verified these figures. Hired labour was scarce and this was an important cause limiting the size of the farm : fo r the herds were limited to such n size as could he managed by the farmer and his family. The main crop in New Zealand was grass. Three-quarters of the occupied land was in grasses and half of this CIO million acres) was in sown grasses. This area was larger than the whole area of sown grasses in Australia and the productivity of New Zealand grass la.nds was about nine times greater. As a result of this, the grass lands were exploited to the full hv the dnirvmnn. On the nine farms mentioned, the distribution of crops was as follows :~ Pasture 77 per cent. j Boot crops 5.8 per cent. Forage crops 2.3 per cent. Hay or ensilage 7.2 per cent. Fnphuighahle land including much pasture 7.7 per cent. In short, from 8o per cent, to DO per cent, was in sown grasses. Few feeds were purchased and the typical dairy farm ,vn.s highly specialized. The pasture was conserved I>v the use of small fields. On the nine farms described there were I(H> fields. Of these 59 were less than 5 acres in area, and only 21 were larger than HI acres in area. The system was comparable in eflieienov with tethering as it was adopted in Denmark. It was obvious family labour was more efficient than hired labour in the care of stock s.) that the best type of dairy farm was such as could he managed by family labour with the best use of much- ■ inerv and appliances available. Speaking generally less than 30 cows involved inefficient use of labour and wasted time iu the use of machinery, horses etc. The ideal to lie strived for was ( the maximum yield to labour, not the maximum yield per acre. Advocates of intensive farming in the second sense who pointed to Denmark as the ideal farming community "cue unaware of the dangers involved. Intensive farming in this sense always involved wasted labour and a low standard of living. It was better to waste land I ban to waste labour. Still, more efficient production was essential. .An increase in. the size of herd reduced cost ol pro- , duetirm. as also did increased yield per cow: but even in these curses a point would eventually he reached when anv further increase in size or yield would lent pay. Much could he done hv increasing the* ratio of root crops to pasture. by testing and culling, by the use of pedigree sires, and by the more careful handling and feeding of stock. The enthusiasm of the* co-operative principle tn tin' purchase of requisites and machinery, to the use of the* more expensive implements, to the transport of c ream and in similar ways might also prove advantageous in many localities.

There was little doubt that the dairying industry had a great future, especially ns increased immigration necessitated closer settlement, hut the immediate future was h.v no means bright. The slutnn just passed was likely to prove a forerunner of a long period of falling prices which would hit a country such as New Zealand hard, so that increased efficiency of production was essential. Incidentally it would pay dairy factories, when faced with a falling market to dispose of their output in advance rather titan on consignment, letting tlie London merchants who .specialised in risk-taking take tinrisks due to fluctuating trade conditions. On the average they would benefit by this policy. Tn spite of this probable period of falling prices, however. New Zealand should be in a, highly favourable position in the long run. Denmark and Western Europe had expanded to their maximum capacity, the export trade of Canada and Argentina was being diverted to the United States, and so Australia and New Zealand would be in a highly favourable position on the English rparket, Hence fbe nyynkpning

Interest of the trusts in the New Zealand export trade. On the side of demand, too, there was 110 need for pessimism, iis Western Africa< and the Hast provided vast and almost unexplored fields, for the expansion of the New Zealand trade. A WELCOME. At the Town Hall last evening prior to the illustrated lecture by Dr Teiehclmann, in connection with the Winter School a wdc qlile was tendered to the visiting membeijs of the Canterbury Progress League by the local branch. The President (Mr D. .1. Evans) said they desired to extend a very hearty welcome to the President and other members of the Canterbury Progress (League. The people of the West Coast were deeply grateful to the Canterbury League for the help they had received and the push given the district by the members of the League. For quite a long time they had felt a Cinderella, hut, thanks to the assistance given, they had begun to make progress. They had been looking forward for a long time to the connecting link with the ■ East Coast which they felt would prove to their mutual advantage. They were specially indebted to the Executive of the Progress Longue for the promotion of the Winter School that was being held this week. Tie hoped that it would he* an annual institution and believed that it would do much good. They had present that evening the President. Vice-President-. Organiser and member of the League and he extended a. cordial welcome to the West Coast and hoped their stay would I lie a pleasant one*. He was sure their t visit would prove of interest. He again extended good wishes and Imped it would prove a very enjoyable visit.

Mr AY. Jeffries (ex-Presidcnt of the local branch) joined in the welcome. They would he lacking in gratitude if they did not extend a warm welcome to representatives of the Progress League. In the past years the Canterbury League had done everything possible to assist in the advancement of the district. Tt was the members of the local I Executive who knew and appreciated I their efforts on behalf of Westland. They knew the difficulties of lack of connection that Westland suffered from. Tt wanted opening up. As time went on the population should double and treble and from the League thet were getting every possible assistance to aid in its development. He extended a hearty welcome to Westland and expressed their deep and hearty appreciation cif the* good work they were doing in Westland. The welcome was carried hv acclamation. those present singing “For They are Jolly Good Fellows.” Mr Henderson (President of the Canterbury Progress Longue) expressed thunks on behalf of his follows. The Canterbury League had been interested on the formation of a branch in Westland recognising the need of combined action in ihe endeavour to get tin* speedy completion of the Otirn funnel. That was wbv Mr Climie, their c apable Organiser, had been sent to the Const, and the movement had proved very successful, the proposal being accepted with enthusiasm. They were very pleased with the Hospitality extended since they had been on the Coast and promised a warm welcome to Westland vistiors to Canterbury at any time. On the present occasion they were over on an important business matter that would la* dealt with the next afternoon. On behalf of the visting party he- again (hanked them for their very warm welcome. VIEWS OF AVERT LAND.

Dr Teic-helmann then proceeded with his illustrated lecture on Scenery in AVestlaml, and ahl.v assisted by Rev A. C. Purchas at the lantern, the beautiful series of views was shown, with explanations by the Doctor. The pietores were splendidly shown and at the conclusion a hearty round of applause was given. Then on the* motion of Alessis Wild and Bruce* and supported by Mr Evans, a very hearty vote was accorded Dr Teie helm mu and liev Purellas. it being carried by acclamation and the proceedings dosed. “SCIENTIFIC FEEDING OF AIII.K CO AYS.” The following paper was read by Mi J. B. Garnett B.Se. before the Farmer*;’ section ot the Winter School on Wednesday morning:— The importante of this subject to the Westland fainter was shown ami also it is a subject which will lifetime still more important in the future when mom intensive methods are required to follow up the pioneer farming. The main constituents of a food were then dealt with—proteins, lats iml carbon hydrates—and the uses to wdii-'h the animal puts them in its body worn discussed. Ol late yea is scientists have found that certain mysterious suhsoiu*.ex called diamines must also la* present in the diet if an animal is lo grow and keep healthy. Three vitamines have, so far, been discovered and small traces of each must he present in the diet ccthciwiic the animal will suffer from a "deficiency disease" of some kind. However, farmers Were :c----assureil that stock led on pasture oiled on the usual variety of farm crops, would almost invariably receive plenty of all three vitainities; the ease was different with young growing pigs kept cm more artificial feeding in styes.

Next the importance of the food ingredionts being in it digestible form -ns emphasised and it was shown that n dairy cow must have a liberal supply of digestible protein if she is to produce the best results, at least 2Slbs per day and also loll) of digestible car-ho-livdrute.

In the light of the above farts, ihe various farm foods for cattle were dealt with in turn. Pasture grass in spring and early summer was shown to be an ideal milk producing food, whereas in the late autumn and winter it heroines too watery and deficient in digestible protein, oven though the quantity of grass might still he- considerable during a favourable- spell ol weather. Here supplementary feeding in small quantities was strongly advised and good quality hay containing a high proportion of leguminous plants was found to be the- best thing to correct the very harmful scouring effect of autumn and winter grass. Even 1011 is per cow per day would make a big difference to rows being milked at this season of the

year. The much greater feeding value ol pasture grass containing a good proportion of leguminous plants and gtowti on well drained and limed soils was emphasised. Various root crops and their suitability for this district were then dealt with and where swedes can be grown, these seem the most promising. It was then shown that, of the total

food eaten by a cow, nearly two-thirds of the digested matter was required for “innintonanee” i.e. supplying hodil.v heat and energy for the support of the animal’s system, leaving only a little over one-third available for milk production. Now the maintenance requirements of a low yielding cow arc about the same as those of n high yieldc*r so that from a scientific point of view it is extremely unsound to keep low yielding cows. Farmers should carefully test their herds as soon as possible, and get rid of these “earing machines.” In the discussion which followed later, some interesting facts were brought out on tlie feeding of pigs and Mr Stafford, M.R.C.ALS. gave a short lecture on the question of “vitamines” dealing with the question in a thorough and practical way.