FARMING IN U.S.A.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1929, Page 2

FARMING IN U.S.A.

** GREAT DAIRY FARMS. AUCKLAND, Jan. 1. Dr W. C. Ring, an Auckland veterinarian, who returned by the Aorangi from a visit to the United States,, sa" there a dairy farm running 1400 cows, but, in farming generally, there appeared to be far less interest displayed than was the case some years ago, although land was cheaper than in New Zealand and a vast market was always at hand. In several quarters Dr Ring saw some remarkable examples of the handling of a large number of cows on limited areas. In the thickly populated district of Princeton, New Jersey, he visited the dairy of Walker Gordon, who at the time had 1400 cows in milk. Hugh barns, each holding 50 cows, were arranged in double rows with a covered way between, and 500 cows were milked at one time daily by hand. What might seen almost incredible to New Zealanders was the fact that the cows were kept under cover all the time, except for four hours daily, when they were exercised in a yard provided for the purpose. Naturally, they were “hand fed.” The silos provided for making fodder for this immense “city dairy” were huge structures holding 3000 tons of silage each. There was no waiting for sunshine to make hay in that climate of much rain and cold weather. Grass was mowed at almost any time, artificially dried and stored for use. Lucerne, or alfalfa, as it is known in America, was extensively used for haymaking, and silage. The artificial haymaking process appeared, with complete satisfaction and success, to have solved the problem of making hay in climates otherwise unsuitable. In such dairies “acidopholus” milk, and sweet buttermilk /were produced largely, and met with an unlimited demand.

Every precaution was taken against the spread of disease. In this particular dairy two full-time veterinarians were employed, and watched particularly for any signs of mammitis among the herd. Milkers were paid by piece work, and each man carried a number and was checked by a stripper who followed on after thp milker to ensure that his work had been properly done. Not alone in this form of spectacular dairying were Americans advanced. In veterinary work they had achieved a very great deal. .Every veterinary institution in the United States was. to-day, studying the problem of sterility in dairy cows and conditions which brought it about. Much progress had been made in the study of this and other problems of the dairy herd. Bang’s bacillus, a disease well known in the Dominion, had occasioned earnest research, and had been found to be at the root of some illness bearing all the appearances of typical typhoid fever cases. As a result, some of the Boards of Health were demanding that herds producing certified milk should

be tested for the disease, as well as for tuberculosis. .Several States, too, had ordered the quarantine of stock infected with the bacillus.

Yet, with all these scientific advances, Dr Ring found dairying in America nothing like as popular or as profitable as when he was last there, eleven years ago. For the most part, cows had to be hand-fed for about half the year. Land was cheaper, but wages were higher in New Zealand, anti farming generally appeared to he in a bad way. There was a notable tendency towards land aggregation, particularly on the part of companies ’conducting multiple shops and desirous of running their own farms. One such concern operated '25,000 chain stores.

The quality of New Zealand butter was admitted by Americans to lie high, although they preferred sweet butter, such as that made in the United States, but the operations, of multiple shop dairy companies mitigated against the growth of -New Zealand’s American market. Naturally, they were antagonistic to the importation of a product which would clash with their own self-contained scheme, and sonic company representatives said that, if they found such a thing happening, they would be in favour of an increase in the duty against the New Zealand article.

Of the Dominion’s supremacy in sheep-farming, as opposed to that of the United States, there was no question. The Americans admitted it, and after visiting some of the lending sheep fairs, Dr Ring formed the opinion that the sheep of the country were little more than a “joke” when set against New Zealand sheep.