Farming Column

Hokitika Guardian, 21 October 1933, Page 8

Farming Column

QUALITY IN MILK

Some weeks ago Mr W. Alexander or the staff of Messrs Kempthorne, Prosser and Company, gave an interesting talk over the wireless on the above subject. He began by saying that it was a generally accepted fact that the finished article is more or less a reflex on the raw material supplied to the factories. At the invitation of the- directors of an Auckland factory, Mr Alexander made an inquiry into the farming end of the problem of association with low grade cheese. The investigation had nothing to do with milking plants of sheds, but with the soil, water, f..od and with ti e herds. On the 80 farms inspected there was found a del' ciency in lime; phosphates and potash, and the natural argument is that this must have a depreciating influence o.i the quality of the produce or the soil, therefore of the milk. Mr Alexandei strongly stressed the necessity of a pure water supply, yet in this ‘inquiry lie found' that at the factory the water supply was contaminated. Of 24 samples taken and submitted to a bacteriologist’s examination, 6 were good, 6 fair; and the balance from poor to bad. It is remarked quite truly in this talk that with many owners, any old dunking, place is good enough for cows, yet there is no greater mistake, as no other animal on the farm requires pure water, and plenty of it, more than the cow. Tests for mamnlitis were made, and every herd tested was effected, some seriously, ■so how could the factory manager be expected to turn out good cheese with milk being supplied from such sources. Mr Alexander sums up a most useful and interesting talk as follows: We have proved to our own satisfaction the following facts:

1. Soils in the area under considation show a fairly heavy lime shortage. 2. Phosphate content of these soils is lower than should he.

8. Potash as a deficiency in the soil, and pasture calls for immediate attention. 4. Water used for stock and cleaning dairy utensils falis far short of a desirable standard.

5. Mammitis Is widespread, and probably present in every herd supplying the factory. Now' let us suggest just ia few common sense ideas which, if giveu effect to, should make for a very substantial improvement both in the raw material and in the finished product.

hirst lime the land to the extent of your capacity to pay for 'it. From ■5 to lOcwt ro r ac ' re f° r a - start, and then keep the supply by regular applications. Add potash to your super for topdressing purposes—to 3 cwt super along with' cwt to-lcwt potash salts ! will do the job. ' (’lean out all dirty water troughs | and afterwards keep a supply of roaobed . Eme in every trough, chang- | ing the lime as often as you feel in- | diced, but certainly not less frej quently than once a month. Have your herd tested for mammiI tis. net just once or twice, but regu--1 larly throughout a season, and do most of your culling on the results of this test. Hairy factory managers would also j he well advised to have regular baq- . teh'al and chemical tests made of the factory water supply. WEANING PRACTICE There are still many pig breeders—--1 mainly among those who do not take the business very seriously—who continue'to indulge in the bad weaning practice of taking the small pigs a wav from the sow, • instead of doing it the other way about, comments an over- , seas writer. This is an unwise proceed- ■ ing, because, when taken, away fr ’ | their mothers, and at the same time j put into entirely fresh surroundings. ! small pigs, must inevitably feel the wrench far more seriously than they would if left in a place with which they had become familiar. Naturally enough, the weaning operation, unless care be done to do it in the right way, may easily bring about a serious check in the career of the litter. Make this change as unnotic-eable as it possibly can be for a real check at this age may have the effect of losing ■several days, if not weeks, of precious time. The/ pigs must he kept going •all the time, from first to last, if thev are to show the profit that should be expected of them. 'nother thing that may easily bring about, a check 'is the neglect to have the little pigs as independent as possible of their mother before weaning takes place. A complete change of diet will certainly do them harm at this time, and for that reason they should be introduced to the food that they will have to take as a complete substitute fer their mother’s milk some time before they arc entirely deprived of the latter. For some thrre of four weeks before weaning takes 1 place they should he fed through a separate trough, out the sow’s reach. Since, however, they can hardly be prevented from taking some of the food given to the sow, care should be taken that her food is always clean and sweet, and that the trough she feeds from, which her little ones will be sure to tick, is also kept scrupulously free from dirt.

WOOL MARKETING SYSTEM

PRESENT SCHEME FAVOURED

The opinion that there is "no need for Government interference in the wool trade or for the establishment of any control board handling the mo'-’ketlng side of the industry, is expressed in a joint statement issued by the New Zealand ►‘jhcepownei:;’ Federation executive and the New Zealand Woolbrokers’ Association. The statement suggests that the law ol supply and demand, and the world wide competition obtained by means of gales In New Zealand and Australia, determines m the only practical way the price a buyer can give for wool.

It is contended that the Empire Wool Conference, which was held in Melbourne in 1931, indicated that the business of. wool selling wa s already well conducted and .systematised. The Melbourne wool conference was representative o-f Australia, New Zealand and South African growers, and brokers representing these three countries and Engl nd were also present. At the conference resolutions were carried approving of wool selling by auction as the best method of disposal, and expressing the opinion that for stabilisation. of the morket, regulation °f the wool sdbng season was necessary to permit suitable offerings without ic'iriy over.

The conference opposed any scheme whl-h ignored supply and . demand in wool marketing, and attention was drawn to the necessity for great cafe in the classing and preparation of wool for sale. The only dissentients were two South African brokers, who did not support the resolution ireg"fding preference foa- the. .auction method.

It was pointed nut at the conference .with reference to South Africa that ihe levy of Is a bale was struck by the South African Government, especially for the purpose of establishing the woolgrowing industry, which was on a very different footing from that in Australia and New Zealand.

Mr W. D. Stewart, who represented New Zealand woolbroke't’s at the conference, -in his .report stated that the outstanding feature of the conference wa« the unanimous decision against ■arbitrary fixation of prices or Government interference in the wool industry. ..

The joint statement of the Sheepowners’ - Federation and the Woolbrokers’ Association endorses these jfoniference .opinions and summarises various suggestions .recently put forward in New Zealand as follows:

(:) That grades should be -standardised' throughout the Dominion. This, we consider, is impracticable. Wool • differs in every distn'et; 46’48’s of one . district will vary in growth, the actual count may be-the same, and the same applies to other grades. The suggestion that buyers could buy on -a nations] sh.ndn.vd and without inspection of the bulk, or even without inspection at all, is quite impossible. ' '•

(b) The suggestion that Argentine methods are better than those obtaining in Australia or the Dominion is not borne out by those who have had experience of the two systems.

The idea of selling here on a guaranteed yield basis would never be agreed to. It would lead to endless claims against growers and brokers from all parts of the world. Toe buyer now has the opportunity of inspecting any wool and deciding for himself as to yield, and the particular suitability of any lot, and the .gvowers’ risk terminates, as it should, at fall of the hammer.

(c) Binning of wools by brokers i* •an established - practice in the Dominion, and doe s not require the assistance of certified classevs in any form of compulsion on He grower, whether .he be a large or small owner. (d) No machine for classing or binning lias been evolved which will reduce the cost, and one which is being .advocated does not appeal to brokers.

(1) New methods of baling and ■dumping have been put forward whk’h airs also impracticable when exam’lied by those who have knowledge of the .handling of wool. (f) The suggestion of any board fostering or 'developing markets 'overseas 'is a visionary and unnecessary one. Wool is now sought for in the producing markets hv representatives of kali consuming centres in the-world. SOUTHDOWNS’ RECORDS. The Southdown can claim a record at the lending fat slock shows both in Great Britain and the United States which must he almost unique. Since 1900 Southdowms have claimed the supreme championship in the live stock section on 11 occasions at Smithfield 'Show alone, while in the carcase competition their record i s even more remarkable, for this championship at Smith field has been won by this breed 13 times in all, and 10 times s lice 1918. Again, .at the Chicago International since 1900, Southdown,s or their crosses have won the single wether oli mp ionship on 19 occasions five years .in succession), the carcase competition on 27 occasions, and the champion car lot on 16 occasions. These are remarkable records. There has .recently been issued ■a verv interesting h°ok, edited by 'Mr E.: Walford Lloyd, embodying a history of the breed and a budget of .information regarding -its progress and prominence in the sphere of mutton and wool production. 1