SYSTEM ON THE DAIRY FARM.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 390, 26 August 1911, Page 3

SYSTEM ON THE DAIRY FARM.

System is everything in the successful dairy. This certainly obtains at an Australian farm dairy, where Mr A. W. Shillabeer has managed a herd for more than twenty-five years. Cleanliness in methods is insisted upon, and as a result the milk sheds and yards are kept in a commendably sweet condition. Not the least interesting feature of the cowshed is the device designed by Mr Shillabeer, which permits of each batch of cows being released from the bails simultaneously. The plan of the shed allows plenty of room between each row of stalls, so that drainage is more effective. The feed-boxes are fitted with high backs, so that little food is tossed out of them—-a thing wich often happens where shallow mangers are pro vided. This prevents any undue waste. There are two miikings daily, the morning operation commencing about four o'clock, and the other at noon. The milk is carefully strained in a neat depot, and is then run over a Danish cooler, which improves its keeping qualities and entails little bother. In populous centres the keeping of bulls at large causes much trouble, and Mr Shillbeer has guarded against any inconvenience in this connection by constructing a spacious shed, open on the north-east side, and divided into strong compartments by the use of tramway rails, placed about 18 inches apart. The manure from the sheds is effectively disposed of by a simple method, and

is wheeled up an inclined plank in a wheelbarrow on to a platform, when it is tipped into a drny. The advantages! .gained from this systematic use of the manure show the value of the method. In addition to the paved floors of the -heas and yards, which are Hushed with water at intervals, being maintained sweet and clean, various f<,dder crops are made to grow luxuriantly. The question of. feeding, particularly in the late summer and autumn, is naturally one of threat moment to the ] dairyman, and has received consider able attention from Mr Shiliabser. As the: result of experience extend- ''■ ing over a quarter of a century, he -ays, to get the maximum results from a herd of milkers, either con- \ servation of fodder by means of ensilage or the growth ol' fodder crops by irrigation is a necessity. He prefers irrigation where it is certain of success, and now has a [lumping plant, capable of supplying 30,000 gallons of water a day. This enables heavy crops of lucerne and maize to be produced each summer. Mr ' is also a strong advocate of ensilage, j although just now his silo remains ' empty. "Where irrigation is not, pos- ; sible, you must have ensilage," he says, "as it is a stand by which means i healthy cattle and greater profits." He is also a believer in dialled hay. fed with lib molasses daily to each cow.