THE RURAL WORLD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 527, 18 December 1912, Page 6

THE RURAL WORLD.

,—« THE DAIRYING SEASON. As each successive dairying season comes round a further extension of the important industry of dairying is seen, and the year just closed has been no exceptioon in inis respect. The settlement of land in new districts is invariably followed by the establishment of dairy factories as soon as a sufficient number of cows is available to warrant the expenditure incurred in providing the necessary buildings and plant. Close settlement of suitable and invariably means an extension o| the dairying industry; and the establishment of cheese and butter factories in such districts in proving a thoroughly good invest ment for all concerned.

The number of new factories built during the year was twenty-seven. Of this number, twenty were intended for the manufacture of cheese, and the remainder for the making of butter. It is pleasing to be able to report that in all these cases the buildings, plants, and equipment were of a satisfactory nature when operations began. Negotiations have already been entered into in several districts for the erection of additional new factories fcr next season.

A kean demand still continues for dairy farms, and the number of people who sre anxious to engage in the industry is still increasing. More attention is now being paid to the improvement of dairy stock, and this is having an important bearing on the industry's development and the resultant profits. Had the weather conditions been more fevourable throughout the entire season, tee quantity of butter and cheese made for export would have been much larger than the tables included in this report disclose. Many o: the dairy cattle were badly wintered, and had to commence the season in miserably poor condition; consequently the milk supply was affe-ted to a considerable extent. There has been a fairly good growth of grass, however; and feed for cattle on the majority ufjLthe farms during the summer months has been abundant.

The total quantity of butter exported for the year was 342,708 cwt., valued at £2,056,248, a decrease of 8464 cwt., in quantity and an increase of £182,828 in value, when compared with the previous year. The increase in value is due to the high prices ruling in London this season as compared with the previous season. The total export of cheese amounted to 514,093 cwt., valued at £1,760,247, an increase over the previous year of 69,031 c«t, in quantity and of £481,172 in value. The large increase in value is due to the higher London market values ruling this season, the average price being 68s 6d per cwt., whereas it was only 57s 6d for the previous season. The total increase in value of butter and cheese for the season was £664,000.

For the purpose of computing the weights and values of dairy produce the weight of a package of butter is taken at 561b ana the weight of a package of cheese at 1601b. The value of a hundredweight of butter is taken at 120s, and the value of a hundredweight of cneese at 68s 6d, average London prices.—Agricultural Journal.

UNTHRIFTY CALVES

Whenever a calf is noticed to be off his feed the farmer should take the trouble to examine the animals carefully, and he will also be well advised in most cases to isolate the animal until such time as will enable him to see whether the calf is diseased or otherwise. Farmers would do well to ponder over the advice given by Mr M. A. O'Callaghan, chief of the dairy branch of the New South Wales Department of Agriculture in his book, "Dairying in Australia and New Zealand."

It freciuently happens that one calf in a herd contracts tunerculosis at an early age, and if this animal continues to feed from the same troughs as the others, it is almost certain that it will convey the disease to a number of its mates. In fact, every farmer should be capable of applying the tuberculin test, and thus when any animal continues to be unthrifty, without showing any outward symptoms of disease, should discover for himself whether it is effected with tuberculosis or not. Where the calf is not a valuable one, the farmer who is not capable of determining for •himself whether or not it is diseased, would probably be acting wisely if he destroyed the unthrifty one while young, thus probably saving the lives of many of the others. The average calf is not worth the cost of treatment when the farmer takes into account the risk run by retaining an animal possibly affected with contagious disease for several weeks in close touch with the very young stock, is liable to contract diseases of the kind. There is little doubt that one of the most prolific sources of trouble on the dairy farm is the delay in isolating sick calves.

When a farmer does decide to isolate an ailing animal he should do it properly. To remove a calf into the next paddock with a rail fencing intervening is isolation in one sense, but it does net mean protection to the rest of the herd. What is desired is a small, well-sheltered paddock separated from the rest of the stock by a paddock under cultivation, or something of the kind. In the summer cool and shade is essential, whilst in the winter warmth and shelter are half the battle in successful treatment.