FARM NOTES.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXII, Issue 2781, 24 April 1911, Page 3

FARM NOTES.

The parsnip is said to be one of the best of all roots for milch cows, it is a very sweet root, and its extensive use in the island of Jersey may have contributed to making the superior milk and butter qualities, of the Channel island cows. " At present," remarked a Wellington merchant, " factories are holding what butter they can. They expect high prices in June. South Africa will take all the butter they can get, but they can't get any. We want all the butter we can put our hands on for the New Zealand trade." Some ot the milk tests are keeping up marvellously. The latest taken at the Levin creamery was 5.7 The milk supply in that locality is also keeping up well, and a general tone of cheerfulness prevails..

Nothing definite has transpired in connection with the dairy industry in the Kawhia district, but there appears to be a strong probability of the Kawhia factory being re-opened next spring. The whole matter simply rests with the settlers at this stage, a fair degree of of support being sufficient to ensure the opening of the factory.

' A very convincing proof of the value of cow testing was given by a speaker at a function at Stratford. In his opinion a lot of the cows now in use should be shot and buried. They were " robbers." He instanced the case of a man who had been giving the milk of two or three of his cows to calves because he felt the milk was inferior, but testing had proved that the milk from these particular animals was the best he was obtaining.

There is an unusual demand in Queensland for fat cattle for the meat works, and the herds of the northern and western country are being rapidly thinned out. Forward cattle are in strong demand at high prices, and late wires are to the eftect that Mr Sydney Kidman is mustering his Queensland run* with the object of putting up a world':, record of fat cattle sold out ot one hana. One of the open secrets of feeding horses for shows and fairs is to give them plenty ot fresh milk, regardless of the age of the animal. One of the best feed which certain horsemen have used successfully consists of a mixture of alfalfa meal with molasses. This, together with a liberal milk ration, will put a horse in fine condition. The warm milk as it comes from the cow offers a splendid medium for the favourable growth of all kinds of bacteria which may gain acccess to it. In order to lessen this development milking should be done as carefully and quickly as possible and the milk strained through a metallic strainer. Do not use a cloth strainer, for even under good conditions this soon becomes a hotbed for bacteria.