Dairy Herds.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 93, 24 May 1895, Page 2

Dairy Herds.

At the Conference of the Agricultural Bureau, held at Penola, South Australia, on April 26, Professor Lowrie opened the proceedings with an interesting address on "Dairy Herds." He recognised that dairying compared with wheat-growing work was somewhat wearisome, but he noted that during the past year or two great attention had been given to the improvement in dairy cattle. This, he considared, was the most important matter in connection with the industry, and before any other step was taken it was necessary to study which was the most profitable breed to keep. The feeding of good cattle was the same as with inferior stock, and the yield was considerably greater,.so that by keeping the,.better, class of cows the cost of production was minimised. A good start has been made to. bring about this desirable change, and if the improvement continued the industry would soon make rapid, progress. If it was possible to make a bare living with the existing prices, he contended that the farmer, by improving his stock, could make a good living. Instead of keeping 800 gallon cows he would to improve the a\erage of his /milfeevs to 500 or 600 gallons per year. On the other hand if the farmer wished to direct his attention to the rearing K)f beei-eattle, -he advised the use of Herefords, polled Angus, and shorthorns, which were essentially beefproducing animals; but it was to such breeds as the Alderney, Jersey, Holstein, and the Kerry that they should look for their milkers. He believed that the Dutch and Holstein breeds would do well in the south-east as they received luxuriant pasture, but he would not advise the general use of these cattle in the colony. In the south-east, where there were superior advantages as regards pasture, the Holstein would do remarkably well, but for useful dairying breeds he favored the Jersey and the Ayrshire. It was necessary to use bulls bred from good milkers, and he suggested that dairy cattle shown at agricultural shows in the colony should • not only be judged on appearing at the show, but that they should be on the grounds for several days prior to the exhibition, by which means they would be thoroughly tested. By this .system the milking averages would also be greatly improved, and if the breeding of the sire's dam was considered he was confident that the yield in the colony would be increased. Respecting the management of dairy stock, he stated that the cattle should have abundant feed and perfect quietness. Even driving the cattle to and fro from the pasture to the milking sheds. depreciated their value. They should be treated as machines. The least excitement that the cows were subjected to was also reflected in the milkpail. A uniform supply of feed was necessary, but natural pasture was not available throughout the year in South Australia. He knew of no food equal to sorghum for giving a good, sound, high quality butter, and from his own personal experience, and what he had seen elsewhere, it required very little trouble to grow it. He advised the use of mangold in conjunction with bran or grain, as it was a mistake to believe that the cow recovered altogether without feed what she lost during the season in which the natural grasses were scarce. Women in the dairy were much to be preferred in that kind of work to men and boys, as they were more patient. (Loud applause.)