AN OBJECTIONABLE PRACTICE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 590, 7 December 1920, Page 1

AN OBJECTIONABLE PRACTICE.

Sir, —It is high time someone entered a public protest against the objectionable practice so common at auction sales of dairy cows, namely, compelling the dumb animals to retain their milk over one or two, or even more, ordinary milking periods. Presumably, the sellers' purpose ( and nearly every farmer is included in the list of the guilty in the matter) is to give the impression of heavy producers, but as a matter of fact it serves only to deceive the uninitiated, because an experienced judge is not so readily misled. A number of recent little practical incidents in the writer's own experience may best serve to illustrate and emphasise the evils of this system. Requiring a couple of cows, I attended .a clearance sale, where one expects to find profitable stock. The cows were in so neglected a state that the milk was actually running from several of them—quite obviously they had missed a milking, if not more than one, seeing they had been in for fully three months. Knowing that these, otherwise valuable animals (which changed hands at high figures), might not recover this season, if at all, from the effect of a ill-treatment, I passed by a number which looked very desirable indeed. The second sale attended was a public auction, where specially advertised pens drew my attention. Here again the cows, in full milk, and doubtless off good spring feed, had been allowed to remain unmilked for at least* one milking, and their udders were evidently in an abnosmal and uncomfortable condition. Although these choice young well-bred animals would otherwise have suited me admirably, and the price was reasonable, I preferred to take no risks, particularly as the better-bred animal is the more likely to contract udder troubles as a result of the cruel treatment meted out to it. On another occasion, immediately following the two mentioned, a neighbour of mine purchased a younk likely-look-ing cow in the same condition as the one already described. Her udder bore signs of too long a spell since last milking, being abnormally pressed and perhaps somewhat swelled. On arrival home the owner found this cow's milk congealed, and the animal has since developed a weak quarterno doubt this udder trouble is either the direct result, or has been aggravated to a serious extent by this customary nglect prior to the sale. How many of the udder defects so prevalent are caused by the objectionable and altogether unwarranted practice referred to, it would be difficult to say, but at least a large proportion probably have their beginnings in this way. The quickest and best method of stamping out the custom would be for buyers to refuse to buy any. cows not milked out on the morning of the sale. Certainly something should be done. I should have thought the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals would have a duty in the matter. And where are all our dairy experts and breeders that they let this go on under their eyes every week in the year? I know nearly every farmer is guilty, but this is no rason why we should not end what must be admitted a culpable habit. HUMANE,