NOTES BY “PLOUGHSHARE.”

Shannon News, 13 August 1926, Page 3

NOTES BY “PLOUGHSHARE.”

HOME SEPARATION. At the present time many farmers are debating the question, as to whether they should take up home-separ-ating during this corning season. Certainly there are arguments for and against. At. the present time cheese apparently offers the best financial return, but the practical fanner Who is also interested in the welfare of his farm will find at the end of the season that his returns are just as great, df not more, than when he'carted his milk to the factory. By separating on the, (farm the farmer must save a considerably amount, of labour His cream is picked at the gate and carted to the factory. This in itself is a saving as once he lias placed his cream ready for delivery, he is free to continue his duties on the farm. The two hours which he usually spends in carting and delivering his milk can be spent in a more profitable manner, such as farm improvements, growling of supplementary feeds and in the care- of his stock. The overwhelming advantages to stock must not be over-looked. , As soon as the milking is over, the milk is separated and there is on hand at once a supply of warm skimmed milk to feed out to* calves and pigs. This happens twice a day, and the fact cannot be contradicted that these animals thrive and do much -better on the warm skim milk, Ilian they, do on the whey which is received from the cheese factory. It lias been stated that it pays to accept twopence per pound less and separate at home 1 ; viewing -my own experience and many friends’ experiences also I consider that this is so.