MASSEY COLLEGE.

Shannon News, 30 April 1929, Page 3

MASSEY COLLEGE.

VISITED BY SHANNON FARMERS A visit Avas paid to the Massey College on Friday by some 80 suppliers of the Shannon Dairy Company, the visitors being extended a cordial a\ elcome by Professor Peren. In conducting the party over ' the model dairy factory, Mi*. G. M. Valentine said that it would be apparent that the factory was in no sense a commercial one, but one for experimental work in an endeavour to solve the many problems with which the butter and cheese industries were faced from time to time. Experimental work was being carried out and it was hoped that the efforts in that direction would be worth while. At the pre-. sent time, the open cheese problem was costing New Zealand £500,000 annually. Apart from butter and cheese making, provision had been made for experiments in casein manufacture and these would be carried out at a later date.

Some useful hints on cleanliness were gleaned when'' an inspection was made of the cowshed and its principle of construction wais outlined by Mr. J. MclJindew, the college veterinarian. -

The speaker said that it could never be said that a cowshed could be too clean, and the possibility of infection of all sorts from a dirty shed coulcl not be over-estimated. In general cleanliness, attention should be paid to the leg rope, which should be kept thoroughly clean and disinfected, but it was, in some cases, entirely overlooked. Not only was it necessary to keep it clean from the point of view of disease, but all material should be kept as clean as possible. The pushrods in the shed were made of iron for the reason that it Avas more hygienic than wood and far more easily kept clean. Water had been laid on between the bails so that the udders could be properly washed and the flanks dampened to keep down the flying of hair and scurf caused'through the milker’s shoulder rubbing the animal. Milking stools should also receive attention and should be as clean underneath as they were on top. Often one saw a stool with an accumulation of filth upon it, which simply meant the harbouring of germs. In describing the water supply, Mr. MeLinden pointed out that it should bo as clean as it was possible to get it. and it would also be found that stock drank better from a trough that they could get round, rather than from one which had only one approach. The drainage of the shed was on the open system, entering into a cesspool, or a long flat sump, 18 inches deep, and divided into four sections with perforated baffle plates. These prevented a free course of the sewage from the inlet to the outlet, thereby assisting sedimentation, and the water left the last chamber, although not pure, containing very little heavy matter, there being only slight flocculi. This type of sump was particularly suited to flat arc-as and allowed of easy cleaning. It alto would be found better than the deep iype of sump commonly Hised. -

Yarding arrangements were such as to give roughly 35 sq. feet for horned cattle and 30 sq, feet for dehorned cattle. This might seem a big space, added Mr. McLinden, but Avas necessary for summer milking, not only on account of the heat of the sun, but also on account of the heat of the anibodies. 'lf 1 lie animals were •not kept cool, the delicate mechanism 'of the milk producing organs Avas affected. .

’ln close proximity to the milking sheds, the calf sheds weie next inspected. A main feature of the construction was that the drainage was taken Straight to the rear of the shed in an open channel, and this was found t > he. the best meteliod to prevent the usual odour peculiar to calves, as. well as keeping: the place as hygienic as possible. The desirability of young grass as a food for calves was also stressed, not only from the feeding point of view, but also that of parasitic disease.

THE DAIRY. Explaining the lay-out of the dairy, Mr McLinden pointed out that separate motors were used for the milking machine, separator and skimmed milk pump, the reason being to eliminate shafting. It was stressed that, without providing in the first place a raw material of first-class order, it was absurd to expect the primary products, whether butter or cheese, t) bo of the highest standard. The work of the dairy factory manager in producing a good article was difficult enough already, even when given firstclass milk. It was made more so if he given, a raw material which was contaminated in the milking shed. The visitors showed a very keen interest in the factory and. the various types of plant proved an interesting attraction. The modern layout and appointments aroused very favourable comment, as did the spotlessly clean condition of the factory. PASTURE MANAGEMENT. Under the guidance ,of Mr. F. L. C. Scrivener, a little time was spent in the paddocks, where different manurial trials are being carried out to test the comparative effects of super, basic slag, nitrogen and sulphate of ammonia. Further tests were being: executed to ascertain the effect, if any, on the acidity of the soil and the composition of the herbage. Various other grassland experiments were bging carried out, said Mr. ScriveWr, and it was hoped to shortly give- details* of the results obtained oh .vari‘ous types of country. / In returning thanks for the courtesy shown the visitors by Professor Peren and the college staff, Mr. G. H. Stiles said that he was sure that all were deeply interested in all that they had seen and heard. The work of the college was not, as yet, as fully recognised as it should be, but its full valu

I . would be appreciated at no distant date.

Hoping that the visitors would come again, Professor Peren said that there were so many things being carried on that it rvas impossible to see all that ivas being done. Numerous experiments were being carried out, but the .results of some would not- be finalised for some time Experiments had not only to be made, but they had to be proved before their worth was ascertained