DAIRY FARM COMPETITION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 99, 3 May 1913, Page 5

DAIRY FARM COMPETITION.

REPORT OF THE JUDGES.

A WIN FOR &SR WALKER.

The Judges, Messrs. I). Cuddic, C. J. Heakes, 11. Lambic, Sen., in forwarding their report on the Dairy Farm Competition, to Mr B. Fearon, Secretary of the Stratford A. and P. Association, write as follows: —

“We heg to forward herewith the results of our judging of the farms entered for your Association’s Dairy Farm Competition.

“In judging these farms it was found a matter of some difficulty, in some cases, of impossibility, to make the result arrived at with the scale of points under which we had to work tally with our general opinion of the individual farms as a whole.

“Wo do not question the desirableness of setting out a scale of points to lie allotted to the various features of each farm. Your Association was perfectly right on this general principle, but we are decidedly of the opinion that the proportion of the total number of points to lie allotted to each item could be varied considerably to great advantage. For instance, in a dairy farm competition the herd deserves a geater proportion of the total points than do the pigsties!

“If we can bo of any assistance to your Association in the matter of drawing up a scale of points for future competitions, we shall be pleased to do anything we can. “A competition of this nature is bound to he of great benefit to dairy farmers and to the dairy industry, and wo heartily congratulate your Association on having initiated it. We must further congratulate the district in possessing the progressive and energetic farmers whom we have had the pleasure of meeting.

“We only regret that the conditions under which the judging had to he carried out prevented some of the competitors coming out higher in‘the COMMENTS BY THE JUDGES.

While inspecting these farms there wore certain points noted which are worthy of special mention.

In the first place it was satisfactory to note the progress made ii/ clearing the land of stumps and fallen timS’ . J bar, and in laying down good pastures, work which, when extended throughout the district, must greatly increase the carrying capacity of the land and the yield of dairy produce from it. In this connection we must specially mention one farmer, Mr dago, who has not only done a- great deal of work, but has done it in excellent style.

The provision of winter feed; so necessary for successful-dairying, had received good attention, roots being provided in ample quantity, while hay (usually oaten hay) was also well in evidence. The respective farmers evidently had a good realisation of the advantages accruing from keeping their cows in good health and condition through the winter, thus enabling them to come to their calving under the best conditions for giving a profitable milk-yield right /from the start of the season. No bad crops of turnip; were seen. Mangolds were grown on only two farms, both crops being good. Tlio fact that one-eighth of the total points wero allocated to the mangold crop proved a serious handicap to those farms on which timer op was not grown.

The fencing was generally good, although more attention should he given to the provision of good live fences, the shelter furnished hy these in cold and inclement weal her being of great value. In allocating the points for fencing on this occasion, wo based our judgment principally on the condition of the wire fences, but in allocating points for succeeding competitions the provision of good shelter fences should he mentioned.

As regards the herds, we noted with pleasure the presence in them of a considerable number of good profitable cows. As is to ho expected in the present stage of the industry and as the result of its rapid development during the last fifteen years, but few purebred cows were met with. Where a hull was seen, however, it was always a purebred animal. This in itself is a great point. One matter noted with regret was that only two competitors were testing the yields of their individual cows, and both of these belonged to one or other of the Cow-testing Associations operating in the district. The record of one of these farmers was one of which any dairyman might he proud, and it is worth noting hero. The average production of his cows up to the 11 tli April was 2001 hs. fat, and 705.-)lbs. milk in 915 days. The best animal in the herd gave 3771bs fat in 195 davs.

To sum up this suction of the competition, the chief points noted were : 1. The good health and condition of the cows. 2. The presence of purebred bulls. ,'5. The absence of anything approaching uniformity of type or breed in the cows save in two herds. -I. The absence of any exact knowledge on the part of the farmer (save in two cases) of the real value, as a milker, of each of his cows. This knowledge can only bo accurately obtained by testing each cow’s milk yield over a season, and in view of tbe fact that two Testing Associations are in existence in the district, we are surprised that more of the competitors had

not joined one or other of these

asociations. 5. The general practice of saving the heifer calves cf the cows known or believed to be the most profitable milkers in the herd.

The buildings varied considerably in merit. Certain of the milkingsheds were badly constructed and quite unworthy of an up-to-date dairy farm.

There seemed to he no degree of uniformity in the style and planning of the milking-sheds in use, but this is only to be expected, seeing that a number of them have been in use for many years. On five of the farms concrete was laid down in the milkingsheds, but there were only two where a first-class job had resulted. In some cases only a part of the floor was covered with concrete, and the fall for the drainage ran in the wrong direction, the end of the drain in some cases being nmcli too near the building. In only one instance was there a first-class water supply laid on to the shed, milk-stand, and piggery, this being provided from a near-by creek, and elevated to tanks by means of a ram. Several of the competitors have provided wells (others drawing their supplies from rain-water collected in tanks), and if windmills were attached to these to elevate the water for cleaning the premises and cooling purposes, it would be a great advantage. Afc all the farms visited the dairy utensils were found to be clean, although in some cases it was noticed that these appliances were kept in or too near the milking-shed during the interval between milkings, a system which cannot bo commended.

With one or two exceptions, the milk-stands were found to be in good positions, several being provided with concrete base and suitable drainage. Unfortunately a number of the competitors did not appear to attach enough importance to the necessity for keeping the milk-stands in’ the best order.

As for the pigsties, they were generally bad, most being very bad. In only one case was any attempt made at proper construction, and the good points of this Were somewhat minimised by the absence of sufficient ventilation, the smell within being particularly pungent in spite of good drainage facilities. Another sty, which oossessed a wooden floor, Was provided with good facilities for cleansing uid for drainage, a permanent water cipnly being provided. Eut its condruction was faulty, and japart from !he facilities for. the maintenance of such cleanliness as was possible uular the structural conditions, it only ihowed up well by comparison, because'the majority'Of Thecethev sites seen were infinitely worse.

If dairy farmers want to get the best return from their pigs, they must •vovide -proper accommodation for diem. Evidently the great majority lo not do so at present, and the sooner they awake to the necessities of the situation, and take proper action, ho better for them and for the dairy industry.

Fencing Prize.—lst, J. Jago; 2nd. S. Pitt. In fairness to Mr Smith, wo may hate that his farm has not been used ior dairying this season, consequently ho lost many points. C. J. REAKES, D. CUDDIE, R. LA MB lE, Sen.

- - Entrant’s Name. Turnips. Mangolds. Paddocks. Pigsties. Haystack. Fencing. Milking-shed. Herd. Total, Walker, A.B. JLU 81 8 -i 3 81 8 81 71 621 Webb, T. 9 71 6 5 k 9 8 8 8 61 Barlow, W. 7 — 8 7 9 8 9 9 57 Jago, J. ° — 10 4 10 9 41 8 541 West, A. and J. R. 71 — 81 51 9 8 10 8 o4j Jones, E. 10 — 8 3 9 8 71 71 63 Pitt, S. 71 — 7i 0 8 81 7 71 46 Fenwick, W. H. 7 — 7k 0 7 5 7 10 431 Gamlin, A.B. 7 — 6 4 0 5 4 6 38 Smith, V. 8 — . 7k 0 7i 71 21 — 33