AMERICAN DAIRYING

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 550, 31 December 1928, Page 7

AMERICAN DAIRYING

LAND CHEAPER THAN IN NEW ZEALAND

AUCKLANDER’S OBSERVATIONS

Dairying land in America is much cheaper than in New Zealand. The interest in the industry has slackened in the past few years, too. But Dr. W. C. Ring, an Auckland veterinarian, who was on the Aorangi last evening, saw a farm in America carrying 1,400 cows. In several districts he saw remarkable examples of how large numbers of cows can be carried on limited areas. Near Princetown. New Jersey, he visited one farm where 600 cows were milked at one time daily —by hand. An interesting fact was that the cows were allowed in the open only four hours daily, and then for exercise alone. Lucerne, called alfalfa in America, was extensively used for hay and silage. In the huge dairies supplying cities, hand milkers were paid by piece-work and were checked by a stripper. Research work for disease was carried out intensively and all precautions were taken against infection. Dr. Ring said he had arrived at the conclusion that American farming, generally speaking, was not at its best There was a tendency toward land aggregation, especially by companies conducting multiple stores. The Americans admitted the high quality of New Zealand butter, although they preferred a sweet product. Another admission was the Dominion’s supremacy in sheep farming. Naturally, there was antagonism to a product that would interfere with the interests of the Americans.