AUSTRALIAN DAIRYING

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 956, 26 April 1930, Page 31

AUSTRALIAN DAIRYING

INCREASING PRODUCTION In every state of the Commonwealth dairymen are waking up to the necessity for the adoption of better methods, states “The Australasian." Herdtesting is proving that the majority of commercial herds contain too large a proportion of unprofitable units. These are now being eliminated and replaced with better animals. The weedingout process must necessarily take time, and it will he some years before the reconstitution of the herds is finally accomplished. It is certain, however, that eventually the dairying industry will be placed on a much more satisfactory basis as the result of the culling process. Improvement of pastures must be coincident with the improvement of the cattle in order to provide for the proper feeding of the herd. In the management of dairy cattle the importance of good pasture and green, succulent food cannot be overrated. The part that bulk and succulence play In this respect is probably due to the co-relation between the act of rumination and the capacious digestive system of the cow. These animals require bulk with the proper proportion of digestible material, and dry fodder mixed with water cannot take the place of the natural juices of the plants. Hence there are the soundest reasons for advocating the use of the silo and the routine cultivation of fodder crops. Speaking generally, pastures on the dairy farms of Australia do not receive the necessary attention, and are, therefore, not fully efficient. In many cases the fields are too large, resulting in w-aste of energy on the part of the cattle in gathering their feed, and waste of feed. The remedy is subdivision in order to provide facilities for close rotation, grazing and frequent changes of pasture. Top-dress-ing, harrowing and keeping the growth down by heavy stocking or mowing are essential for the maintenance of good pastures. The success of dairying is largely dependent upon skilful pasture management.