Farm Notes.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4485, 6 November 1909, Page 4

Farm Notes.

tfa.. Moss, of Manawatu, a director of he New Zealand Dairy Union, has his season made his first thorough rial of winter-feeding his dairy cows, ind he states that he is convinced of ts value. He used hay and swedes The swedes are now nearly finished, )ut his cows began the season in full profit, and on pastures which wer9 consequently rested and in good condition to maintain them. He was warned that the swedes would give trouble at calving time. The hay prevented this, however. Dairy cows are like sound land—if they are well and wisely fed they will feed their owner’s pocket with what he works for.

The shipments of dairy produce so far made this season give an excellent idea of the increased production in batter and cheese owing to the exceptionally favourable season. From September 10th of last season to October 22nd there were shipped from the Dominion 43,732 boxes of butter and 4610 cases of cheese, whereas from September 9th to October 21st of this season the shipments have represented 65,957 boxes of butter and 14,808 cases of cheese, an increase over the shipments for the corresponding period of last year of no less than 22,225 boxes of butter and 10,198 cases of cheese, representing more than fifty per cent, advance in production.

This year’s butter-fat competition ofjthe Wairarapa P. and A. Association resulted in a victory for an Ayrshire cross cow (fourth in last year’s test) the property of Mr C. Morgan, of Belvedere. For the eight milkings she gave 2171 b of milk (about 5£ gallons a day) of a 3.8 test. L. Herrick’s Ayrshire cross was second with 2111 b of milk of a 3.7 test. The third cow was W. D. Fisher’s Ayrshire-Shorthorn, which gave 2271 b of milk (the highest quantity of milk of any cow), testing 3.3 per cent. The fourth cow was a Jersey cross, the property of A. Knutson, the yield of which was 2121 b of 3.5 milk. But for a change in condition this cow would have run the winner very close, as at one milking she gave only three pounds, but somewhat made up for this in the next milking by giving 40lb. The best yield of fat was that of the sixth cow, a beautiful Jersey cross, which gave 1551 bof 4.7 milk. There was 29 competitors in all. Last year’s winner gave 2311 b of 3.9 milk, but this year made a poor showiug owing to a temporary disorder of the udder.