FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 6, 1 February 1909, Page 4

FARM AND DAIRY.

C'b'LUNG HEIIDS. -Mr S. Driver, of Waitua, W'uikato, who commenced culling his dairying herds of llolst'ehis two years ago, relates that before he begun his process of selection he obtained from his 00 milking cows an average of XI per cow per month, at '.ld per pound butter-fat, whilst to-day, from a herd of JS picked cows, he is obtaining .C4(i 10s ltd, at lOd per lb butter-fat, which averages out about Ms (id per cow. Mr Driven uses the milking machine, and has used it for four seasons, and considers that tile returns lie Ims secured a uirccl proof that the milking machine is in ;io way injurious to the yield of herds. AN OBJECT LESSOX. One of the best examples of successful modern dairying and one of the most instructive is the experience ot Charles Eos of .Illinois. He increased the income of his ninety-acre farm from 1,(100 dollars to well over 2,000 and believes that lie can double the income again along the same lines. The best ol' il is that his methods would seem to apply in almost any dairy section. Probably his own explanation of his success is the best.

lle savs: "This improvement has come about by weighing ami testing the milk, by selling the low producers, buying and raising better cows, using the silo and feeding a more nearly balanced ration, and by studying and supplying the individual needs of the cow." 1 INCREASING Tlili PROMTS OF DAIIiYING.

The profits from a herd of dairy cows may lm increased in several ways. Hetter rations and bet to i cows will hicrousx; returns at one end of tin- line, and improved quality iind a better selling system for the products will increase it at llin other. By better rations is meant not more exjionsiyo foodstuffs or more food, for .tliaL matter, l>nt a better arrangement in the ration of feeding-st nil's available for use. ' In some eases this may result in a lowering of the cost of the feed ; in others it may increase. In some eases the feed at hand may not be sufficient for the purpose of compounding a balanced-ration, and certain oth'*r stull's may be purchased io supply the deficiency. .But, whatever the circumstances are, it pays, generally, providing the cowa are worth feeding at all. to feed a ration compounded so as to supply the proper nutrient in about the proper proportions for milk production.

It is easy figuring increased profits from keeping better cows, but more difficult, sometimes, to find the cows. The most profitable dairy herds on this Continent have chicily being built tip from foundation stock the founder happened to have about him ivhen operation first began, and liv judicious selection of the females and the use of sires bred in a milking line, the milk yield has been gradually raised. It is rather a hit-and-miss-game, trying to buy better cows than one has in his own herd. The rational way to improve is to find out, first, what one's own herd is doing, anil eliminate from it all cows giving less than a minimum amount of milk. Coed dairy cows arc not for sale, as a rule, except in the dispersion of a herd ; and, anyway, a man can build up a herd of good producers from his own stock about as ipiickly, and certainly at less cost, than by purchasing outright. At the end of tile line there is the possibility of increasing returns by producing a better article, and this involves, generally, nothing more than a little better care of tire products in the handling of the milk ami the manufacture and sale of it, in whatever form it is disposed of. Tile dairyman who will not improve the quality of his product, if it is, say, butter, iratil tile price of butter gets higher, is unlikely ever to improve at all, but will generally continue to sell his goods for tile lowest? price such commodity sells for. Improvement in quality is the one controllable means of raising prices. Better feeding and care of the cows, more ellicient help in earing for them, a better and cleaner J method of mannfacti.-nig the butter, and, last of all, hut .ase.itially important, a modern way of selling the products. There arc some of the things that will increase the profit of the dairy farming.

Inclusive of cattle, sheep and pigs it has been reported that the unusually large number of head were put through by (lie Wellington Meat Kxport Co. last month, and it is expected that the (juantity will be exceeded during tin- current month, sa fast are the consignments being forwarded. '.Lhe Oao'.iuj Dairy Company, it is stated, will convert into cheese next season, and the chairman and secretary have been deputed to inquire into the cost of installing a cheeso plant. Mr \\. T. Jennings o'» certain of the | proposed dairy regulations : '* I am against the imposition of a tax' on eows ; but am in favour of regulation and inspect ion of dairies—not by pinpricking everyone concerned, though. My Nearly days in Auckland, in connection with many years 1 work in our own dairy, ma'kes me solicitous about the inlerierence of people who know little! about, the hard work in connection with ! dairying. IVrsniiiiJly, I ivouhl like to: see the regulation and inspection done b,v men appointed by the suppliers—a man elected by themselves," " If Ave could only £et clean milk wo could do wonders," remarked a district factory manager to a itawera Star reporter. At the factory referred to, as at others, there is a clear gain of two points in flavour (the manufactured article being cheese) this season compared with last. The absence of the very warm nights generally associated with the summer season has bad some influence in improving the Average quality of the season's milk supply, but a more important contributing factor is said to be the extra cleanliness at the sheds.