FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 36, 8 March 1909, Page 4

FARM AND DAIRY.

CONTAGIOUS MAMMITIS. With reference to the article on "Contagious Jlamuiitis" in our issue of the 12th ult., at the conclusion of which it was state! that a leading dairy farmer lutl pointed out to one of our reporters that to procure the services of the local Veterinarian "it was first necessary to apply to the Stock Inspector. The case proving beyond his skill or knowledge, lie communicatee with the Inspector-in-Charge at Wanganui. lie in turn must pass the matter on to the Chief Inspector of Stock at Wellington, thence to the Secretary for Agriculture, who rcTers the matter to the Chief Veterinarian. who iust'l'uets the District Veterinarian, and thus after a week's delay he receives a notification of a- disease from the Stock Inspector, whose office is on the other side of the partition. 1 We have liuuhfemjuiries in official circles; whie'h deny the statement. Our latest authority states: "The informant must have lteen talking cither without knowledge, or else had Home ulterior motive in view. If a ■farmer wis'iics to consult the District Veterinarian, he is quite at liberty La do so. Again, if any of the stock inspectors in the Taranaki province wish ■to consult flic District A'eleriuarian o.i any question of disease, or want his opinion on any animal or animals, or outbreak of disease in their districts, they either see him personally; or write him direct on the matter. 11l no case has a requisition for his services ever been made to the Inspeetor-in-Charge : by the inspectors. All that tlicy are required to do is in the event of any unusual outbreak of disease, in addition to consulting the local veterinarian, they are expected to -send that official a report.''

XliW ZEALAND JiKliF.

EEI'OKTJiD DECLINE IX QUALITY. The outstanding feature of liust year's trade in Xew Zealand beef, reports the C.C and D. Company, -was tluit it had lost a, good deal of its. reputation for ■superiority to other frozen meat. White this may be a fair statement of the present position, there is every indication that the quality of our beef is improving. Tilie dairy fanner in coming to realise that the general-purpose cow ia a myth, and that to make the greatest )>rolit in milk-production the specialprofit cow must Ik developed. Therefore, realising that such a steer as the Jersey js not prolit-able to l'ear, they are knocking their male calves 011 the head and a.r« giving proper attention to rearing the female stotk. Consequently the breeding of beef fat stock is drifting moro and more into the liamls of breeders of special beef cattle, with the result that the .quality, from a ibutcher's point of view, must show an advance in the. immediate future.

In view of die healthy state of the .dairy industry, it is rather surprising to note that, according to Lbe recently published statistics, there is a decrease in the cattle of the Dominion of no less than J2,nT3 head; and more surprising still tthat the principal decrease is in heifers under two years, while all the descriptions) intended for dairying show decreases. In only two cases a.re increases recorded, tlterejieing live more liulls. and the good; increase of 15,170 in cows or heifers intended for fattening. The decrease In dairying cattle is probably in part dive—and it is to be hoped it is—to tire culling of the herds. Tt' it is so tlie.ro could still be a much greater decrease, and the farmer would benefit by it, for there must be a considerable number of .dairy cows which do not pay to keep—adding to the cost of production and decreasing the profit which should be obtained from the .profitable members of the herd. Wh.ile the big increase in cows or heifers intended (for 'fattening goes to confirm the view that the dairy herd's, are being culled, if something were, ascertainable as to 'the condition of the stock it would probably bo found tliat a good percentage of them are cows which lvave been ■rendered unfit for the dairy by reason of having contracted contagious mammitis.

As to tile beef stock proper, steers exhibit a. considerable decrease, in the case of two-year steers to tile extent of 12.2T8. and in the rase of three-year fcteers GSIO. Generally speaking, it is evident that in the future there will be a distinct line of demarcation between beef and dairy stock in this country, and this will 'be to the decided advantage of both industries.

Continued dry weather is making itself rather severely felt, ami milk returns must consequently show an enormous reduction (says the llawera Star). Streams with weak sources of summer •supply are showing-evidence of alarming shrinkage, wfliilo it becomes necessary to sink wells to greater depths. Hydraulic rams are becoming .in greater demand, ami small springs are being utilised. Tile absence of wind can seldom he .regarded as a. source oj annoyance in this district, but for several days during the past fortnight the failure of the power for rotating the. fens of windmills lias been seriously complained about. Taking into consideration the thirsty condition- of the fioil. the district's pastures are remarkably verdant, and although the land' hi South Taranaki is ot an extremely porous character, its drought-resisting power is made

apparent under (lie present unusually extreme pressure. Provision oi green, stuii in ilie shape of rape and lndia':i maize are common throughout the district, and those who were not far-seeing enough to secure tliie stand-by have received a good warning against future years. The monthly meeting of the South Taraiiaki held in ilawera la*t week. The question of having a "iieLd day" this season was brought up, but the members present considered it was- too late to have one this year, and the committee were (jueeted to arrange for a day at the beginning of next season, tho Oth .November for preference} and arrange* | ments to be. made lor a visit of a bee expert qu that date. The secretary was instructed to keep" a list of all beekeepers in the district, and t'liat members be asfced to forward to the secretary the names of all beekeepers known to them. Even the best cows vary from year to year in their butler-fat production. The better food you feed to stock the more careful you sliould be of the manure. A stone jar is a good cream receptacle into which to skim the cream for chumU'lien pigs are properly managed tliey cau be maue to bring two litters of pigs each year. It is the man that admits he has atwave something to learn that succeeds in every calling. A stunted foal makes a dwarf horse or mare, no matter how good the after care and "feed. , .

Straw used in moderation and judiciously is a feeding-stuff that can be employed with advantage. When salting butter add one tablesiioonful of granulated sugar to 101b of liutter and notice the improved Jlavor. Or,cat diversity of .opinion exists now in regard lo the horse for the farmer to raise both for sale mud for farm use. It i.s no easier to keep poultry than any other stock, as labor and proper management must be used to meet success.

There is money and profit iu breeding horses of high quality, of high efficiency —■that stand for character in the horse field.