ADVANCING MILK PRODUCTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 127, 26 June 1909, Page 6

ADVANCING MILK PRODUCTION.

A .SV.UPATIIK'I'IC MINISTER. A deputation' from the Dairy Convention waited on the .Minister of Agriculture lit I'almerston North on Wednesday with a request that the department should assist dairymen to establish il utility herd hook by allowing dairy inspectors to assist in the work of testing eons intended for registration, so Unit farmers iwould have confideuee in the records.

Tlii! Minister gave a most favorable reply. "1 nmy say a t once," lie said, "that L am in entire sympathy with ' yo«f wishes, und so far a s the departmeiit is concerned it will do its best to assist you." In the course of a discussion whiib. , followed the Minister said the farmer's r difficulty was the department's difficulty—tho inability to get the guaranteed milking strains. The department was thinking of going to Kew South .Wales to obtain some of the milking Shorthorns of that State, and intended getting some llolsteins from Canterbury. It. wa» J his earnest conviction that tin- greatest of all questions before the dairyman of the Dominion was the proper selection and breeding of cows. ilr. K Clifton, director of experimental stations, said there were a very few cows in the Weraron herd from which they could obtain 'bulls which they wouhl venture to .sell to farmers. There I was absolutely no intention to cross purebred* of the present herd. There were not more than twenty which were I well enough bred and of sufficient milking quality to warrant their use as dams lof dairy sires. With these it was proposed to use bulls of the best milking I Shorthorn strain available. Then the department .would;' have liulJs fit to sell. It was intended to establish purebred | herds of Jerseys ajjd Holsteins at Wera-

i'Oa and other 'statilns. As to'the state-1 mi'iit that the WeJwroa honl luul .been I

built up liy .purchasing outside stock. ' the 14.3 cows of tlio original- herd had i bee-.! reduced to 55. mnd of thcao only 1 two hud been purchased. Therefore the prei-ent satisfactory j avemge had, it might be said, been 'brought about by selection, , I ' I J—, „jj