FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 230, 3 November 1909, Page 4

FARM AND DAIRY.

COW-TESTIXG. HObSTEI.NS US TOP IN DALE HELD ASSOCIATION, THE LKSSON OF THE TEST.

Many interesting and valuable lessons have arisen already from the molel cowtesting association of the Department of •Agriculture at Dalelield (saya the We!Imgton Times). Perhaps the most noteworthy i 6 in connection with the leading tow. It is the property of Mr. W. A. Hart, a young dairy farmer of the district of progressive ideas. This cow jave 4olb of 4.2 milk, though on other occasions she has gone up to a 4.9 test. She described as a Ilolatein cross, and though it is impossible to say with any degree of certainty what her breeding really is. she undoubtedly has a strong strain of llolstein blood in her make-u T > Phc is a big black cow, built 011 capital dairy lines, with a well-balanced udder and nice tents. Her owner says she possesses the essential milking character ''f persistence. Now as to her breeding. She is by a llolstein grade bull, probably three parts llolstein and one part fhorthorn. Jler dam is a very shapely cow, and though it is not known how she is actualy bred she is probably a Shorthorn-Jersey cross. A puzzling fad is that the dam, notwithstanding het apparent dash of Jersey blood, does not g've a high-testing mill;, the percentage of fat being only about 3.5, so that tho ■low owes her good quality milk to her •vre, but whether to the father or mother of the sire it is impossible to say. Thus the position of Mr. Hart's cow in the first month's test cannot be taken as an advertisement for the Hoi stein breed, especially as the Holstein usually produces a rather Ipw testing milk, and this cow has a very good test, particularly in view of the fact that •:l'c milk tested was produced in the Hiring, wh'-u the nature of her food—euiirelv a lii-tliuis gra^.s—was all against a normal fat content. Uvea granting that Mr. Mart'..- cow owed her good milking qualities to llolstein blond, s>ie would have to be regarded as ail except'onal cow. in view of the general eliar-cc-ter of llolstein milk, a large llow but a low percentage of fat. A great advocate of the llolstein in the AVair.;-i-apa claims that tile breed is easily tiu. oest of all dairy herds where the' mill; i product is converted into cheese, became butter-fat is not a necessary constituent of cheese! Mr. Hart's cow is leading in the lierd-tcsting association hi - ennse she gave the largest amount ol lat. However, llolstein admirers have much to congratulate themselves on the fact that not only is the best cow a llolstein cross, but the leading herd--- ■ lint is, the herd with the highest aveiage butter-fat production—Mr. W. Saywell's, is composed of Holstein crossbrods.

Ihe f-reat lesson to be taken from the test is that the purebred bull is imperative m any scheme of herd advance room. The cow above referred to- is ue?cen,led from a grade, with the result i JS vo . r * y pi oblematical whether she will transmit her desirable milking character to her offspring.

[ Says the Auckland Herald:—"Tarnmki lias hitherto been regarded as the great dairying province of the Dominon, but the figures for the current senson show Ihu t our Auckland dairymen \''C already in tile running for 'first P ace and must sooner or later nut Tnranaki far behind."

Employ the best farm 'hand yon cm hud. A good hand is cheap at any price >ou are likely to liave to pay. Responsibility and profit-sharing will do more to keep the boy on the faTm than almost any other two things. Activity is not objectionable in the hcrse for general farm 'work. Hut If should be activity without nervousness. A good carter never has to hurry liis horse* to make up for lost time, nor does h e rush them through a hard pii'l. in selecting dairy cattle one must take into consideration the demand in one S locality, whether for milk, butter or cheese.

The important step in tho development of strong and vigorous dairy cows * m tiu; proper feeding and handling of •he call. n

To-day the .skilled plant-feeder knows us soil and what it will do as a driver .now* hw horse, and treats the case in flhgcntly.