FARM AND DAIRY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 60, 20 June 1910, Page 7

FARM AND DAIRY

THE.ROBBER COW AGAIN. SHOULD IT BE BRANDED? Of the 250,000 cows in Taranaki, Mr. J. R. Corrigan, of Hawera, estimates that 50,000 produce only 50 lb. of butterfat per annum, and are milked at an annual loss of 12s 6d per head, or in all about £30,000 per annum. The average profit on the while of the cows Mr. Corrigan puts at 15s per head, after paying interest on the land and the cost of milking. Mr. Corrigan's figures may possibly over-state the position, but there can be no doubt that the loss through robber cows is very heavy (says the Dominion).

Discussing the best means ©f remedying it, Mr. Corrigan says: "I think the Minister for Agriculture could assist the farmers greatly if the' dairy inspectors were taught milk-testing and provides! with the necessary machinery. Then each farmer could get his cows tested, and, by keeping a record of each cow, at the end of the season he would foe able to easily pick out his unprofitable cows. These cows when culled out should be all branded by the dairy or stock inspector, then t'hev would not be likely to find their way into another herd, but would be bought up by graziers for fattening purposes. At the present time these unprofitable cows are culled out ai one dairy and sold, bought up by another dairyman, and there they go round year after year to the 'loss of the unfortunate dairyman who buys them. If the Government and farmers worked together, and, say, started with a minimum of 1751b of butter-fat as the standard, and put a cull brand on every cow that would not produce 1751b butter-fat per annum, I don't think it would be any hardship on the farmer. In fact, the opposite; it would be money in his pocket." Somewhat similar proposals to this' have been discussed at the Annual A. ■ and IP. conferences. It has been suggested, for instance, that all cows which have suffered from contagious mammitis and! abortion should be branded with distinguishing marks, and that all cows which have undergone a milk-test should be entered in a register, and have their numbers branded on them. It is obvious enough that when milk-testing becomes more general the robber cows will be put in the saleyards, passed on, and tested and re-tested through the whole of their career by their successive purchasers. Such a waste as this ought to be 'prevented. The time is hardly riue for dealing with the problem, however, though it is one that will have to be faced Jater on.