FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 120, 29 August 1910, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY.

DAIRYING BREEDS. This is the experience of a dairy farmer in America:—The Jerseys are a breed that require good feed and care, not perhaps .being so hardy as some of the other breeds, ibut with favorable conditions there should be a generous response in the .best of dairy products. This •breed should occupy a most useful place in our Vermont agriculture where creameries abound or farm dairying is followed. A cosely allied breed in its origin and general dairy purposes, the Guernliseya, is being introduced to a limited extent into the country and State, The animals composing this bred are somewhat larger than the Jerseys, and are considerably more hardy. They are generally fawn and white in color. They have the same dairy characteristics as the Jersey in richness and high coloring of milk, cream and butter. Time will determine whether or not they will be superior to the Jersey for general purposes.

Those having Jersey or Guernsey cows yielding milk rich in butter-fat will not find it profitable to sell the same to a condensary, but it will find a ready demand and good market where cream and butter are wanted. Both Jerseys and Holsteins are now holding a firm position among our farmers, but there is room enough for both, and they should receive the attention their distinctive merits demand. Both .breeds were well represented at the fairs, have admirers, and should be kept up to the highest standard of production and excellence. The Holsteins, in many. instances, are being improved in richness of milk, and the Jerseys in amount of yield. Farmers should consider well for what purpose they are keeping cows, and then endeavor to make choice of the breed that promises best to fulfil the conditions required, and then, if the choice is a wise one stick to that breed, and by proper management make it answer its purpose to the 'best possible extent. Conditions may require a change sometimes, but this should be the exception and hot the rule. There is a wide field now for the dairymen, as all the products, as well as the by-products of milk, or the milk itself alone, are in quick'demand at remunerative prices, so there need be nothing lost, but all put to some good account.

The first I remember of being brought into my own part of the State were the Durhams, later known as Shorthorns. These were quite an improvement on the original stock kept in some respects, and turned the attention of farmers to the importance of keeping better animals. This was pioneer work, and bad. its good effect. There were some excellent cows of this breed, and the calves from a purebred bull mated with the best cows were a manifest improvement on the old stock, as will usually be the case. But these cows hardly came up in efficiency to some of the breeds that came along later for the dairy. Still, as readers will understand, there is now an effort being made to reinstate this old breed in public favor, and perhaps, with intelligent selection and breeding, this will be accomplished. In those parts of the country where both milk and beef are wanted in the same animal, this breed will be found of much value. It was not long after the Durhams had been introduced before another breed made its appearance. This was the Ayrshire. At first these animals came largely from Canada, near by, whence they had been imported from their original home in Scotland. These at once produced a favorable impression. Their uniformity of build, color and general characteristics gave evidence of good' breeding and adaptation to dairy purposes. Their hardiness was also an element in their favor. For yeare this breed had been highly esteemed in the State, and there have been some good herds in my own country. But, notwithstanding these excellences, the breed has not held its own here. At the late, county fair there was only one of the oldest established herds and the cows were well liked for dairy purposes, but later on in the search for new breeds the Jersey came in for recognition. These were distinctly a rich milk and butter producing breed. For a good number of years this breed has held its own in county and State, in which there | are many excellent herds. For rich milk delivered near home, and, cream and butter of unexceptional quality, the Jerseys hold first rank. But the milk is" not so well adapted for shipment as the Ayrshire or Holstein.

INDIVIDUAL COW-TESTING. The Farmers' Union Advocate says:— "The enthusiasm thrown into the work of improving farmers' conditions by Mr. Sergei in Taranaki is admirable. Life is made easier by such men, who, having a definite object in view, pursue it to success. To him we owe the initiation of the experiments in top-dressing of pastures in Taranaki, and now he is pushing on that important work, the testing of, each cow's milk. It taikes years to convince farmers to change their mode of working. Were it not for the 'Mr. Sergels' of the world we would never change." The paper, writing before the report of the Eltham Dairy Company's annual meeting was received by it, refers to Mr. Sergei's notice of motion with reference to the voluntary cow-test-ing scheme, and then continues:—"And ■we trust it will be carried. There is no doubt that the Government is doing good work in leading the way, by undertaking the testing, as in the Wairarapa; but' dairy fanners should themselves take the initiative, and not expect the Government always to do things for them. We are glad to notice that the farmers in Manawatu are starting a testing association, and if Mr. Sergei is successful in starting one at Eltham, these good ex-< amples" will soon be followed, and the | industry will receive an impetus such as it has not yet received." j

(So successful was the ploughing match held in connection with the Wairarapa A. and P..Society- at Morison'a Bush recently, that it is contemplated making the match an annual function. The balance-sheets of the dairy factories in this district show the need for a practical and systematic testing system amongst the dairy herds (says the Opunake Times). In one instance the average test shows a decline, whilst in nearly every other instance the average test is at a standstill. The quantity of mil'k to make a pound of butter is still a poor standard in comparison to the 1 number of years that dairy factories, with facilities available for farmers to improve, have been in vogue, Farmers are either too busy to test their herds and cull, or else the old-fashioned cow with the pump handle is still being milked. The advancement in improving the general average test on the year's supply is not quite as progressive as the snail march on a seasoned plank with a dry,grain on'a very dry day. , We are informed-{says-the Stratford Post) that the .Agricultural Department ia now, waiting- .special investigation as to the cause of sterility in cows in Tarariakii "'For, some time' past "it has been recognised''that a very great, and prpbaJbiy, 1 quite unnecessary, IO3S to dairy .fanners through the cause stated is taking place, and from authoritative sources •we learn that the computed loss to Tara- ■ w*i alone u £*W,OOO annually . It is in

work of this nature that the Department [becomes of real service to the settler, fand it is to be hoped that every assistI ance will Ibe given to the inspectors who [ are endeavoring to get at the real causes i of the evil, and to teach formers how to, avoid them.

One of 'Southland's potato growers finds he is getting the best returns by sending his produce to the North Island instead of locally. For shipments sent to the Manawatu districts his recent reimbursements 'have been at the rate of £6 per ton on trucks at his country station.