FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 133, 23 October 1912, Page 7

FARM AND DAIRY.

PRODUCE EXPORTS. . Dairy produce is coming to hand from all quarters very steadily now, and the season may be said to have fairly commenced. The Remuera, which left Wellington for London last Thursday, took a fairly big shipment. The butter taken by the vessel totalled 27,217 boxes, valued, approximately, at £81,651. The number of crates jof cheese sent Home was 8415, and the value £42,075. The exports were gathered from the following ports:—.' '■': ''•■'••:

Some interesting'■and -instructive remarks on the progress of the dairying industry wejce- made ; by Mr. D. Cuddie, chief of the dairy division of the Agricultural Department, during the course of a recent address at a rural centre in the Wairarapa. In his:opitiion, of all the developments, the most important has heen the- initiation of cow-testing, which Was contributing, in an essential degree, to more remunerative results attending the dairying pursuit. To indicate the development of the cow-testing movement, it may be mentioned that when associations were first established Some four years ago,only-about 800 cows were treated, whereas this year fully twenty thousand, cows. were; being, tested by the various associations. Mr. Cuddie instanced two members of a testing association. Both were good breeders and treated their, cows kindly, rearing the calves from their herds. One used a purebred bull and the other a mongrel. Last year the average yield of the cows was 2931b and 2101b butterfat respectively, a difference of ■ 851b a eow, or £4 5s at Is per lb for butter-fat. With a herd of 40! cows; the man using the purebred bull would have made in a year £l6B more than the other man

Beckoning the annual upkeep of a cow, including grazing, labor, interest, accidents and depreciation, at £8; if rip, more than this is produced it follows that: the dairyman is making no headwar. Last year the average cow in the best herd tested, by an association produced 3201b of 'butter-fat, which, after charging £8 against the cow, with but-ter-fat at Is, showed a profit ofOd per lb. The average cow in the worst herd produced only 1601b of butter-fat, which absolutely left no margin of profit. The best cow for a 30-day period left the owner a profit of £4 15s 9d for the. period. The worst cow's product was worth only 2s 3d. It is now generally recognised" that it is practically impossible to gauge the value of a cow unless by the process adopted by the testing association.

Mr. Cuddie instanced the case of a member of the association who was in the habit of patronising saleyards for,his cows, who up till the middle of February this year had culled out 28 per cent, of his herd and was fattening them for the butcher. The benefits of testing associations were further elaborated on by the speaker quoting one herd, the owner of which, by finding out the duffers and culling, had reduced his average of 41b below the association's figures last year to y-lb this season. He also emphasised the "necessity of purchasing purebred bulls and retaining the heifer calves from the best milkers in each herd.

Butter. Cheese Boxes. Crates, Auckland 12,636 — New 'Plymouth , 7,679 : 1292 Patea ... ; . :...... 2,278 4802 ' Wanganui .... 493 181, Wellington : ... .;....;' 3,249 ■ 2140 Lyttelton :.... .• .■..:...:.: '702 — Port Chalmers , 180 — COWTESTING. AN EXPERT'S PRONOUNCEMENTS.