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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 208, 22 January 1913, Page 4

Sub-leader WPFYQbu- SS A DAIRY EXPERT'S ADVICE. lii the course of his latest report, Mr. C J. Reakes, head of the Live Stock and Meat Division, of the Department of Agriculture, gives some useful advice to dairy fanners. According to the last returns, there are 033,733 dairy cows in Sew Zealand, and the demand for good dairy stock continues. In view of the continual development of the dairying industry, this demand is likely to continue for some time to come. In this connection, says Mr. Reakes, it is a matter for concern that many dairy farmers do not adopt better methods in some of the most important points connected with operations. These may be summarised as follows:—(1) Better breeding methods, especially as regards the use of good bulls; (2) more general testing of the yield of dairy cows, with a view of culling out unprofitable animals; (3) better provision of winter feed for dairy cows and young stock; (4) better methods of rearing calves. A number of amimals of good class and of great value for breeding dairy stock have been imported of late, and their progeny and the pure progeny of other purebred dairy stock already in the country, have sold readily at high values. The prices obtained for these animals indicate an appreciation of the value of stock of the right class on the part of at least a portion of the dairying community; but, in view of the laxity of many others on this and other points enumerated above, it is evident, says Mr. Reakes, that dairy farmers need' to' vastly improve 'their methods, especially in view of the high value of property suitable for dairying. Many of the bulls seen upon dairy farms are inferior, under-bred animals, showing a, variety of crosses, and the bad effect of these must remain for many generations to come. During the past two years a much greater number of calves have been saved than was the case previously, and a proportion of these, many of them heifers, must have been the progeny of inferior bulls of this class. The figures furnished by the black-leg inoculations in Taranaki afford a good indication of the proportionate number of calves reared each year. In 1909-10 the figures were 35,215; in 1910-11, 64,829; and in 1911-12, 66,444. Tn view of the rapid expansion of dairy farming in the Dominion, and the coiisei|uent increasing demand for good milking cows, Mr. Reakes says, it is especially necessary that every possible effort be made to conserve the health and the profitableness of our existing dairy stock', and also to ensure that each year's crop of calves, especially heifer calves, is reared properly.