FARM AND DAIRY

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1916, Page 7

FARM AND DAIRY

Some bis prices for butter-fat for the ensuing dairying season are being spoken of (says the Palmerston Standard). A new co-operative concern in one of the adjacent distvists lifts disposed of its season's output to such advantage that suppliers will be paid Is Sd per lb. for butter-fat during September and October, and Is !)d 011 November 1, whim the company will commence cheese manufacture. Mr. Clarke, of Auroa, is a staunch advocate of herd-testing. 'During a discussion at a dairy factory meeting the other day he said that four years ago his average per cow for the season was 22011)3 of butter-fat; this year it was over 300lbs, and this was a direct result of herd-testing enabling him to cull out efficiently. This year lis was nutting out four cows of over '22011)3 because they were below his standard of 2501b5. A most important consideration, of course, in all herd's was the selection of a bull of quality. In his own case, since he had introduced a good sire, heiiers were testing much higher than ever their mothers did, which was conclusive proof of the influence of a properly selected well-bred bull. From some unknown cause, the mortality amongst cows in some parts of the Stratford district is considerably above the average. With the high price of stock, the'loss to the farmer is therefore heavy.