FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 January 1918, Page 7

FARM AND DAIRY.

I NEWS AND NOTES A recent issue of the Jersey Bulletin, published in Indianopolis, gives some interesting figures regarding official test work of each cow in summarised form. Last July the list included 339 cowa from 31 different States, and of these cows 21 are over 10 years old, and if one thinks that a cow at this stage lias j [seen her best days, let him consider these records:—Zainolea's Nutwood started her test at 14 years 3 months, and made 3,411.31bs milk and IGti.Ollbs fat in 87 days. Brown Bessie's Postscript, at the same age, made 3,007.9 ibs milk and 178,G01bs fnt in 104 days. King's Trilby,-13 years 1 mouths, made 4,220.0 lbs injlk and. 224,i)0ibs fat in ICS days. Spennfield Owl's Eva, 12 years old, made l,S74.Ubs milk, and 94.271b5' fat in 30 days. The Owl's Golden Queen has 7,WIS lbs inilk and 023.941bs fat to her credit for a period of 102 days. Sophie 19th of Hood Farm scores well with 13,740.31bs milk and 704.471bs fat in 272 days—a record anyone would be proud of for a year's period. The Jersey men in America appear to be giving their cattle every opportunity to do their best, and some of these "milking machines" would prove very weber-i"* to Tiranaki. Probably the le»;' figures given above may prompt soni2 if the breeders of this type of cattle to compare records. Mr. Halcombe, of "Jrer.ui, s;as several top-notchers in his herd that should show a creditable return, whilst in the Stratford district the Raaforcl Bros, possess some heavy milkers of high test. Mr. O'Sullivan, of Cardiff, supplied, figurec a few months back of one of his cows that would make any man envious. Mr. W. Pollock, Midhirst, is another enthusiast who has cows that, are worthy of mention. There are many others who could be mentioned who possess fine milking strains, but a mistaken i,ense of modesty prevents them from giving the public (and farmers) the T'lup of the best in their herds. Any farmer who cares to forward us details of the milk yield, of hia cow or cows, whether. Jersey, Holsteiii; Ayrshire or Shorthorn,, will find the items v/elcoiml. . ' . Pigs are fetching big prices just now. There are two.causes operating.. First many farmers liav? been saving, their caives, and th,is with reduced farm hands .and lesser sulking means little time for pigs, and the second factor, is the increased competition by buyers. A pig weighing laOlbs fetches well over £4, and in, the case of a skim-milk pig the weight should be secured within six months. With the whey-fed animal tlie results are not so satisfactory, but with a start on turnips, etc., to put in some hackhone and constitution the pig may thrive equally well on whey in the later period, and a little hard corn in the topping stages would further improve his condition. Nothing like the attention required is given the pigs. One of the most prone to rheumatism, this animal is left to fend for itself in leaky, ill-vejiti-lated quarters, and the Tesiilt is that frequently the results disappoint the breeder, who should hold himself responsible for the poor quantity animal turned out. Rheumatism and lack of paddock freedom means a lot to the pig in the maturing stages, Now that the higli prices are commanding more attention farmers may give this class of stock more.attention but why not incorporate an association of breeders in Taranaki and create a more intimate knowledge of how to get the best results from the pig? Cattle, horses and sheep breeders !all have t.hoir associations. Why not the pork breedersT