FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1919, Page 2

FARM AND DAIRY.

TARATA DAIRY COMPANY. In tlie report to Ire presented to the annual meeting of the Tarata Company, it ts stated:— Butter made, amounted to 37 tons 13 cwt 2 qvs. 3 lb. Advances have been made of Is 3d per lb of butterfat for the season, and the surplus or' £OSO 7s 3d will allow of a further payment of 2 l-sd, making tho total payment for the season are 5 l-sd. In ' addition to this there may be further retunds from the Government under the equalisation scheme. The directors have set aside %d per lb of butter-fat (£l4B 18s) towards paying the call on the last 28 shares in the Taranaki Producers' Freezing Works. Lbs of cream, ISS.Onn; lbs pf butter-fat, 71,471; lbs of butter made, 84,400; average test, 37.3; over-run, 18.1. KAUPOKONUI HERD TESTING ASSOCIATION.

The following are the iv.iirns for the 80-day period ending August 2G, 1919: Cows Milk To»t. Fat. 0 837 4$ 40.83 18 1)05 4 J 30.47 15 849 4.5 38.80 LOWEST HERD. 12 512 3 3 16.89 THREE HIGHEST HERDS. Milk. Test. Fat. 1320 4.4 58.08 1125 0.1 57.3! 1020 5.8 07.12 Average cow—73lbs milk, 4.0 test 29.921bs fat. Lowest cow—l3slbs milk, 4.9 test, 6.011bs fat. COW TESTING. The following report was submitted by Mr G. H. Kent, Government official tester, to the directors of the T. L. .Toll Co. and read at their annual meeting on Wednesday:— The average cow in tho Testing Association for 1918-19 season gave 265.101b of fat. Twelve hundred cows were tested for the season. The necessity for increased production is being realised by many suppliers, and for the ensuing season over 2000 cows have been promised for test. The increased but-tor-fat obtained by those who have systematically tested and culled no doubt acts as an Incentive to many others to improvo their herds. Some leading herds tested were as under ! (average 240 days) : Highest No. cows. Lbs. fat. Individual yield. 35 329.54 439.98 32 307.54 400.80 12 307.37 37908 72 295.05 40156 58 293 72 399.00 3B 29168 407.73 53 285.55 424.25

Other herds tested gave varying yields to 2001b of fat. These low-producing herds, if only brought to the average of the association, would malto a great increase in the amount produced. Periodical visits have been made to factories and farms in order to prevent, if possible, the unsound milk being produced. With more help available there should be no difficulty in thoroui.. .ly cleaning all milking machines and utensils and delivering only first-class milk. The best-kept plants are frequently found on places where there Is the most work and not over many hands, making It seem doubtful If a labor shortage Is Sie reason for neglected milking machines. Unfortunately in this matter, if a few machines are allowed to romain with Impurities in pipes and tubes, it is at the expense of the many who are producing a good article. In some cases it has been necesasry to stop the milk going to the factory uutil the machines were put In order. This has been effectual In those places where, through neglect, the machines have been found unfit. #