ON THE LAND

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1926, Page 7

ON THE LAND

FIGURES THAT SPEAK. THE WAY TO FACE INCREASING COMPETITION. BETTER COWS COUNTERACT FALLING PRICES. In view of the prediction that future prices of butterfat may fall to a point, even lower than they are at present, but that lower prices for our produce on overseas markets mean increased consumption, it is very instructive to study a few plain figures showing the relation between higher herd averages and the prices obtainable for butterfat.

From the above figures it will be seen that a herd averaging 2501 b of butterfat, which at Is 6d a pound gives a. fairly payable return, but giving no adequate payment for the labour involved and the capital invested, the same return could be secured even if butterfat dropped to Is 3d if the herd average were only increased to 3001 b, but if the herd average were increased to 3501 b of fat the market value of butterfat could drop to Is Id and the return per head would be about the same, while if a herd average of 4001 b were reached (and many hundreds of herds will be at this standard in a few years’ time) the price of butterfat could actually fall to lid, and as good a return per cow would be secured. A study of these figures makes the vast possibilities of herd-testing at once clear to everyone. They indicate that the great weakness of our industry is tho attempt of so many farmers to earn a living with average cows. Unprofitable cow’s must be got rid of and replaced by better ones, and if the better not yet available then only the really profitable cows should be kept in the herds. —The Dairy Farmer. SUCCESS IN BREEDING. Robert Bakewell by common consent is given tho credit for being the pioneer in the great movement for the improvement of live stock. His neighbour believed him to be possessed of some mysterious power by the use of which ho surpassed when in his breeding efforts. There was nothing in this idea, of course. He simply, by careful study, close observation and much practice, had mastered some of the simpler principles of breeding. These principles are now common knowledge. They are exceedingly simple, and do not require more than usual intelligence to understand. Certain breeders may be more successful than others, not necessarily because they are better posted on the principles,, but because they are more skilful in thejt application. This is just where many breeders fail. Then, too, a certain number have intuitive sense which is W'ell developed, and proves of inestimable value to them in their breeding operations. There are several essentials necessary for a successful breeder to remember. First, one must have a clear and definite picture in mind of just what he wishes to produce, for without such an ideal there can be no real advancement towards any goal. Secondly, he must possess a sound knowledge of the principles of breeding, use good judgement in his various operations, and be persistent in following out a previously well-mapped out plan to the very end. Another essential, which might, however, be considered as part of tho above, is the use of skill in management and feeding, so necessary for the development of the improvement brought about by better feeding. In fact, a man must be a successful feeder to be a successful breeder. BUSH-SICK LAND. DIFFICUfTIES OF SETTLERS. POOR RESULTS FROM FARMING. Hamilton, Nov. 19. The serious difficulties in which the settlers on the Ngaroma block are placed as the result of finding their holdings affected with bush sickness strongly appealed to the sympathies of the Minister of Lands, Hon. A. D. McLeod, when a deputation waited on him to-day and asked for relief. The Ngaroma Block consists of -20,000 acres of hilly country, 33 miles to the south-east of Te Awamutu, and on the block are about 40 settlers. The area was thrown open for settlement in 1912. Mr. McLeod was accompanied by the Hon. 0. Hawken, Minister of Agriculture, Messrs. D. Stewart Reid and J. C. Rolleston, M.P.’s, Mr. J. B. Thompson, under-secretary of Lands, and Dr. C. J. Reakes, DirectorGeneral of Agriculture. It was the intention of the Minister to visit Ngaroma and inspect the land, but the good metalled road which ran (or twenty miles from Te Awamutu

ended at Wharepuhunga and the clay road beyond was found to be impassable. The party returned to the Wharepuhunga post office and telephoned to the Ngaroma settlers to meet them there. After a wait of two hours over 30 settlers arrived. Their clothes were covered with mud, and as the road over which they passed was their only r-enns of access to their block they at ones excited the sympathies ! of the vim; Mr. J. Burren said that when the Go*, eminent threw open the block 14 years ago for settlement it knew that it was bush-sick country. Mr. McLeod retorted that that statement was ridiculous, for no Government would finance settlers on l:.i < if it knew bush-sickness existed there. COMPENSATION WANTED. Mr. Burren persisted in his assertion, and asked that the Government should pay compensation to those min who had spent their money and years of their life trying to develop if. Sheep would not live there and 50 per cent, of the land had deteriorated. Mr. McLeod said there were 500 settlers on bush sick counry between Ngaroma and Te Puke and if special treatment were conceded tj the Ngaroma people It would have to be giv.n to the others. Mr. Burren said cows would not breed at Ngaroma. One herd of fourteen cows yielded butter-fat valued at only £47 in a season. Mr. McLeod said the Government was deferring the rent of returned soldier settlers for 10 years but was not paythem compensation Tor the time they spent on the land. Mr. McLeod said the position as far as the civilian settlers were concerned had not been Anally dealt with and he was not in a position to say what would be done with tlu'm. Some civilians had bought right out and nothing could be done for them—their money was gone. LOSS OF THREE HERDS. A settler said he had lost three separate herds on hie property and asserted that the Government knew the land was sick beforehand. Another settler said he bred sheep, but only 20 per eent. of the lambs survived. When tlte grown sheep died he started dairying. Ho found that few of the cows would breed and those that did yielded on an average only 951 b. of butter-fat for the season. Mr. McLeod admitted that the position at Ngaroma was untenable as far as sheep and cattle were concerned. Government mortgages could te got rid of, but State Advances mortgages could not, although he did not know of a single case of the State Advances Department making a mortgagor bankrupt. Mr. McLeod said he was going into the matter of dealing with State Advances mortgages on land found to be valueless. In many cases the difficulties met with in settling land had been found to be worse than was expected previously. The State Advances Office had always said it would realise on its securities, and whether it was i safe to alter that policy was a matter I for tho Minister of Finance to judge. He could make no promise at the present time. TWELVE PIGS TO EVERY COW WOULD PRODCUE TEN MILLION POUNDS OF PORK. Auckland, Nov. 17. That New Zealand has a future in the development of the pig industry was the view expressed by Mr. . D. Jones, M. P., chairman of the Meat Producers’ Board, and Mr. R. S. Forsyth, the London manager, at a meeting of farmers at the Chamber of Commerce to-day. The great business in pork which had been built up in Denmark was quoted as an example by Mr. Jones who said that the Danes were at present growing twelve pigs to every cow. New Zealand by comparison had a quarter pig to every cow. If we had as many pigs per cow as Denmark, it would mean the Dominion could sell ten million pounds worth of pork every year, a by no means impossible figure. The most sinful thing going on in New Zealand to-day said Mr. Jones, is the enormous quantity of skim milk that goes to waste every year. He was glad

to know that the killing of pigs wa® going on apace in Auckland, but great strides ought to be make in the immediate future. Experiments were being carried on at Lincoln College which would probably result in some useful advice being prepared for farmers. With respect to pig feeding in Canterbury large quantities of grain were used for this purpose, but the expense of transport would .render profitable feeding very difficult. The Bay of Plenty district ought to be a source of assistance in this matter. In future what was needed was intensive farming and the growing of feed products on the farm itself. Contrary to a prevalent opinion there wan really very little difference in the costs of getting pig products from Denmark and New Zealand to England and this fact should open up a tremendous opportunity for the Dominion. | Mr. Jones's advocacy was support;cd by Mr. Forsyth, who staled that last year Great Britain spent no less than £>0.000,000 with foreigners on pork and pig products exclusive of purchases from Empire producers. That was an enormous trade of which we should have a much larger percentage. Curers had a very good j opinion of New Zealand pork ami the speaker could testify that the quality was much higher than that of some I shipments he had «een landed in London from America. Mr. lorsyth said the Meat Producers’ Board on one occasion, I sent him a number of carcases for ‘distribution to popularise New Zealand pork in England and Ireland, Ever since he had been deluged with letters asking him where further applies could l>e purchased. A great opportunity had recently opened in Britain if New Zealand was serious about entering this market. The British Government had stopped all Dutch supplies from entering the country owing to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Holland. The embargo meant that 50,000 ton* of pork which had previously come from Holland hud to be obtained elsewhere. It was true that the Dutch producers were gradually overcoming the handicap by erecting bacon factories all over the country, but while the price of bacon had consequently dropped from 2d to 3d per lb. pork had advanced as much. GENERAL ITEMS. In a private letter to a relative in New Zetland an Essex farmer states that the English farmer could not possibly live on the average returns obtained in Australia. For instance, he states, in Australia the average yield of milk per cow i« about 300 gallons per annum, on my farm it is over 950 gallons. The Australian average wheat crop is 11% bushels, on my farm it ifi 50. The writer goes on to explain that every cow is ••rationed,” that is, she is fed according to her capacity to produce. Milk is weighed and tested regularly so that each cow’s capacity is known accurately. No roots at all are grown on fliis particular farm as the writer is convinced they dre too costly a food to grow. The growing of corn is carried out in a thoroughly scientific manner, such matters as varieties and manures being carefully studied to ensure maximum results. The same care is devoted to keeping the grass land right. When properly looked after and culled regularly poultry, in the opinion of the writer can be made one of the best paying branches of farming. The Jersey sale at Heriot held recently on account of Dr. Pickerill, is described by one who was there as having been most satisfactory. It was splendidly conducted and reflected credit on the firm concerned. The young bulls were in anything but good sale condition, in fact “shocking condition” describes them more aptly, and it was rather the confidence buyers had in- the selling firm than in the bulls themselves that induced bids at all. So bad was the condition of one choicely bred bull that he was withdrawn from the sale and offered privately afterwards at little more than cross-bred price. With one exception file cattle gold will remain in the South. ' ‘

AVERAGE PRODUCTION OF HERD. Value of Butterfat Per lb. 2001b £ of s Fat. d £ 2'501 b s d 3001b £ s d 3501b £ s d £ 4001b s d 1/6 gives ■.. 15 0 0 18 15 O 02 10 0 20 o 0 30 0 0 1/5 .1 14 3 4 17 14 •2 21 ft 0 24 15 10 28 6 0 1/4 .. 13 6 8 16 13 4 20 0 0 23 6 s 26 13 4 1/3 12 10 0 15 12 6 18 15 0 21 17 ti '25 0 0 1/2 .. 11 13 4 14 11 8 17 10 0 20 8 4 23 6 8 1/1 .. 10 16 8 13 10 10 16 0 18 19 o 21 13 4 1/- .. 10 0 0 12 10 0 15 0 0 17 10 0 - 20 0 0 lid .. 8 3 4 11 o Q 13 15 0 16 0 10. 18 6 8 lOd .. 8 6 8 10 8 4 12 10 0 14 11 8 10 13 4