DAIRYING METHODS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 May 1938, Page 3

DAIRYING METHODS

FARMING WITHOUT CROPS OR HAY TARANAKI MAN'S PRACTICE In recent years shortage of farm labour has been partly or wholly responsible for variation from routine practice on what were formerly entirely dairying areas. The introduction of up to 100 breeding ewes per 100 acres and the practice of fattening store lambs, both replacing a number of cows on what are truly dairy farms, represents one change. The result in net returns in North and Central Taranaki has not been sufficiently investigated to enable a real survey of the economic situation to be made, but observations to date indicate that from the point of vew of pasture management and utilisation the introduction of sheep has been generally followed by an improvement in the sward. Under good management it should naturally follow that the total meat and milk production from grass and grass products should be increased. The methods adopted by a Central Taranaki farmer on 162 acres of fairly heavy land is of interest. No hay or ensilage has been saved for twenty years and no root crops grown for the past six years. Until this season 60 milking cows were handled without employing labour, and 100 ewes were carried. The highest annual butterfat production was 18,0001 b. This is admittedly lower than that of some neighbouring farms, but no harvest costs or labour difficulties were involved. This area is subdivided into fields averaging approximately 11 acres grazed on about a five-day rotation, according to the season. To cope with surplus growth and weeds on topdressed fields the mower is used and the material left for stock to pick up. Top-dressing is at the rate of 3|cwt to 4cwt per acre every second year, and for early spring feed four fields, or approximately 50 acres, are closed in the early autumn and grazed completely off in turn by the cows as they calve. Family labour is now available, and the ewes, which were grazed almost entirely on their own area, except for an occasional clean up of the cow fields, have been sold, and this year 72 cows are being milked. This number is to be increased to 80 next season. While the results secured from this method are not claimed to be productive of the highest gross return, it is interesting to note that it has been possible to carry on without employing labour and to keep stock and pastures in very satisfactory condition. The stock do winter well on the somewhat rank pastures kept for this purpose. At the time of inspection the farm was carrying 72 milking cows, 2 bulls 3 horses, 16 yearling heifers, and 19 calves, and, as on all neighbouring farms this season, feed was going to waste. Undoubtedly as an interim measure, until the family labour became available, the practice has certainly paid the farmer who employed it without causing abnormal stock troubles or marked deterioration in the sward. The practice of changing areas kept for winter roughage and areas specially saved for early spring has been an important factor in keeping the pastures in a satisfactory condition in respect to the proportion of grass to clovers. Sheep-grazing has also played an important part in preventing deterioration of the sward, as well as topping.