STATION, FARM AND GARDEN. BY OLD COLONIST.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1604, 14 October 1882, Page 2 (Supplement)

STATION, FARM AND GARDEN. BY OLD COLONIST.

'THE FARMER'S COW. Speaking recently with one of the most successful dairy farmers in Victoria, I was surprised to hear him express a belief that the Ayrshire cow would never become such a decided favorite in the colonies as to induce the attention to this breed which is necessary to keep them up to perfection. And yet this dairyman has some half score of Ayrshires amongst his milkers, and fully one half of the remainder — he is milking some 40 in all — have less or more Ayrshire blood in them. I knew he favored the breed, as do his countrymen generally, and with but rare exceptions, as do all the dairy people I am acquainted with. But after hearing the reasons given, I fear there is much truth in the belief of my old and experienced friend. " The Ayrshire is a gentle an' a timid coo," he said. " An' it was by taking advantage o' that trait o' her that the early breeders developed in her the grand and perfect animal she is. Man, were I laid up for a week an' no able to see the milking done, I could tell whether a stranger's hand had been laid upon the coos. And if neglect occurred, or cruelty were used to them, the tale wad be telt in the milk pail. Its no' the Ayrshire only that is shy o' geeing doon her milk when no' rightly fed and carefully handled. There are forty in the yards and the sheds here now, and good, quiet treatment has had such effect upoi them that any one of the lot — except the three new ones we 're breaking in to bail — would fall off in milk under less careful or harsher treatment. But the Ayrshires are the most sensitive of all ; and they are the best milking of all ; and, for that very reason, I know very well they will not come into favor in the colonies." " And," he added, " for cruelty and cruel neglect are the more common portions of milking cattle in the colonies." It is only too true. And yet we all know very well — and at the time even when we see cows harassed and beaten, that they cannot do good as milkers under such circumstances. The cow is naturally a gentle and a loving animal, we can see that much in her affection for and care of her calf. Her motherly instincts are almost human. It is said that the early breeders of the famous Ayrshire dairy breed took advantage of the motherly instincts of the cow to their fullest extent, and by selecting the most kindly, which are usually in that as in other breeds the best milkers, the grandest of the dairying stock were perfected. But what is the result ? It is actually necessary in dealing with those magnificent cows to study their tempers, their likes and dislikes, and unless these are attended to there is a rapid falling off in the quantity as well as the quality of the milk, as explained by my old friend. The rule of kindness is not peculiar to the Ayrshires only. All the breeds are more or less susceptible *to it, and the fact is well worth the most earnest attention of all who have milkers, and of none more than the farmer who may be milking his one, two, or more. Indeed, he is the very one who may profit most by the system of kindness. And lie also is in as good position as any to work the system to perfection, and without much regard to what breed of cattle he may be milking. At the same time it is desirable, and certainly most advantageous, to have the best. And though the experienced man men-> tioned in this paper had so expressed- himself concerning the Ayrshires, the fact of bis having them, and crosses of the same breed, in' preference to all other, shows conclusively the esteem in which they are held. The Ayrshire is, undoubtedly, the right sort for milking purposes ; and next to her, in the polonies, come crosses of Ayrshire with' Durham, Devon, and Herefords, all common breeds here; and from any of which right good selections can be made for breeding purposes, with the intention of making milkers of them. * . lam quite aware, at the same time; of the difficulties which beset the new beginners with dairy oftttle. • Yeryoften/andin spite of what a man's desires may be, he 'has ito 'take -what he ban get. »i It is' nojkoftenV Meed/Jhat/tfi^ stamp of cows.he 1 ; to wminenoetwitiii^Bjtt^' onythe, eas^oMhe, - farmer/ br^tsde&ior^mli^^^^\^mp^a^l

town business, and wluris cramped for room. Space, and paddock accommadation especially, are of great "advantage when " breaking in " has to be seen to. Supposing the cow has her calf with her, and this is a desireable mark. ' For of all things, an unbroken cow with a calf over a month old, has to be avoided. But for the purposes of the farmer, and with the facilties he has for carrying on, operations, Unbroken cows with calves can be handled with advantage. It is of consequence to have one or more cows to start with ; but even this can be done without. Let the cow to be milked, be yarded as quietly as possible, and a small yard,-if strong, is quite suitable. If at all possible, the calf should be separated from her, as she is got into the small yard. Should there be quiet cattle in the yard, the strange cow may be left with them a little time, ere milking is ' commenced. It is surprising almost |how observant a cow is under such circumstances, and especially if the milkers have calves. As each is milked, the calf is allowed to go with her, and the unbroken cow begins to understand that the seperation she is sure to be chafing under may be overcome. The arrangement of a milking yard in the country districts wherein the calves are penned in front of the bail is a good one. The cows can see them there, and by coaxing even a pretty wild cow can be induced to go up towards where her calf is penned and put her head into a bail well placedfor the purpose. Such bails are best which close by pulling up the bar with a rope, the end of which is at a distance. The bars should be caught by a trigger, which is better than haying to go up and place a holding pin into it. When the cow is caught in the bail she should be allowed to stand for a little time till she is quiet, and, if at all convenient, something to eat should be given. Then slip a leg rope on and bring back the leg a little, but not further than she can stand comfortably. She should be spoken to as gently as possible all the time the operations are going on. Swearing is more general, I am aware, but, as a matter of fact, more soothing talk answers quite as well, though the tendency to use severe words to a refactory cow is great at times. When the cow is settled to the bail, it is better to allow her calf to get at her rather than attempt milking the first time she is penned up. Though, if it can.be done without irritating her, some of the milk may be taken. At this stage, the services of a good milker are most valuable. From the outset, the cow should be milked perfectly dry, and by the hands of a tidy milker this operation of taking every drop of milk has a soothing, as well as a most beneficial effect, upon the future of the cow as a milk giver. It is by very careless milking, and especially by not finishing the operation, that large numbers of cows are spoiled. If the calf is to be allowed to go with the cow while grazing during th eday, it may be allowed to finish the milking. To readers beyond the colonies, this practice of allowing the calves to go with the cows may appear slovenly. But it is not without cause for recommendations. To the farmers and the grazier, the calf may be of more value than the milk, enough of which may be got by milking as many cows as may be necessary. Where the object in view is to get milk, and it pays better to got it than to raise the calves, then the sooner they are taken from the cows the better. It is a good plan to give the cows a little green feed at milking time. Even comparatively wild cows can be induced to eat at such -times, especially when something nice is given. When she once gets the taste of feed while she is being milked the handling of her soon becomes easy. There is another advance still, and though it is not common yet in the colonies, some do practice it, and amongst them the dairyman already mentioned. He has the cows rubbed down with a wisp of straw as soon as the milking is complete. There is no mistake about it, the cows do enjoy the rub down, and look all the better for it. When all the operations are in working order, a time for carrying them out should be fixed, so that the mustering up, the baling milking, and turning out of the cow or cows should be carried on at the same time every morning, and at other times as well.