On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, 13 May 1915, Page 59

On the Land

GENERAL. Get the cow's goodwill and she will not hold up the milk. Kindness will accomplish what abuse never can. | ■ Soils that have failed to produce lucerne, clover, etc., produce these crops when a liberal application of lime is given them. . At a conference of South Canterbury County Councils it was unanimously decided to make a recommendation to the County Councils in South Canterbury that a uniform system be adopted throughout the county of purchasing old birds in the winter months at 9d per dozen, and that the distribution of grain be left to the discretion of the various councils. It sometimes happens that a sow, and especially one in good condition, lies on some of her pigs and kills them, but this may—at least to some extent—be prevented by fixing a rail round the outside of the farrowing sty a few inches from the wall or boards, and about ten from the floor. This prevents the sow from lying down close to the outside, and saves the lives of many small pigs. An Order-in-Council has been issued prohibiting the export of butter from the Dominion to any destination, save with the consent of the Minister of Customs, such consent to be granted only on the making by the exporter or by a responsible agent, servant, or representative of the exporter, of a statutory declaration as to the ultimate destination of the consignment so to be exported. " Economy of production must always be considered with the production of the cow. In this the Guernsey has never been beaten, says an admirer of the breed. Her medium size, good conformation, quiet disposition, and her capacity as a feeder enable her to produce milk at the lowest cost for food consumed. This has.been proved in several competitive trials. From the standpoint of feed consumed the Guernsey breed has the largest percentage of profitable and the smallest percentage of unprofitable cows of any of the breeds. In regard to the best methods of milking a cow, we (Hoard's Dairyman) are of the opinion that the manner in which the cow is handled has more to do with her milk flow than the order in which the teats are milked. Most milkers milk either the hind or fore teats together, although there are instances where good milkers prefer to milk one hind and one fore teat at the same time. As suggested before, we are of the opinion that kind treatment in . the manner of handling the cow and caring for her wants is more essential than whether the cows' fore teats are milked first or not. The effect of feed and care on the- dairy cow was well brought out at the New Salem Dairy School. The four-year-old record of twelve cows was given. The butter-fat production averaged 116 pounds in the first year, 196 the second, 214 the third, and in 1913 239 pounds. The production was'more than doubled in the four years. The cows were three to six years old when the records were started. The milk was weighed from each milking and tested each month. This very emphatically brings out the fact that to secure good production, the cow alone cannot do it —she must have the feed and the care. At Addington last week there were moderate entries of stock, and a fair attendance. Eat cattle sold at previous week's rates, and there was a little improvement in store sheep. Eat lambs were firmer by fully 2s per head, and fat sheep by 2s and 3s. The yarding of store sheep was strikingly small. Medium four and" six-tooth wethers, 12s 7d to 12s lid ; medium two-tooth wethers, 8s 9d to lis 3d; wethers, 12s 7d to 12s lid; inferior two-tooth wethers, 7s to 8s 6d. The entry of fat lambs was 2618. There was an improved demand, additional competition being provided by the operations of a buyer from Southland, and another from Temuka, as well as several local graziers. Prime lambs, 17s to

20s; others, 10s 8d to 16s 6d. Eight races were: filled with fat sheep of -average quality. - From the start the market was firmer than-at previous sale by 2s to 3s per head. Towards the close of the sale prices were a shade easier, but a good clearance of the offerings was made. Extra prime wethers, to 255; prime wethers, 19s 6d to 23s 9d; other wethers, 15s lOd to 19s; merino wethers, 10s lOd; extra prime ewes, to 24s 6d; prime ewes, 17s to 225; medium ewes, 12s 6d to 16s 6d ; inferior ewes, 7s 5d to 12s. The yarding of fat cattle totalled 223 head. Extra steers, to ,£l7 ss; ordinary steers, .£5 10s to £11; extra heifers, to £l2 10s; ordinary heifers, £5 10s to £8; extra cows, to .£l3 ss; ordinary cows, .£4 to £7 10s—price of beef per 1001 b, 26s to 40s. There was a full yarding of fat pigs, including some good animals. Good porkers- were rather scarce, but the demand was anything but strong, buyers being very indifferent about business. Extra choppers, to 765; ordinary choppers, 30s to 325; extra heavy baconers, to 72s 6d ; heavy baconers, 57s 6d to 655; light baconers, 47s 6d to —price per lb, schto 5-]d. The yardings at Burnside last week were up to the average, except in the case of pigs, which were in over supply. Fat Cattle.—2o4 yarded, consisting principally of medium-weight steers and heifers. Prices for prime quality were a shade firmer than those of previous sale, medium and inferior being about the same. Quotations: Best bullocks, £l3 10s to £l4 10s; extra prime, to £l9; medium, £lO 10s to ill 10s; inferior, £8 10s to £9 10s; best cows and heifers, £ll to £l2 10s; extra, to £l3 : medium, £8 10s to £9 10s; inferior, £6 to £7. Fat Sheep.—3393 penned, the majority consisting of medium quality. Prices for prime sheep were a shade easier than those ruling lately, while medium and inferior showed a drop of fully Is per head. Quotations: Best wethers, 25s to 275: extra, to 32s 3d medium, 21s to 225; inferior, 18s to 19s; s best ewes, 22s to 24s ;-extra, to 27s 6d; medium, 17s to 18s. Fat Lambs.—l6Bß yarded. Prices for prime lambs were about the same as previous week, but medium quality and stores were practically unsaleable. Quotations: Best lambs, 17s tn 18s: extra prime, to 20s; medium, 14s to 15s; inferior, 10s to lis. Pigs.—l4o yarded. Prices on account of the large yarding were easier. Suckers, 5s to 7s: slips, 9s to lis: large stores, 15s to 21s; porkers, 32s to 445; baconers, 52s to 635. EFFECT OF COW'S AGE ON MILK YIELD. In some experiments carried out under the auspices of the Leeds University and Yorkshire Council for Agricultural Education it was found that the average yield per head increased definitely each year up to the fifth calf, rising from an average of 399 gallons for the first period of lactation to 719 gallons during the fifth period of lactation. After the fifth calf there were signs of a falling-off in the output. The records also furnished evidence that the time of calving exerts a considerable influence upon the total milk yield. The tests gave effect to the theory that cows calving just after the grass is at its best will not, as a rule, maintain their yields as successfully as those which calve late in the season, and which, on being turned out in the following spring, are still giving a fair quantity of milk, and are capable of profiting by the abundant supplies of green food. The returns showed that the cows calving in the six months, March to August, gave an average yield of 516 gallons per head, while those calving from September to February yielded an average of 686 gallons per head. • •