Feeding Dairy Cattle. 21 



as oiir dairying industry is concerned, and that is when good prices 

 are riding the farmer is tempted to dispose of his hay for export, 

 as did occur in fact last season. With ensilage this is never likely to 

 happen, and if a quantity of food is conserved in such form our 

 dairying industry will not suif er when a temporary demand takes place 

 for hay. In addition to conserving fodder, green crops should be 

 sown towards the end of the spring every year, so as to prolong the 

 period of lactation at the least cost, and in order that when the grass 

 dries oif, these green oats, barley or maize for preference, because of 

 the greater weight grown, may be available. 



I know that many dairymen when counselled about the conserva- 

 tion of fodder may say that we are speaking in the abstract without con- 

 sidering the difficulties they have to combat, in that when a drought 

 occurs it is impossible to grow green fodder. To them I would point 

 out a number of instances where large • profits were made dui'ing 

 the current season. The returns secured by Mrs. George Hollier, 

 Sunny Creek, near Trafalgar, particulars of which appeared in the July 

 number of the Journal — should serve as an object lesson for all dairy- 

 men. A short time ago when on a visit to the Colac district, I called 

 on Mr. Armstrong, who is a director of the Colac Dairying Company, 

 and leases his farm of 500 acres from Mr. L. M. Calvert. He milked for 

 the preceding year a total of 161 cows, and his milk cheques amounted 

 to £1,741. He received a further £200 for pigs, and if the value of 

 his calves be included, his entire receipts totalled about £2,000 for the 

 year. The average return from milk alone was £10 16s. 4d. per 

 head, and the gross return was over £12 per head. Between 30 and 

 40 acres were cultivated, and the hay, oats, straw, and mau golds grown 

 were all consumed on the place, no fodder being bought outside. Most 

 of his hands were continuously at work, and he had had no trouble with 

 his men. On the contrary, some had been with him for the last twelve 

 years, but he always allowed every man to be off one whole day each 

 week, even in the busiest time. His yard was situated on a compara- 

 tively level site, but he overcame the difficulties of drainage by shaping 

 it into formations like narrow ploughed lands resembling a crown and 

 gutter 15 feet apart. No doubt, people in the Goulburn Valley and 

 the North-East will say that both Gippsland and the Western districts 

 are particidarly favoured, but there are many examples to be met with 

 even in those places which should serve as incentives to all at any rate 

 of those who are settled on land suitable for dairying. 



Irrigation as an Aid. 



Even in the present bad year many dairymen have, with the aid of 

 irrigation and practical foresight, secured good returns. In April last 

 Mr. Coliver, near Tatura, was getting 45 gallons of milk daily from 

 30 cows, which he was feeding on the second crop of sorghum. Another 

 gentleman in the same district milked 15 cows for a yield of 50 gallons 

 per day. He had 120 acres of his farm under lucerne, and used it exclu- 

 sively for dairying. He kept 36 cows altogether, and received, for milk 

 only, an average return of £10 13s. 4d. per cow for the year. His lucerne 



