92 ] ournal of Agriculture, Victoria. [lo Feb.. 1911. 



At the same time, his cows and heifers are by no means undersized. In 

 any caSe, if size was required, it would have been much better to revert 

 to the Milking Shorthorn than to introduce a fresh l)reed in the Ayrshire : 

 the bulk of the present stock being Shorthorn-Jersey, re-crossed with 

 Jersey. First-cross or grade-bred stock at times turn out almost as satis- 

 factory milkers as those bred pure; but the introduction of a third cross. 

 such as this, is a mongrelizing and, almost inevitably, a retrograde step. 

 Each cross on a pure breed lessens the power of the progeny of those 

 pure-bred animals to reproduce their inherent qualities in their offspring ; 

 and the principal object to be gained by keeping the breed pure is thus 

 set aside. Crossing the light and heavy breeds of dairy cattle will in- 

 crease the size of the smaller stock, but usually at the expense of the 

 profitable production of milk and butter. If a farmer prefers big dairy 

 cattle for his particular purpose, he should keep a big-framed pure breed, 

 such as the Milking Shorthorn or Holstein. By carefully culling the 

 inferior producers, he will put together an even herd of heavy milkers 

 in a much shorter time than the same end can be attained by crossing 

 light and heavy breeds ; for there will be more uniformity in their 

 progeny. For the same reason, if heavy milk pro.luction alone is re- 

 quired, irrespective of size, the lighter dairy breeds, such as Jersey or 

 Ayrshire, are all-sufficient. 



A dairy farmer who endeavours to carry on without a definite system 

 of stock-breeding is as a ship without a compass — the odds are very much 

 against his reaching the desired end. There can be no certainty in his 

 progress ; and what his stock will be like any year no one can foretell. 

 Svstem means success. 



COLAC DAIRY FARM (JOMPETITIO^^ 



Judges: — Messrs. W. Kerr, A. E. McCure, and J. S. McFadzean. 



There were two compedtors in each section : — Messrs. Thos. Dare 

 and John Meredith, for those keeping less than 50 cows ; and Messrs. 

 Wm. McGarvie and J. P. Morrissey, for those keeping over that number. 

 Three inspections were made of each farm, viz., on the 13th and 14th 

 July, on the 4th and 5th October, and the 20th and 21st December; 

 two farms being inspected each day. 



The scale of points appended is that furnished us by your society ; 

 and from them you will see that in the class for those keeping over 50 

 cows Mr. McGarvie is first, and Mr. Morrissey second ; and in the sec- 

 tion for those keeping less than 50 cows, Mr. Meredith is first, and Mr. 

 Dare second. Mr. Morrissey wins the special prizes for the best Ayr- 

 shire bull and the best Yorkshire boar in the whole competition, whilst 

 Mr. Dare secures the special prize for the best Berkshire boar. 



The conditions on the several farms ' varied considerably in every 

 section, except that of the water supply. Tn this, all scored full points 

 on the windmill and trough system. 



The milking sheds are all well built and floored ; but 'he neglect of 

 limewashing in either the shed or dairy buildings resulted in a loss of 

 points in those sections where this had been overlooked. The situation 

 •of the milking shed, drains, &c., as regards the dairy was not altogether 

 beyond criticism on .some of the farms. The pigstyes on each farm 

 were well floored; those on Mr. Morrissev's farm were particularly well 

 planned for both room and convenience. 



