.lo May, 1911.] Traralgon Dairy Farm Corn-petition. 327 



The next farm visited, in order of inspection, was that of Mr. Cross, 

 which contains 72 acres, in eight paddocks. Six acres of oats and 3 acres 

 of maize were grown this year ; and there is also about half an acre of 

 lucerne on its first season. This was the only lucerne seen on these dairy 

 farms, although the soil and locality seem highly suitable for growing this 

 fodder. 



Up to a little more than a year ago, Mr. Cross was in business in 

 Traralgon, when he sold out and went into dairy farming. He acknow- 

 ledged having no previous experience; and under the circumstances he has 

 made a very good showing in the time. The whole of the improvements 

 on the farm have been added since he purchased the land. The buildings 

 are neat and well kept ; though, for convenience of working, some of them 

 might have been better arranged. The dairy is some distance from the 

 milking shed and roadway, but is well situated as regards convenience to 

 the dwelling, and also from a sanitary standpoint. The distance between 

 the barn and milking shed will also necessitate some haulage of fodder when 

 the cows are being hand- fed. 



Twenty-one cows are kept, and the cream return from the factory 

 averaged 3s. 4^d. per cow per week for the five months under consideration, 

 viz. : — October to February, inclusive. The cows are crossbred stock, 

 and the bull is an Ayrshire. Notwithstanding that there was plenty of 

 grass and other fodder on the farm, the cows were in rather low condition. 

 Being, as stated, new to the business, Mr. Cross was unaware of the 

 necessity of providing some of the little extras that count for so much with 

 dairy stock during the drier months of the year. The cows had recently 

 commenced to chew bones, sticks, and other sundries. Such abnormal 

 appetite can usually be corrected by providing them with cattle bone-meal 

 and coarse salt ; and condition can be improved almost at once by giving 

 a little rich food, such as oil-cake, with a few handfuls of chaff daily. 

 If the lucerne, green oats, and maize that were on hand had been maoe 

 full use of, and the bone-meal also been supplied, the cows would have 

 held up better in both their milk and condition. Mr. Cross had made the 

 not unusual error of supposing that because there was an abundance of 

 grass in the paddocks, the cows had all that they required. Though the 

 paddocks looked green, the proportion of dry grass to the new growth was 

 very large; and while dry stock would do well on it, there was not enough 

 nourishment in it to sustain the milkers in condition. The calves on this 

 farm showed an unusual proportion of males, only five heifers being 

 dropped this season. The water supply by dam, well, and the Traralgon 

 service pipes is good. 



The third farm inspected was that of Mr. Dunbar. This is made up 

 of 207 acres freehold, and 176 acres held on lease; and on this latter is 

 the present farmsteading. There are 9 grazing and 6 cultivation paddocks ; 

 26 acres were in hay this .season, 4 acres are in maize, and there are 2 acres 

 in mangolds. The latter is an exceptionally fine crop, growing on rich 

 flat land adjacent to the creek, which provides permanent water for the 

 .stock throughout tiie grazing paddocks. 



The milking shed is of 30 bails, well floored and clean, but improve- 

 ment could be made in the shed l)y bricking the drains throughout. The 

 barn is a long way from the milking shed, while the cream room and 

 separator rooms are also further apart than is convenient. Some of the 

 styes arc badly situated, being in too close proximity to the milking shed 

 and dairy. 



'i'he cows arc a verv fair class of rrossbrctls, showing Jersey. .Xyrshnv, 

 M\^\ shorthorn blood ; and there are a lot of good quality dairy cows among.st 



