lo Dec. 1910.] Ecliuca Dairy Herd Comfetitiun. 799 



or buildings from either hot sun or cold winds when such is available; 

 and their milk yield will be sustained in proportion to the efficiency of the 

 shelter thus provided them. 



The majority of the farms possessed roomy milking shed and dairy 

 accommodation ; but the floorings of these were not such as would class 

 them as anywhere near perfection. Where cows are milked, and where 

 milk and cream are handled, experience shows that an impervious floor is 

 very necessary in order that the work of cleaning can be done both quickly 

 and effectively ; and the inside walls of all dairy buildings may be kept 

 clean at little expense by lime-washing. An earth-floored dairy, no matter 

 how well kept, cannot be considered altogether satisfactory, for dust must 

 ri.se in it if swept j and it cannot be scrubbed. 



Fencing, gates, yards, and roads will give satisfaction in accordance 

 with their condition. Poor gates and fencing are a source of endless 

 annoyance to both the owner and his neighbours. Bad roads and yards 

 increase the work of the farm. 



On every farm some system of keeping tally of the work done, and 

 the various happenings, is highly essential ; and, in dairying, to overlook 

 this may easily become an expensive matter. Some people neglect this 

 work because they have not learnt book-keeping ; and are misled in the 

 belief that some special knowledge is required for it. On many farms 

 the records of events are kept in the shape of a daily diary ; and for 

 general work little more is necessary. To know when each cow is expected 

 to calve may frequently be the means of its life being saved by giving 

 some extra care or attention at that time ; and to know how long she con- 

 tinues in milk is one step towards an estimate of her value as a producer. 

 To have each animal distinguished by a name or number is of much 

 r.ssistance in keeping note of their value as breeding stock. To know the 

 breeding of the sire of a line of good heifers would be worth pounds to 

 any one about to buy a bull for use in his herd ; and many a farmer 

 would give a good deal for such information that he should have made 

 note of when available. Five minutes would have done the writing; but 

 nothing will cover its neglect. 



Then, as regards keeping account of the milk and butter fat returns 

 from each individual cow — no work done on the farm will pay better 

 than this ; and five minutes per cow a week will do it. To grass-feed a 

 cow costs at least £^2 per year; while the work of milking her for the 

 year cannot be estimated at less than 30s. With butter fat at lod. per 

 lb., this means that each cow must give 240 gallons of 3.5 per cent. 

 milk per year, or 84 lbs. of butter fat, in order to pay for her keep ; and 

 numbers of cows do not reach this standard. Quite a large proportion 

 of dairy farmers are at present losing money keeping such cows, because 

 they will not take the trouble to find them out. Imagine the folly of 

 milking 240 gallons of milk from a cow for 6 or 7 years for no profit — 

 keeping her in grass and water, driving her to the yard, milking her, 

 separating the milk, taking the cream to the station year in and year out. 

 and not being any better off for it. It is this that causes the oft-heard 

 statement "There is nothing in dairying." If every dairy farmer would 

 get down to the fact that there is no profit from a cow till she clears 240 

 gallons of milk in the year, he would soon find time to cull out his poor 

 milkers, and profit by the work. 



