670 Journal uf Agriculture, Vidoria. \ 15 Xov., 1919. 



THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE DAHIY INDUSTRY. 



By J. S. McFadzean, Senior Dairij Supervisor. 



A general improveineiit in any line of a2;ri('ultiire necessitates much 

 patient, as well as forceful advocacy. Throughout the whole of Victoria 

 I here is very urgent need for special effort towards improving the dairy 

 herds. The annual loss to the State, as well as to the individual farmers, 

 owing to the keeping of inferior dairy cattle is enormous; and the neces- 

 sity for improvement should be urged at all times. The high prices ruling 

 for farming requirements, such as manufactured foodstulfs, clotlung, 

 harness, implements, and machinery, as well as the increased cost 

 of hired labour, are a severe tax ou the farmer's income. Certainly 

 the present high value of butter-fat assists him to meet his heavy outlay, 

 but the balance is against him, and it is very evident that the dairying 

 business is in serious need of au increased " per cow" production. The 

 dairy farmer usually stocks up his grazing land to what it can carry, 

 therefore production cannot be raised by keeping additional stock; but 

 by culling out inferior producers and the better feeding of the good 

 cows, there is the possibility of nearly every farmer increasing his dairy 

 returns by fully 50 per cent. 



Dairying has always been more or less profitable, but if it were only 

 a sprofitable as it could be made, many more people would take it up, 

 and many who now turn to the city would remain on the land. That 

 dairying has in the past brought in a fair return is largely consequent 

 on the favorable natural conditions. No other country has such general 

 advantages in climate, soil, and water supply; yet nowhere is there more 

 carelessness displayed in regard to dairy management. jSTot only are 

 inferior cows kept, but hundreds of farmers do not grow any regular 

 supply of fodder for their stock; and poor as the cattle are in dairy 

 quality, they cannot even do their best because they are not properly 

 fed. 



There is ample evidence that the poor butter-fat returns obtained 

 by many farmers is the result of mismanagement. There are instances 

 all over the State of good dairy returns being obtained on farms adjacent 

 to those where the yields are far from satisfactory; and in making a 

 living the farmer with good cows has not to expend the same energy as 

 those whose herds are not carefully selected. It should be the aim of 

 every farmer to breed still better dairy stock until each member of his 

 herd averages fully 300 lbs. of butter-fat per year. Until that standard 

 is reached he has no reason to feel satisfied with the returns; and once 

 having attained a 300 lbs. average he will continue to work for one still 

 better. The apparent hesitancy amongst dairymen to begiti thi.s desired 

 progressive movement is owing to the fact that they can and do make a 

 living from a much lower standard of production in their herds. Tliey 

 somehow lack incentive to depart from the ordinary line of work and 

 strike out for really substantial profits. The city business man will leave 

 nothing undone to get the most from his business. He will work at his 

 account books late in the night and early in the mornings, and he will 

 spend large sums in advertising i.n order to bring in greater returns; but 

 there are very few farmers who' will use a Babcock tester after dark to see 

 what each cow is worth to them, and to pay a reasonable price for a first- 

 class dairy bull with which to breed better heifers is an investment that 



