686 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [15 Nov., 1919. 



condition has been noticed. The animals have put on flesh considerably 

 and dropped their winter coats. 



Cattle. 



Unfortunately I have to report that our high butter-fat producing 

 cow, Muria, whose record has not been beaten iu Australia, died during 

 the month. She did not show signs of any ailment and died suddenly 

 while grazing on a lucerene area. 



Muria, which had reached her fourteenth year, produced from 25th 

 July, 1914, to 25th July, 1915, 14,972 lbs. milk, 884.16 lbs. butter-fat, 

 and 1007.94 lbs. commercial butter, computed on 14 per cent, overrun. 

 The average butter-fat test during the whole period was 5.91, 



Mubia's Government Test Records. 



Milking Herd. — Fifty-four cows have been milked during the past 

 month and have gradually increased in yield. At present 150 gallons 

 of milk a day is produced. The increasing yield is no doubt due to 

 the fact that we have been able to feed much more regularly during 

 the past month with lucerne both grazed and as hay. 



Sheep. — Considerable reductions have been effected in our flocks 

 during the past month. Two trucks of fat crossbred ewes, averaging 

 25s. per head, and two trucks of this season's lambs, averaging £1 per 

 head, were marketed. 



This now leaves on the farm — 



700 crossbred ewes. 

 160 crossbred lambs. 

 260 Border Leicester studs. 

 SO Suffolk studs. 

 With the exception of the Border Leicester flock ewes, all sheep on 

 farm at present are shorn. 



The average price of the fleece wool appraised on 17th October was 

 I7d. per lb. 



On 28th October 630 full-mouthed crossbred ewes were mated with 

 eight Border Leicester 2-tooth rams and eight Suffolk 2-tooth rams. 

 These ewes have been two months shorn, and the object of the eariy 

 mating is to insure our having fat lambs next season that can be put 

 on the market in July and August, when new season's lambs are scarce 

 and usually command special prices. 



In using equal numbers of both Border Leicester and Suffolk rams 

 we are testing the prolificacy of these breeds as sires. In years past it 



