The Dairy Exporter in December 1971

OUR STORY 50 YEARS AGO IN NZ DAIRY EXPORTER

50 years ago in the Dairy Exporter December

As NZ Dairy Exporter counts down to its centenary in 2025, we look back at the issues of earlier decades. 50 Years Ago – December 1971.

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE A DAIRY COW’S DRINKING

The only substantial research into the drinking habits of grazing dairy cows that has been done in New Zealand was carried out several years ago by Campbell and Munford at Massey University. One of the most important points in their study was that they found nothing to suggest that production would decline if cows were restricted by two drinks a day at the shed.

If water was available in adequate quantities at the shed when the cows came in for milking they would soon get used to the system and satisfy their daily needs then. Putting water into the paddocks would not boost production.

Advisory officers have generally endorsed this finding over the years since the study was done.

POTENTIAL BECKONS FROM SOUTH IS. FLATS

Irrigation schemes can make a vast difference to farming and potential buyers and sharemilkers from the North Island should perhaps investigate the possibilities of moving into dairy farming in the region. The sheep farmer is finding it increasingly difficult to stay viable and perhaps some might be interested in employing a sharemilker and becoming dairy farmers.

Indeed uneconomic sheep farms which have not been released from Lands and Survey Department development programmes possibly could be considered as a source of dairying potential and perhaps made available for this purpose.

Traditionally, Canterbury is not a dairying area. In part, this has come from the climate, which is suitable for cropping; vast expanses of flat land and the pasture growth patterns more suited to flat land farming.

The rainfall usually fluctuates at about 25 inches which is insufficient to support dairying unless augmented by irrigation.

NITROGEN TRIALS TEST “OUT OF SEASON” GRASS

The economics of nitrogen usage for the production of “out of season” grass have changed appreciably with the availability of nitrogenous fertilisers at considerably lower prices.

A fresh look at the value of nitrogen in providing out-of-season grass to bridge possible production gaps has been taken by the Field Research Section of the Department of Agriculture with trials in the main grassland farming areas during the past two years.

When yield responses were considered as a substitute for hay or other supplementary feed, payable results from nitrogen applications occurred above a level of about 7lb of drymatter to 1lb of nitrogen (7kg DM/kg N).

If a payable response was reckoned as producing drymatter at one cent per lb (2.2c/kg), approximately the cost of hay, then spring applications brought payable responses in most areas used in the trials.

AVERAGE DAIRY HERD SIZE NOW PAST 100

The average dairy herd size in New Zealand reached 100 last season, the Herd Improvement Council was told at its meeting this month. This represented a 3.1 per cent increase on the average of 97 in 1969-70.

Milkfat per cow rose by a similar 3.2 per cent over the country, 257lb in 1970-71 compared with 249lb the previous season.

Milkfat per farm increased even more, by 6.7 per cent. Last season’s average was 25,780lb compared with 24,160lb in 196970.

Cow census returns for 1970-71 presented to the council showed the percentage of calves sired by the various breeds. The figures, with comparative percentages for 1968-69 in parentheses, were: Ayrshire 3.2 (2.9), Friesian 39.4 (25.7), Jersey 55.7 (68.9), Milking Shorthorn 1.0 (1.1), others 0.7 (1.4).

Cover photo: Sizzling fish on a stone-edged fire and lazy lying in the sun make a welcome Christmas break for this family on the shores of Lake Taupo. Even with the chores and the pressures of haymaking, we hope many readers will find time for such family outings this Christmas.

MAKING THE COWS HAPPY

A chewing cow is a happy cow, apparently. And at milking time it shows its happiness in a tangible, and profitable way.

Dr D. G. Edgar, director of the Ruakura Animal Research Centre, told the Herd Improvement Council this month that there seemed to be some evidence that feeding small amounts of concentrate to cows at milking time was beneficial. While insufficient to affect them nutritionally, it did produce contentment that encouraged the let-down of milk.