Rosewood History
From the Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Saturday, 6 November 1926, page 7
LANEFIELD AND CALVERT.
CHOICE PURE BRED DAIRY HERDS.
KEEPING THE BOYS ON THE FARM.
FODDER CONSERVATION LESSONS.
(No. 15)
Lanefield and Calvert practically lead the Rosewood district in dairy cattle breeding. The locality lhas two magnificent I.M.S. stud herds and one of Ayreshires. Two of these farms have adopted up-to-date fodder concervation methods, and their example, both in good herds and silo building, will probably be followed by many others in the district when a better season improves the tanners’ finances.
MR. W. M. KRAUSE.
Mr. W. M. Krause, of “Brooklyn Terrace,” Lanefield, has been breeding Illawarras for live years, and has one of the finest tested grade herds in the State. To start he bought six heifers and a bull. The bull was from New South Wales Greyleigh stud – Gambol of Greyleigh, by Milkmaid’s Dinkum out of Gentle IV., dam of Gentle VI., which put up the Australtan yearling record. After six months he bought 12 more heifers from the New South Wales Illawarra stud. He has now added a young bull, Hamel of Sunnyvale, from the stud of Mr. H. Daley, Alstonville. This bull is out of Pigeon V., whose dam produced 1000lb of butter. On the other side he is by Electorate, which was out of Melba VII., dam. of the world’s record cow Melba XV., Melba VlI. was herself a 1000lb. cow.
Mr. Krause is naturally a strong advocate of herd testing as an essential to profitable dairying. When he commenced testing he found his herd giving in many instances, yields of low value, and by culling and judicious breeding from what the tests showed him. he has greatly improved the milk and butter fat yield. “Herd testing,” he says, “educates the farmer in what his cows can do, and gives him a chance to improve it by trying the effects of different methods of feeding and treatment.” Sixteen cows tested have given an average of 171b. of milk, whereas before the testing and the introduction of better stock, he could get only 7lb. to 131b. The lowest of the 16 gave 10.85lb. and the highest 27.05. ”Get pure bred cattle;” Mr. Krause says, “and you will have your family interested in your cattle and your famining, and they will not wander to the towns. Bright, energetic minds need something to interest them and something to study and look forward to.”
FODDER STORAGE.
Mr. Krause has a 150 ton concrete silo, which he built when he started to improve his stock. “If one is going to improve the herd, one must start off by ensuring a continuous feed supply to be able to keep going,” he says. “A dairy farmer cannot afford to replace stud stock. When sufficient fodder conservation is provided for, grade stock can be gone in for safely.” A silo to hold 150 tons could be built for about £110, he says. His cost about £400, and it paid for itself in the first year, when he was able to get £100 worth of milk a month for six months through the assistance of his fodder reserve. “A silo cuts out worry in dairy farming,” he says. Paying all labour, he can fill his silo at 4/ a ton. It takes four men 14 days to fill it . When the cobs have been taken off the maize, just when it is leaving the milk stage, prefebably, he cuts it by hand, puts it through a cutter, and fills the silo. Without the silo, this would be ploughed under and would be an absolute loss, except for its manurial value.
CR. A. T. WATERS.
Cr. A. T. Waters, of “Railway View,” Lanefield, has been breeding lllawarra dairy cattle for 23 years. He follows the line brecding method as nearly as possible, believing that through it he can get greater fixity of type. He started in 1902 with a pure bred bull and two heifers which he bought from Mr. Hardcastle. All of these were by Jamberoo. The next bull, Warrior III., he bought from Messrs. Graham Brothers, of the South Coast of New South Wales. British Admiral (by Old Andmiral) was the next, from the same breeders, and Raleigh of Fairfield, bought from Messrs. Alexander Brothers, New Snouth Wales, followed. The bull he is using now, Rufus Pride of Greyleigh, was bought from Mr. George Gray, of Kiama. All of these sires have some of the same blood. Of his 150 cattle on the property of 480 acres, more than 100 are eligible for the herd book. Four of these cows were tested over nine-month periods, with the following results:
Mr. Waters won four first prizes at the 1925 Brisbane Exhibition. He did not show this year, on account of, the effects of the drought. He is a regular exhibitor in practically all the shows of West Moreton and the Brisbane Show. l
Mr. L. H. PATEN
Mr. L. H. Paten, of “Jeyandel,” Calvert, has a beautiful Ayreshire herd with which he takes many show prizes. He is the only pure Ayreshire breeder in the district, but his success is an inducement to many others to follow him. He has found the breed hardy and well adapted to battle agains the frequent dry spells of the district. He has often kept all his herd when neighbours’ cattle of other breeds have died. He also fellows the line breeding system, endeavouring to get a close blood relationship when choosing the sire. His stock are noted milkers, and he has won the Rosewood Show milking compettitions for three years-twice at home and once on the ground. He has been a consistent exhibitor, at Ipswich Show for many years, but regrets that he has not met much competition there in the breed. He showed in Brisbane in 1925, but was not there this year on account of shortage of feed.
He came to the farm about 17 or 18 years ago, and as soon as was able to, built a silo-the first reinforced concrete silo in the district.The cost then, 14 years ago, ‘was £400. A silo of the same capacity, 150 tons, could now be built much more cheaply though. When this is full he can feed 40 cattle from it for six nonths.
This year he has had, as well as the silo storage, about 14 acres of lucerne, and 12 acres of other green feed. The total area of the property is 515 acres, 120 acres of which is a black soil flat. As the property is only about 10 minutes drive from the railway station, it is in an excellent position for mllk delivery, and for three years has been supplying milk to Brisbane. His cow-sheds and bails, and the equipment of the farm generally are thoroughly up-to-date, and indicate enterprise and progressiveness.
From the Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Saturday, 13 November 1926, page 7
SILO CONSTRUCTON COST
In last Saturday’s article of the Rosewood district series particulars were given of Mr. W. M. Krause’s fodder conservation provisions for his pure bred I.M.S. dairy herd at Calvert. Mr. Krause has since revised his estimates of the cost of building a silo suitable for most dairy farmers. A silo, to hold 150 tons, he states, could be built for about £100. His, built some time ago, cost approximately £200, but it paid for itself in the first year, when, through having feed stored, he was able to get £100 worth of milk a month for three months. Good stock are worth keeping, and a fodder reserve such as a silo can provide is the cheapest way of keeping them through a dry season. Feeding with ensilage, Mr. Krause is able to maintain the high production of his herd, 16 cows of which have given 17lb. of butter a week on test.