Eltham Man Turns Milking Around

Cows fart and that's a fact. They've farted since ancient times and not many people have noticed. Those that did, probably just laughed. Well, farmers aren't laughing any more. They have to pay a fart tax on every cow they own and it makes them wild.

Back in 1967, when farmers were happier, Taranaki man Merv Hicks invented the Turn-Style rotary milking platform. It brought a smile to farmers and their cows.

REWIND

True or false?  In 1967…

1. New Zealanders used pounds, shillings and pence.
2. The Beatles were big.
3. Maui gas had been discovered.
4. New Zealand still didn't have a woman Prime Minister.
5. People had walked on the moon.

Starters

Inventions change the way farmers are able to run their farms. In pairs, decide whether these ones had a low, medium or high impact. In other words, did they really make a difference? Compare your ideas with another pair.

1. The electric fence
2. Top dressing by aircraft
3. Long gumboots
4. Milk tankers to and from the cowshed.
5. Computers
6. Farm bikes
7. Big round hay bales
8. The Taranaki Gate
9. The air conditioned tractor cab
10. The refrigerated milk vat
11. Vaccines and drenches

Oldies but goodies!

Old sayings and new are part of this week's Taranaki story. Think, pair and share with a classmate. What does each saying really mean and which ones are the oldies?

1. "Thinking outside the square"
2. "A real breakthrough"
3. "Back to the drawing board"
4. "Own personal space"
5. "New fangled"

Shutterbug

Now take a look at these photos. They're oldies too.

Photo 1

Photo 2

Try this by yourself, in pairs, or in a small group. Work out a good,(a plus) a not so good, (a minus) and an interesting thing about dairy farming in these times.

	A plus	A minus	An interesting thing
Meeting at the Dairy factory
Milking the cows by hand

Get a grip!

Looking for key points as you read each part of a story helps puts you "in the know". You learn to scan too and that's a handy skill.  Keep an eye out for these things as you read the different parts of this Taranaki story.

Intro (the first bit): Cowsheds in 1967?  Mostly walk-through or mostly herringbone?

Thinking outside the square: The turning square?  A good idea or a bit dodgy?

Backwards and onwards:  Merv's breakthrough?  Cows stepping on or backing off?

Back to the drawing board:  For more ideas?  Are two heads better or one?

Testing times:  The time it takes a cow to learn?  Ages or not long at all?

Cows are individuals too: "Own personal space for cows?"  On or off the platform?

On the move:  Stepping off?  From a moving platform or did it stop?

Platforms catch on:  Size these days? Bigger or smaller?

Cowshed rules

First, find out how the rotary milking platform works with out this great interactive:

Click here to view the interactive.

Move your mouse to study the different parts and then try the quiz.

A dairy inspector told Merv to replace his walk-through cowshed. That started him thinking about a shed with a rotary platform. Sheds are still inspected today. Decide if these rules are "fair enough" or "a bit harsh" and then compare your answers with a classmate.

1. All farmers will use special cleansers to clean milking cups and pipes after each milking.
2. The vat must be thoroughly cleaned after the tanker has collected the milk.
3. The dairy shed and yards must be washed down after every milking.
4. Those milking must have clean hands and clothes before they begin to milk.
5. Cows must have their udders washed before they are milked.
6. White gumboots must be worn in the cowshed and all male farmers must be clean shaven before milking begins.

Puzzler

Merv Hicks said, "I learnt a lot about cows…they are a lot more intelligent than I gave them credit for."  Merv thought animal psychology had a lot to do with the cows wanting to go on the platform and becoming quiet. He thought they just needed their own personal space.

Here's some more cow psychology. Just match the right beginning to the best end:

1. The lead cow ...... will take her place and do exactly the same.

2. The lead cow takes ...... they smell each others breath to see what the other one has been eating

3. Lead cows like to make farmers think ...... keeps everyone informed of the farmer's whereabouts.

4. If the farmer sells the lead cow another cow ...... everyone to the best hay or grazing.

5. Cows are like cats; ...... the whole herd is hungry

Want more?

See what Cowboy Jerry has to say on his website.

Merv Hicks

"My card son"

Merv Hicks is an innovator - a mover and a shaker! Make him the business card he could have carried in his turnstile rotary platform days. In the middle, print his name.

Top left? The place Merv is from.

Top right? One success he's had.

Bottom left?  One difficulty he had to overcome.

Bottom right? Three words that describe Merv really well.

FAST FORWARD...to 2003

This story might be a Puke Ariki story one day. Taranaki farmers are leading the fight against this new tax. So what's it all about?

• First, check out the "Greenhouse Effect" and look closely for the words methane gas. Find out what this gas has to do with "Global Warming". Click here to view the website.
• The burps and farts from munching cows, sheep, deer and goats create methane gas. It's said that half of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions are these farty type ones.
• Our government, like many others in the world, has agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They hope new research will lead to a solution.
• The tax on farmers will raise $8.4million a year and pay for this research. The farmers have a slogan: "Fight Against Ridiculous Taxes"-FART.
• They've signed a petition, made a song, and may drive their tractors to Parliament to protest.

Take action

Form a group of three each armed with a different coloured pen and a piece of paper. Write down one of the viewpoints each and then jot down whether you agree or disagree with it and why. When you have finished, pass your paper to the left and give your opinion on the next viewpoint. Compare your group's opinions when you have all three.

1. The farmers' stock creates 50% of the emissions so farmers should have to pay for a solution. Judith Lawrence, Director, Climate Change Office.
2. Factories from industrialized nations, not sheep and cattle are the main reasons behind global warming. Jim Eagle, Business Editor, NZ Herald.
3. Some cows fart less than others, just like people. Inspectors should make regular farm visits and farmers with low farting herds should pay less tax. Anonymous