DAIRY HERDS IN SOUTH ISLAND

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27404, 17 July 1954, Page 2

DAIRY HERDS IN SOUTH ISLAND

BUTTERFAT AVERAGES 301 LB FOR SEASON HIGHEST AVERAGE FOR NEW ZEALAND All cows under test in the South Island Herd Improvement Association in the 1952-53 season averaged 3011 b of butterfat, said the chairman (Mr F G Harris), presenting the fifteenth annual report of the management committee to the annual meeting of the association in Christchurch yesterday. Although the weather in some areas had been adverse during the last season it was still expected that a high level of production would be maintained, the estimated interim figure being 3011 b of fat for this year also. Mr Harris reported that for the 1953-54 season there were 1083 herds in the association, with 44,854 cows, compared with 1076 herds and 43,789 cows in the previous season. A Southland farmer, Mr H. J. Dunn, of Edendale, had topped the butterfat production average in the South Island for the 1953-54 season, said the general manager of the association, Mr J. R. Unwin. It was estimated that Mr Dunn’s 16 cows had averaged 5441 b of fat. Macartney Brothers, of Tai Tapu, were second with 45 cows averaging 5181 b of fat. The association would be the only one in New Zealand to be above the 3001 b of fat average for the season, said the administrative officer of the New Zealand Dairy Board, Mr P. Green. . Mr Johnson was elected chairman of the association and Mr J. G. Macartney, vice-chairman. Other officers were re-elected as follows: —committee, committee of management (conveners’ representatives), Messrs A. Johnson, R. O. O’Connor, J. G. Macartney, R. C. Nalder, L. W. Staniland, and T. Fenton; committee of management (dairy company representatives), Messrs F. G. Harris, J. L. Keast, J. F. Bisset, W. H. Martin, R. G. Thomson, and J. D. Rose; general manager, Mr Unwin.