£390m. Income From Friesian Cattle

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30592, 7 November 1964, Page 15

£390m. Income From Friesian Cattle

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

LONDON, November 6. Dairy farmers in Britain would not blink at a salary of £2OOO a year for a cowman in five years’ time, said Mr W. E. Jones, director of the National Agricultural Advisory Service, addressing the British Friesian Society. A highly-paid cowman would earn his money, Mr Jones continued. He would be assisted by all sorts of gimmicks and gadgetry as a result of increased intensification and bigger dairy herds. The number of cows would justify his pay, but he would need to have animals that would stand up to the stress and strain. The Friesian cow was the one to do it, Mr Jones said. In the small farmers’ scheme, Friesians had been shown to stand up to the most appalling conditions and still produce 800-900 gallons each lactation. Since 1938 the breed’s development had been sensational. Membership had increased 10 times. There had been a 12 per cent rise in lactation yield, and a 101 per cent improvement in butterfat. Friesians produced two-

thirds of Britain’s milk and about half of her home-bred beef. In cash terms this was worth £390 million, nearly one-fifth of the total agricultural revenue received by farmers and horticulturists.