Bad Season But Record Average

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32050, 26 July 1969, Page 10

Bad Season But Record Average

In spite of adverse weather at various periods throughout the territory—a very cold, wet spring in many areas and a prolonged dry spell in Canterbury—the South Island Herd Improvement Association reports an estimated record production per cow for the 1968-69 season. The estimated production per cow under test is 3601 b of butterfat compared with 3531 b in the previous season and 283.481 b 20 years previously. The chairman of the association’s committee (Mr J. G. Macartney) said there were 37 more members in the herd recording service in the most recent season and during the season there was a total of 814 herds under test. The total number of cows tested was a record, almost 51,000

cows being tested once or more. There was a 9 per cent in- ; crease in the number of cows : inseminated in the spring mating groups after a 17 per cent increase in the previous period, and although over-all conception and in-calf rates were down slightly, possibly because of seasonal conditions in some areas, final figures were stiH very satisfactory. A total of 41,831 cows in 875 herds were inseminated in the winter and spring groups and 31,994 cows were got in calf. The conception rate was 64.7 per cent, compared with 66.9 per cent in the preceding year, and the in-calf rate was 82.5 per cent, compared with 84.2 per cent Mr Macartney said that as anticipated a further loss had been shown on the herd testing side of the association’s operations. The loss here was $5217. Provision had again been made for substantial rebates to members on the spring mating artificial breeding groups, but some cost increases in this department could be expected in the coming season. For the last season, however, income exceeded expenditure by $5688,

New office premises had been completed early in the season and working facilities for the staff were now compact and convenient. The old: office property had been sold at a satisfactory figure subsequent to the annual bal*. ance date. A slight increase had, been made in the recording fees for 1969-70 to offset the reduction last year and the. subsequent loss, and the fob, lowing scales would apply for the coming season. Monthly, test: Herd fee $5, plus $1.65 per cow, minimum fee $3B; alternate month test, herd fee $4, plus $l.lO per cow, minimum fee $26; production ranking test, herd fee $3, 55c per cow, and minimum fee $l4. Mr Macartney is not seeking re-election as a committeeman representing testing members in ward 4. Mr L. C. Langford was nominated unopposed for ward 2 but two nominations have been received for the position held by Mr Macartney and there will be an election. Mr R. G. Thomson, representing artificial breeding users in the Marlborough-Nelson wards, was nominated for a further term.