Friesians herds do well under test

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32702, 3 September 1971, Page 20

Friesians herds do well under test

Of the 35 dairy herds in the South Island that produced more than 5001 b of butterfat under test in the 1970-71 season—all of them Friesians —20 belonged to members of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Friesian Association, the president, Mr J. H. Overton, told the annual meeting of the branch.

At the top of the list was A. R. Udy, of Balclutha, with 21 cows producing 16,1471 b of milk, a 4.4 per cent test and 7031 b of butterfat in 297 days. “We must congratulate the Udy family for obtaining the seemingly impossible figure of 7031 b of fat and 16,1471 b of milk for 21 cows,” said Mr Overton. “They were the first herd in New Zealand to produce 6001 b of fat and to achieve this great record is surely an inspiration to us all.” Mr Overton also noted that Tahora T. B. Leyma, belonging to J. J. and J. A. Geddes at Greenpark had recently produced 25,0591 b of milk with a 4.7 per cent test and 11871 b of butterfat in 305 days. This is the highest production ever recorded in the South Island and is better than has been done by a Jersey over the whole of the country. Mr Overton said Friesians were most suited to make an important contribution to New Zealand’s economy. New markets depended on the sale of dairy products other than butterfat. Friesians with a high milk yield and producing large quantities of protein and non-fatty solids would play a big part in the movement away from butterfat. Turning to dairy beef, Mr Overton said that with the increase in the demand for red meat in America there

was an ever increasing market. Bull beef to blend with this meat was always in short supply. Priced at $26 plus per cwt this could easily start another farming sideline. Last year more than 70 per cent of all export beef had been dairy beef and increasing {lumbers of bull calves were being reared each year to further increase this market. In growth rate trials Mr Overton said that Friesians were more than holding their own. One Friesian bull, Kelsie Treasure Phillip, at two years of age had weighed more than 18001 b. The demand for Friesian semen, both for dairy and beef purposes, had increased at a great rate so that now it represented 52 per cent of the New Zealand total and 55 per cent of the South Island total. Mr J. J. Geddes was elected to succeed Mr Overton as president and other officers appointed were: senior vice-president, Mr J. C. Mclntosh (Rangiora); junior vice-president, Mr R. W. Shadbolt (Ladbrooks); and secretary, Mr T. H. Jones (Springston). South Island herds which topped 5001 b of fat in the last testing season 'were: A. R. Udy, 21 cows, 16,1471 b of milk, 4.4 per cent test, 7031 b of butterfat, 297 days; Plunkett Brothers (Oamaru), 22, 15,985, 4, 638, 299; T. and B. Jones (Springston), 35, 15,856, 3.9, 624, 303; E. L.

Adams (Ellesmere), 39, 14,523, 4.2, 605, 296; F. A. Mclntosh (Rangiora), 72, 14,304, 4.1, 590, 302; J. J. and J. A. Geddes (Greenpark), 77, 14,513, 4.0, 577, 300. J. B. Robbie (Southland), 53, 12,693, 4.5, 569, 279; N. J. Sherriff and Son (Temuka), 84, 14,860, 3.8, 568, 291; D. and G. Bathgate (Outram), 43, 13,879, 4.1, 572, 300; Macartney Brothers (Tai Tapu), 29, 14,034, 4.0, 556, 287; R. C. Woolley and Son (Blenheim), 36, 13,145, 4.2, 547, 293; R. W. Shadbolt (Ladbrooks), 78, 12,991, 4.2, 545, 289; C. B. Campbell (Edendale), 38, 13,259, 4.1, 544, 275; E. G. Robertson (Springston), 71, 13,604, 4.0, 543, 299; W. J. Wyllie (Edendale), 14, 13,641, 3.9, 539, 295. J. R. McLeary (Mataura), 57, 12,366, 4.3, 532, 266; J. M. Hewson (Timaru), 45, 13,307, 4.0, 527, 303; C. and G Rathgate (Outram), 36, 13,085, 4.0, 529, 282; A. F. Collie (Otautau), 29, 13,330, 3.9, 525, 286; C. G. Wheeler (Lincoln), 36, 11,823, 4.4, 524, 270; M. and M. Herrick (Riverton), 41, 11,718, 4.5, 524, 278; D. and A. Cullen (Wyndham), 37, 12,664, 4.1, 520, 288. J. M. Scanlan (Milton), 45, 12,569, 4.3, 535, 290; R. G. Mclntosh (Ladbrooks), 72, 13,742, 3.8, 525, 301; A. L. Grey (Brightwater), 67, 11,732, 4.4, 518, 255; E. J. Stalker and Son (Greenpark), 83, 12,646, 4.2, 525, 301; O. T. Stone (Ladbrooks), 25, 12,680, 4.1, 526, 296. G. P. Mclntosh (Waikuku), 105, 12,760, 4.1, 520, ; 294; S. L. Stephens (Ohoka), ■ 53, 12,474, 4.1, 512, 288; I C. W. Humm (Waikuku),! 145, 12,488, 4.1, 511, 295; I D. and M. Leslie (Ohoka), ; 38, 13,075, 3.9, 509, 285; R.: G. Humm (Tai Tapu), 82,; 12,494, 4.1, 506, 294; E. A.; Gillman (Rangiora), 65, 12,914, 3.9, 505, 300; J. G. ! Stewart (Waikuku), 125,1 12,218, 4.1, 507, 300; E. A.I Howden (Mataura), 48, 11,735, 4.3, 504, 264. ;