Record season reported

Press, 20 July 1979, Page 9

Record season reported

A record number of dairy cows were herd-tested and artificially bred in the South Island last season, according to Mr R. S. Johnston, general manager of the Livestock Improvement Association (South Island) Inc. Reporting to members during a series of 23 well attended district meetings throughout the South Island, Mr Johnston presented information about the association’s activities over the past season, during which 8500 more cows had been tested than in the previous year and 3500 more cows had been submitted to artificial breeding than in 1978. “The association is presently in a stable situation financially, and the increased use of the service plays a large part in coping with the cost increases of future operations,” said Mr Johnston. He also commented on future prospects for centralised testing systems in the association’s territory, explaining that developments in the North Island were being examined, and that the association was in communication with dairy companies concerning future prospects. v As yet, no final analysis of the advantages or disadvant-

ages of centralisation had been made. The Government artificial breeding incentive scheme had received a good response from dairy farmer members. “This has helped our artificial breeding operations in the South Island expand this season and an equal or better response is expected next season.” The artificial breeding season had been particularly successful, according to Mr C. J. Auchinvole, manager of field services for the Livestock Improvement Association. “Not only was it a record in cow numbers, but the in-calf rate will be one of the best ever, from present indications.” From the increased use of artificial breeding in recent years, it was obvious that fanners were very confident about the system. Semen from the New Zealand Dairy Board premier sires service bull team, a highly selected group of bulls, had been used in inseminating practically all the 45,380 cows submitted to artificial breeding. “With the present high standard of bulls used, excellent semen quality and technician ability, farmers obviously feel the service has a lot to recom-

mend it as a disease-free system of getting cows in calf and obtaining superior replacement stock,” added Mr Auchinvole. Permanent identification of commercial dairy calves had increased one hundred per cent in the last year, through a new computer system of recording offered by the association. Mr Auchinvole explained the system in detail during the meetings, and illustrated the advantages that calf identification offered to commercial herds. “It is anticipated we will have a further large increase in calf identification this coming season, and field staff will be in a position to provide a full explanation of the system. The financial benefits to members of identifying calves to their sires and dams make the small effort required well worthwhile,” he said. One of the principal advantages in knowing the ancestry was to be able to select which cows to keep heifer calves from. Other advantages included potentially increased prices from stock sales, contract breeding opportunities and a sire and dam progeny evaluation to show the true worth .of each member’s breeding programme.