CARE NECESSARY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22198, 7 December 1946, Page 10

CARE NECESSARY

CHOICE OF SIRES IMPORTANCE TO HERD FINDINGS OF SURVEYS “In the surveying of herd sires it has been noticed that the butterfat content of the milk of the progeny plays an important part in determining the future level of production,” continues Mr. P. Robertson in his review of herd improvement through regular testing. “From 1289 surveys of pedigree Jersey bulls it is revealed that if your bull leaves daughters v/ith an average butterfat test above 5.6 per cent, the chances are two to one they will be above the average in total butterfat production. If the average test of the daughters is around 5.3 per cent the chances are even, and if below 5 per cent the odds are three to one that the daughters will be below average. “This shows how important it is when selecting a herd sire, to closely follow up the butterfat tests of the female in the pedigree on both sides.

“Evidence now available suggests that the difference between high and low-producing herds is due to approximately 60 per cent in the feeding and management and 40 per cent to breeding. In breeding the percentage of fat in the milk is the all-important factor. Survey Tests Analysed “The results analysed from 1204 sire surveys of pedigree Jersey bulls on the basis of the average production for the daughters of each sire show that the group of daughters averaging over 4001 b of butterfat had a fat test of 5.58

compared with 5.11 for the group averaging below 3001 b butterfat. “As heredity plays a major part in determining the butterfat test of a cow it is possible by selection from hightesting families to secure or select a herd sire with a good chance of getting higher than average tests in the daughters. . , . ... ... “To qualify for inclusion in the lifetime merit ' register a cow must be credited with a total production of at least 25001 b of butterfat under C.0.R., 0.H.T., or Group Herd Test in not more than eight successive years. For qualification for entry into the Elite a cow must have a production of at least 40001 b of butterfat in not more than 10 successive years. “Finally, what are the qualities we require in a cow? Cows with good butterfat production, able to produce a calf every year, and have sound constitution and resistence to disease. To gain entry in the lifetime merit register, and in particular to gain an Elite entry a cow must possess these qualities.

“The farmer’s soundest proposition in selecting a herd sire is to purchase a proven sire or the son of a proven sire from a dam entered in the lifetime merit register.”