HERD TESTING

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11834, 16 January 1933, Page 7

HERD TESTING

DECEMBER .RETURNS SHOW IN CREASE OVER LAST YEAR

A marked improvement is recorded in the for ihe December period of the, Poverty Bay Group Herd Testing Association, the figures showing an increase of 752 cows tested over the .period, an advance of 341 b. per cow in the milk produced and 3.6 S lb. per cow in the butter fat production over that, of December. 1931 The figures, however, still show a wide range, the lowest, being 461 b. of butterfat and the highest 781 b. In the first- of the three groups con. ducted by the association, that embracing the Manutuko, Patutahi. Hangaroa and Tahunga areas, ihe association tested 1019 cows, with an average production of ftSGlbs. of milk an average test. of-. 4.7, and an average of 1 32.831b5. of butterfat. The highest hiu’d up to 30 cows had n 5.2 tcsl, and returned 43.1G1b5. of fab per cow, while the best- herd of over 30 cows averaged the saiisfnctorv return of 45.0311)5. The lowest herd average gave 24.951b. 8 . of far per cow, this herd comprising 22 head, and tin* range between the. highest.and lowest individual performances in the group was between 691 bs. of fat on one hand and -4lbs. on the other.

The Ngatapa, Patutahi, and Gisborne aireas, with 1087 cows, produced averages of 6771b5, of milk, with a 4.5 average test, and a butterfat content- of 30.85 per cow. Tn this group, the highest individual performance was 7Slb>. of fat, and the lowest 41bs., the highest herd up to 30 cows of 14 head, averaging 81 libs, of milk, testing .4.0, and yielding 37.921b5. of fat per cow, while the highest herd of more than 30 cows averaged S3olbs. of milk, and 40.74.1 V of f’at. The- lowo'st herd average was 20.Slbs. of fat for 19 cows

In (lie lalrgest group .0 ihe three, comprising herds at Afotn. Puhn, Gisborne, and Tolaga Bay, the 1407 cows tested gave averages of 694.1 bs. of milk, testing -1.6, yielding 32.101b5. (if fat per cow. Among the smaller herds, the best, was one of 25 that returned 32.201b5. of fat per cow, testing 5.0, and among the larger 89.91 lbs. per cow, while the lowest herd average was 26.501h5. of fat for a herd of 40 cows.