BATTLE OF THE BREEDS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 18 June 1926, Page 10

BATTLE OF THE BREEDS.

HOLSTEINS, JERSEYS, OR AYRSHIRES. WHICH IS THE BEST CHEESE COW? Following the recent announcement of the decision of the Federation of Taranaki Co-operative Dairy Factories to conduct an investigation into the relative merits, from a diecse’making point of view, of the milks of the various dairy breeds, it is interesting to report that further important progress has been made. It will be remembered that the Federation announced that the investigation would bo carried out in the Tokaora branch of the Haw-era Dairy Company with milks from the farms of prominent dairy breeders —Ayrshire, Friesian and Jersey —in that neighbourhood. The investigation is to extend over the whole of the next milking season; and in all its phases will be under the personal control of the Federation’s scientist, Mr P. 0. Vealc, 8.A., M.Sc. Recently the executive of the Federation decided to invite the various dairycattle breeders’ associations to take an official interest in the investigation, it being considered that this is one of the most important questions before dairy breeders to-day, and that tho opportunity to make a thorough investigation should be taken advantage of by all parties in any way interested. The details of the investigation as outlined in correspondence to the breeders’ associations are as follows: — To determine the relative values of Jersey, Ayrshire and Friesian milks for cheese-making, or, in other words, to determine over a whole season, the average number of pounds of cheese which can be made from one pound of butterfat derived from milk of the various breeds.

On every day of the test throughout the seancn, it is proposed to record:— (1) Weight of each kind of milk received. (2) Fat test by gravimetric analysis of each milk. (3) Weight of cheese made. (4) Moisture content of the cheese. (5) Fat content of the cheese. (tl) Grading points awarded to the cheese. (7) Analysis of the whey run off from each vat. (8) Weight of whey butter-fat obtained from each milk.

It is proposed to utilise facilities existing at Tokaora, near Hawera, where three first-class hcrds of the breeds named arc to be found upon land of the same class.

The cheese-making will be carried out in the Tokaora branch of the Hawera Dairy Company, and all analytical work in the laboratory of the Federation. The Hawera Dairy Co. has agreed to give every facility, and to detail a man or men from the factory staff to manufacture the cheese according to the usual factory practice under the supervision of Mr Veale.

The dairy herds proposed to be engaged in the test are those of:— Air F. Mills, Ayrshire. Mr 11. F. Batten, Jersey. Air H. E. Johnson, Friesian. As can bo imagined, nothing short of complete and perfect arrangements will suffice to achieve the end desired, and the Federation proposes to engage a qualified assistant to enable the laboratory to cope with the daily analyses, and other extra work entailed, and to purchase special equipment which is necessary.

Each of the three breeders’ associations will have the right to appoint an official or representative to watch the conduct of the investigation. In view of the heavy expense in carrying out such a thorough investigation, the Federation is asking that the breeders’ associations interest themselves financially by making a contribution towards meeting the expense.

The letters to the various breeders’ associations were very favourably received at the meetings of the Ayrshire and Friesian. Associations already held. The Jersey Association have yet to hold their meeting. The former two associations have indicated their willingness to contribute towards the expense. It is evident that the scheme is going to attract attention from one. end of the country to the other, and the champions of the various breeds will watch the progress of the investigation with great interest. The subject matter of the investigation, namely, the best milk for cheese-making, has been settled through the' columns of the Press on many occasions by enthusiastic correspondents who :have been champions of their particular breed. The Taranaki Federation of Factories has among its members

prominent breeders of nil the dairy types, but there is a more general interest attaching to thet investigation jromi the point of view of high testing milk versus low testing milk for eheeese-making, irrespective of breed. Messrs F. Mills. 11. E. Batten and H. E. Johnson are all enthusiastic and liavo agreed to co-operate- with the Federation and) the scientist towards making the result of the investigation authentic. It is proposed to rollow the cheese to the London market, and to have; a re-grading and other quality examinations made, in order that the scope’ of the investigation will be as comprehensive as possible. Although this investigation does not take into account the carrying capacity of landl ini relation to the various dairy breeds, nevertheless interesting data will be compiled regarding class of land, feeding, and other conditions on the ’farms l of the various breeders. The cattle will be fed according to the owners’ ideas of the best rules to be followed, and Mr T. A. Winks, president of flie Federation, will make periodical visits to the farms to obtain statistics on the sustenance—root crops, ensilage or grass—supplied to the herds. Messrs Mills, Batten, and Johnson are well-known dairymen in Taranaki. They are neighbours at Tokaora, and their land is- part of the Waipapa block—on© of the earliest broken up in the neighbourhood under the late Mr. R. J. Seddon’s closer settlement scheme. Though, the land is generally similar in character, that of Mr. Batten may lie slightly poorer in quality than his neighbours’. Mr. Mills has been associated with dairying in this part of the Dominion for 22 years, and has confined himself to Ayrshires ever since his' arrival. At the outset- his stock was not of unusually high quality, hut, as a good breeder, he made great improvements, which have been increasingly demonstrated by his successes in the show ring. A great demonstrator also, Mr. Mills has been in demand in this capacity at functions organised by the Farmers’ Union and similar organisations. . .. • . ™ . • Mr Johnson, a specialist m I riesians, had been milking .purebred stock for a number of vears. The reputation of his herd has extended even to Australia, where buyers have offered good puces for the Tckaora- stock. His .animals have been in. regular comperbion on the: West Coast for twelve' or fourteen years, and have secured .liaiiy awn els. Mr Johnson takes a keen interest in the Friesian Breeders’ Association, and is a director of the Hawera. Dairy Company. Besides his interest in the industry as a who’e, he is particularly keen on the present investigation, as he feels in company with others, that the Friesian suffers unjustly owing to the system of pay-out on butter-fat only. Mr Batten also is very well known in the district, and his herd ha® a good reputation. _ Though not registering pedigree stock, Mr Batten has .always confined himself to Jerseys. For 2o years he has been breeding from pedigree bulls, and his herd should be ouite suitablei so far as the Jersey Breeders’ Association is concerned.