CALF MARKING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 March 1928, Page 5

CALF MARKING.

THE PROOF OF ITS VALUE. HIGH PRICES WHEN HEREDITY KNOWN.

(Bv “Tester.”)

That the system of marking and registering grade heifer calves out_ of dams of a- required standard is proving of vast importance to the dairying industry has again been proved by the demand for this class of calf and the prices realised » * .MARKING STANDARDS. The requirements of a marked calf are that it should be out of a dam of any breed or breeds whatever, providing that her production under group herd test has been: First calver, 2501 b fat; second calver, 2751 b fat; third calver or over, 3001 b fat —all in 305 days. The sire shall be a registered purebred. The scheme was evolved in the Waikato and is now under the direction of the Dominion Group Herd Testing Federation. A registered mark (T in a shield) has been gazetted, and. the strictest conditions are adhered to, so that there can be no possible chance of malpractice. The system is absolutely “watertight,” and while the future production of the calf cannot be guaranteed, that of its forbears can be so certified. Only the calves out of cows tested under* the group herd test by an association that is a member of the federation can lie marked. Every calf has a distinct individual mark that is distinguishable at all future times v The mark takes the form of a- tatoo in the ear. A certificate is issued at the time of marking, MARKED CALF VALUES, In the Waikato during the past few seasons several thousands of calves have been marked. It is to this district that we must at present look for results, and they are indeed not far to seek and most gratifying. In other districts the movement is gradually coming into prominence. While most of the calves are sold privately or held for herd purposes an annual marked calf sale is held. The sale for this season was held during the beginning of March in various centres. A total of 245 calves were offered, and the largest at one centre, Frankton, was 126 calves. For these the average purchase price was £4 15s, showing that the buyers realised the value of a marked calf. The average was, however, brought much lower than it would otherwise have been by some lots being in poor physical condition and by others of breeds not in demand. The top price realised was £l7 17s for a calf out of a six-yeaivold Jersey oow with a record of 497.791 b fat in 288 days. Showing just what can be realised, a line of 27 calves bred by Mr. J. Nicholson, of Okoroire, brought the splendid average of £6 a head. The highest record of the dams was that of a five-year-old, . 398.971 b in 209 days, and the lowest that of a two-year-old, 253.251 b in 207 days, both unfinished records. Even this price was exceeded On several occasions by other laxgei! lines sold privately. PRIVATE SALES. Of these there have been many. A' few will suffice to show the trend of prices. Mr. A. B. Oatchpole, of Ohaupo, sold three of this season’s calves for £7 7s a-piece; Mr, T. Tomlins, of Otorohanga, sold nine at £7 a-piece. Then there has been the splendid sale of sixty marked calves to Mr. J. A. Garnett, of Fiji, through the adviser to his estate, Mr. S. H. Barton, a popular and capable farmer and breeder of this country. The price paid for these calves ranged from £5 to £7 a head, and quite « number of these calves were considered to be very cheap buying. What would these calves have brought a few years ago? Probably not more than 30s at the outside. Many would probably never have been reared, and so much valuable stock would have been lost to the industry. The goal of the federation is a Dominion average of 3001 b of fat or pvei*; it is at present only in the vicinity of 2001 b, Without a doubt it is these marked calves that are going to be the greatest help towards that aim. It has been well and truly, said that “One of the finest things about calf marking is that it is enabling the young farmer to start where his father left off.”