PURE BREEDS v. GRADES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 8 September 1923, Page 3

PURE BREEDS v. GRADES.

Further evidence that the dairyman cannot afford to have cheap cows comes from the Pacific slope of the United States, says the Canadian Farmer. The testing of ■ both purebred and grade milking herds is carried on in the Los Angeles district of California. The last animal report of the testing association shows that 14 purebred herds, comprising 282 cows, averaged 11,234 pounds of 3.5 per cent, milk and 397.8 pounds of butter-fat; and 23 grade herds, comprising 2.161 cows, averaged 8546 pounds of 4 per cent, milk and 342.5 pounds of butter-fat. Forty-nine per cent, of all grades tested produced more than 400. pounds of butter-fat in the year. The report directs. attention to the increased production of purebreds over grades. While the testing work is cily four years old in Los Angeles co nty, yet much benefit has .already been realised. Herd-owners aro enabled to discover their unprofitable cows, and by their elimination increase the average production. Through testing and culling one farmer increased his average butter-fat production from 366.5 pounds to 453.2 pounds in the last year. In five herds using grade bulls the average butter-fat production last year was 324.4 pounds, while in herds using purebred bulls the i average production was 352.4 pounds.