SERIOUS EFFECT

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3159, 19 August 1942, Page 3

SERIOUS EFFECT

PRODUCTION OF HERDS MUST BE A DECREASE IMPROVEMENT ASS. STATISTICS The Auckland Herd Improvement Association’s annual report and balance sheet has a wealth'of statisticc of the past and previous seasons. The report states that the surprising feature of the season’s operations was that, despite all the difficulties associated with war .conditions, the membership was actually increased, the number of herds and cows recorded being the highest since the inception of the movement. “During the coming season we must begin to feel the effects, in many districts, of the reduced quantity of fertiliser available for top-dressing,” continues the report. “The limit of ance sheet has a wealth of statistics 40 per cent, of normal usage for the still further for the coming season to 28 per cent, of normal usage. “This obviously cannot continue for any appreciable period without it having a serious effect on production. Over and above this, the requirements of the armed forces during the season •have still further depleted the labouravailable for farms, and the drain has been so great that some reduction in production seems inevitable. The decrease of at least 8 per cent, for the year just completed was principally caused by seasonal conditions, as exemplified by your association’s own figures, which show a decline from

2781 b. fat per cow to 2531 b.” The Top Group Congratulations were extended to the members of the MangawheroMatamata group in heading the list of group averages for the season. This group, however, contained only 11 herds, representing 1131 cows. The group had the average of 60451 b. of milk, with a. 4.95 test and 299.41 b. of fat in 279 days. The highest cow under test during the season was a three-year-old pedigree Jersey, with a production 14.460 lb. of milk, 5.9 test, 8501 b. fat in 330 days. Association’s Averages During the 1941-42 season the association had a membership embracing 72 groups, with 2104 herds. Cows recorded twice or more were 123,907

and cows charged for numbered 116,737. Cows recorded 100' days or more were 117,363, and the averages were 52651 b. of milk, a 4.80 test, 252.951 b. of fat in 253 days. In the previous season (1940-41), there were 73 groups with 2070 herds. Cows recorded twice or more totalled 119,904, and cows charged for 116,183. Cows recorded 100 days or more numbered 117,051, and the averages were 57611b’ of milk, a 4.82 test, and 277,751 b. of fat in 258 days. In both these seasons calculations were commenced three days later than in some earlier seasons. Statistics of particular interest to the Thames Valley are given in the table published below.