TESTING OF DAIRY COWS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 110, 9 April 1926, Page 5

TESTING OF DAIRY COWS.

REVIEW OP C.O.R. SYSTEM IN

1925,

The calendar year 1925 resulted in the issue of 806 certificates-of-record, as compared with 933 for the preceding twelve months —a decrease of 127 authenticated yields, writes Mr W. M. Singleton, Director of the Dairy Division, in the current issue of the New Zealand Journal of Agriculture. It is a more or less natural expectation that the number of purebred cows entered for c.o.r. test each season will fluctuate, and not always increase from year to year. One possible explanation lies in the fact that many breeders test in advance of the rate at which their young stock is reaching the age for c.o.r. testing: that is to say, breeders entering cows for the first time will test all their eligible cows, and once tested there remains only the young stock coming on. As time goes on the number of new breeders on our lists decreases, and thus fails to offset the falling-off caused for the reason just mentioned. So far as the statistics under review are concerned, however, the more likely explanation for the shrinkage is a decrease in the demand for purebred bulls witn butter-fat backing. Unlike the owner of an ordinary dairy herd used for the purpose of supplying a dairy, factory, the breeder of purebred dairy cattle does not test so much for the purpose of grading up the average production of his herd as for establishing butter-fat-record pedigrees, in order that lie may develop a market for Ins suiplus stock, and particularly for his bull calves. For the past two years or more purebred hulls have, on the average, brought ...prices that have been less encouraging to c.o.r. testing breeders. Dairy farmers do not appear to have left the same freedom as formerly in the expenditure or money for the purchase of purebred butterfat-record bulls. This, in our opinion, is the principal reason tor the falling-off in c.o.r. entries for the past year. ' .. . AVe feel sure, however, that tins state of affairs is merely temporary, and that sooner or later the average dairyman will be compelled to realise not only the importance but the absolute necessity of paying more attention to breeding better dairy cows. This can be accomplished only by the use of a better .class of bull than the average herd sire found in our dairy herds at present; but, in turn, tlio right bull must be purebred selected on the basis of c.o.r. records. We regard the existing position as somewhat serious, and one which is not only an individual matter but of Do-minion-wide importance. Neglect of the phase of the dairy industry must react unfavourably on our annual output of dairy produce, and there is no need to emphasise the ultimate effect upon the pocket of the dairy farmer as well as on tlio general economic position of the Dominion. Judged on the basis of average pro. duction the 1925 figures must bo considered satisfactory. Compared with the preceding year the average production for the Friesinn and Ayrshire breeds has increased, while that for the Jersey and Milking Shorthorns has decreased slightly. Climatically, however, the past year was by no means perfect from a dairying point of view. The spring of 1924 was somewhat dry, and continued so until about the end of December. The first three months of 1925, however, were considerably more favourable, particularly in Taranaki and the Waikato, and brought out a second growth of succulent pasture. Tlio winter was mild generally, though very wet, but the spring of 1925 was not only again very dry in most parts but exceptionally harsh. Thus c.o.r. cows were under severo conditions at the beginning and end of their season probably the periods when they required nature’s nelp the most. These circumstances considered, tlio average production of 1925 must bo accepted as more than satisfactory. The outstanding record of the year is that of the Jersey cow Holly Oak s Annie, bred by Mr John Hale, New Plymouth., and owned and tested by Mr W. T. Williams, of Pukehou, Hawke’s Bay. Holly Oak’s Annie was granted a certificate for 1,056.491 b butterfat, matting the third New Zealand Jersey to receive a c.o.r. on a butterfat production exceeding 10001 b. Two Friesians also have this distinction. . During the year six class-leadership productions have been increased. Since tho commencement of the c.o.r. system 4832 cows have been granted first-class certificates. During 1925. certificates were issued on first performance for 658 cows, and on second or subsequent performance for 148 cows, making a total of 806 certificates issued during the year. During 1925, second-class certificates were issued for twenty-two Jerseys, twelve Friesians, and two Milking Shorthorns. Obviously, therefore, the number of second-class certificates is a negligible proportion of the total certificates issued during the year. Grouping the cows of each particular breed into one class, the twenty-two second-class Jersey records averaged 471.2'J1b. butter-fat and the twelve Friesians 519.371 b. Or the two second-class certificates for Milking rihorthorns, one was for Matangi Quality 4th (now dead), whose butteryield reached the high figure of: 978.471 b. |

Forty per cent of the bulk of a fertile soil should be air and not stagnant water. Oxygen in the sou is necessary for the establishment and maintenance of the liighest-class 'plants that a soil will carry. Oramage provides oxygen to water-ridden soils. . The work carried out at Itothamsted, England, since 1918 has shown that under field experimental conditions an increased yield of 20 per cent on the average may be expected when certain spring-sown cereals are subjected to high-tension electrical discharge, also that under both field and pot experiments electrification has accelerated reproductive growth (grain) much more markedly than vegetative growth (straw).

EXPORT OF PUREBRED DAIRY I CATTLE.

I The calendar year 1925 showed a falling off in the number and total value of purebred dairy cattle exported from the Dominion. Some ninety-three animals were sent out of the country, forty-nine of these going to Australia, twenty-one to Argentine, nineteen to Fiji, three to South Africa, and one to Tonga. The total declared value of these beasts was about £5200. The previous year’s figures 1 were 173 animals, valued at some £8635. j