THE GUERNSEY BREED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 175, 25 June 1926, Page 5

THE GUERNSEY BREED.

Mr W. H. Teague, of Itairanga, has forwarded an interesting pamphlet on the Guernsey breed of dairy cattle. The following list of averages, in order of age, for Guernseys under official test for 273 days (which tests were completed between January 1 and .December 31, 1925) gives the description of the cattle, the pounds of milk, average test, and pounds of butterfat :

35 matured cows averaged 6797.821 b of milk, 5.39 test, 365.571 b of butterfat.: ■ _

8 senior 4-year-old cows averaged 6517.681 b of milk,. 5.41 test, 357.861 b of butter-fat. ' ” 1 13 junior 4-year-old cows averaged 6641.881 b of milk, 5.24 test, 343.921 b of butter-fat. 7 senior 3-year-old cows averaged 6691.071 b of milk, 5.16 test, 341.461 b of butter-fat. 5 junior 3-year-old cows averaged 5502.21 b of milk, 5.6 test, 301.801 b of butter-fat. 15 senior 2-year-old cows averaged 5330.081 b of milk, 5.57 test, 294.911 b of butter-fat. 18 junior 1-year-old cows averaged 5540.411 b of milk, 5.3 test, 292.981 b of butter-fat. •

The average yield for the 101 cows, irrespective of age, was: 62411 b milk; 5.37 average test; 333.911 b butter-fat. The American Guernsey Breeders’" Journal cites the following figures from the advance register of merit cows: 'Average yield of 70 class leaders, 16,3751 b milk, test. 5._25 per cent, butter-fat 859.81 b for 365 days; average yield of 20,743 cows 9611.51 b milk, test 4.99 per cent, butter-fat 479.81 b for 365 days; best milk production 24.0081 b, the 10 largest yields averaged 20,641.71 b; best butter-fat production 1112.51 b, the 10 largest yields averaged 1041.31 b. It is claimed that during 1925 Guernseys, under the official testing scheme, excelled all other breeds. The following is a comparison for aU-breeds under the test during 1925 for a period of. 273 days, giving the average per cow”?— ’ ' Guernseys, 6241.951bs milk, 5.37 per cent fat, 333.9(1bs butter-fat; Ayrshires, 7532.17, 4.18, 318.54; Jerseys, 5916.27, 5.25, 310.15 ; Illawarra milking Shorthorns, 7252.85, 3.91, 233.11; Milking Shorthorns, 6589.14, 4.03, 264./9; Friesians. 6723.87, 3.72, 247.67. There is, states the publication quoted, another official test recognised by the American Guernsey Cattle Club, namely, the “Farmers’ Cow, and which, from its name and test results, make it appear that the cows being tested under this scheme are of a similar standard to those generally tested under our own official testing schemes. The results of these American cows are as follow: Average yield of 70 class leader: 86561 b milk; test 5.17 per cent; 447.81 b butter-fat. Average yield of 201 cows: 7653.01 b milk; test * 5.06 per cent; 38i.41b butter-fat. • ' Best milk yield, 11,781.31 b; the 10 largest yields averaged 10,7821 b. Best butter-fat production, o801b; the 10 best producers averaged 533.81 b. After perusing these results (states the pamphlet) the Australian Guernsey breeders can congratulate those members, who have officially tested, on the performances of the Australian Guernsey cow seeing that the American cow average for 273 days would be in the vicinity of 3361 b butter-fat, while the Australian cow averages 3331 b butter-fat for the same period.

STOCK MARKET. Dalgety and Coy., Ltd., report having ottered a good yarding of sheep and cattle at the Wanganui sale on Wednesday. There was a good attendance of buyers, and a clearance was made at satisfactory prices, the tone of the market being good. Quotations: Four and 'o-year ewes r.w. S.D. rams, 24s 4d; wether lambs to 18s 2d; mixed age wethers 21s lOd to 22s 9d; small wethers 16s lOd; weaner •Hereford heifers, 355; 20 months heifers, £2 15s; 21-year heifers, £4 11s: 2i-year steers. £5 3s (all Hereforas); cows in milk, £3 2s 6d to £5 12s 6d; springing cows, £3 to £5 10s. Dalgety and Coy., Ltd., report having received the following cablegram from their London house under date of tho 23rd inst.: —Buttor and cheese: Market very slow. Since our last report prices aro Is to 2s cwt. lower.