RURAL RAKINGS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 128, 1 May 1941, Page 12

RURAL RAKINGS.

5317 Herds Under Test. With 5317 herds under test in New Zealand, a record had been established this year, said Mr C. M. Hume, Dairy Board herd recording supervisor, when speaking to the north ward dairy conference in Whangarci. Speaking of the milking cow census taken on January 15, Mr Hume said that 95 per cent, of the cows had been recorded. Value Of Copra. Commenting on the values of copra and barley in pig production, Mr 11. M. Picrson, at tiic annual meeting of the Wellington District Pig Council, said that some very satisfactory tests had been made. In feeding it was found that, from the production point of view, pigs gained the same weight from lib of copra as they did from ljlb of barley. This was considered very satisfactory in view of the high price which had to be paid for barley. Standard Of Dairy Herds. The worst “disease” 'existing in New Zealand’s dairy herds is low production, commented Mr C. M. Hume, supervisor of the Dominion herd testing scheme, when speaking to dairy company directors in Palmerston North this week. He added

that the sire survey had shown that only one hull in four fmproved production, one in four maintained * it, while tho other two lowered production. Calf Saving Campaign. Speaking at the Dairy Board ward conference in Palmerston North, this week, Mr C. M. Hume, herd improvement supervisor, emphasised that the calf-saving campaign which was carried out laet, spring under the guidance of tho board was si. worth-while movement.. It had been a little late in getting under way, but the experience gained bad convinced those sponsoring it that tho work was necessary and would ultimately be of benefit to the industr3-.