FROM ALL SOURCES

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6634, 13 June 1928, Page 10

FROM ALL SOURCES

Notes of Interest ( 'lt is not sufficient for a dairy farmer to know that his herd as a Whole is profitable —every individual unit in it must now show an adequate margin of profit." —(President New-Zealand Friesian Association,) ‘Science in farming" is the watchword of to-day ,and science is nothing more nor less than exact knowledge. Nothing is taken for granted until it is proved in all its bearings. —(Mr. H. J. Merchant, President New Zealand Friesian Association). Writing of Tagcrim Lucerne, which has come into prominence recently, Mr T. B. Curie, Makarewa, states that ho has had no success with cuttirfgs planted out as late as March. December and January plantings were a great success, but those of March failed to grow. After two years’ experience with the herd test Ayrshire breeders in U.S.A. (says a contemporary) are about ready to admit that it is about as much of a feat to make a 4001 b. herd butter-fat average as to develop individuals with SOOlb. records. . This confirms the experience of cow-testing associations in U. thousands of records, in which show that few herds, cither grade or purc-brcd, of any breed, can make a 4001 b. average when every animal is included, and that still fewer can make such an average two or more years in succession. American Herd Improvement Association cows average 7,5001 b of milk per year, as compared with 4,5001 b for all American cows, but only 2 per cent, of the cow population have joined the select circle of improvement associations. How long will it take, then, to raise the average of butterfat production for United States cows from ISOlb. to- an average that will return a profit to the owner? Or when will the dairy industry of America catch up with the increasing demand for dairy products! In_ tho meantime, however, Ayrshire breeders apparently are w r cll pleased with the herd test. Holstein breeders have adopted it very recently, and at least one other leading dairy breed is flirting with the idea.