HERD-TESTING

Northern Advocate, 22 May 1929, Page 7

HERD-TESTING

MANAWA-RU ASSOCIATION,

A WORLD’S RECORD. The Manawaru Herd-testing Association reports for the season 1926-27: The group consisted of 29 herds, comprising .1,581 cow? and the average for the season' was 317.831bs butterfat in 258 days. (Equal to IJlbs of fat per cow per day). With the consent of the members, the above figures were cheeked against the factory returns which proved that the herd testing figures were an authentic record.

Of the 1,581 cows tested, 673 produced less than 3001bs of fat, showing that with further culling, and replacing the lowest producers by heifers with butter-fat backing, the average of the group is capable of considerable increase. The highest herd in the group, in herds comprising not more than 50 cows, was owned by Mr Weston Hughes. The 21 cows averaged 402,54 lbs of fat in 277 days. The highest herd in the group, in herds comprising more than 50 cows in the herd, was owned by Mr R. Koch, .iunr. The 101 cows averaged 367.931b5‘ of fat in 262 days.

The highest cow in the group was owned by Mr A. Elliott, and she produced 593.761bs of fat in 353 days. The highest heifer in the group -was owned, by Mr J, E, Parker, her production being 440.141bs of fat in 284. days.

The average : quoted are all for normal cows. It was then the usual .practice to test only those vows calving lug under normal conditions between the Ist .Tune and the Ist January. During that however, all cows in the herd were tested, sick cows, etc., being tested in class B. Including class B cows, the Manawaru group average was over flOTlbs per cow. Below are the averages of the 2-year-olds in the Manawaru group during the, past four seasons;—

No, of 'Season Heifers Biittcrfat Days 1923/24 . 200 191,95 255 1024/25 . 201 208.75 208 1025/2(i . 200 208.90 258 192(5/27 . 242 247.84 250 'M ana warn Group . Averages:- — lbs Fat Days 1920/24 . 0i9 247 1924/25 .. 2(55 1925/2(5 . . 200 192(5/27 .. .. 017 258 1927/2$ .. .. 287 * 207