May Dairy Production Highest For Years

Northern Advocate, 14 June 1947, Page 8

May Dairy Production Highest For Years

BUTTERFAT production from dairy herds tested in Northland during May was nearly eight per cent above the average for the same month during the previous seven years.

The total output was more than six times greater than the figure for May of last year.

This was revealed in the monthly summary of group averages supplied by the Northland Herd Improvement Association. Last month 7408 cows were still under test. They averaged 181 b butterfat. representing a total production of 133.3441 b. fat.

aster to the industry throughout Northland.

Timely rain put an end to their fears and an excellent flush of growth averted the danger of a catastrophic season.

The highest producing group in Northland last month was Kawakawa, where 401 cows returned a 4021 b milk average at a 5.5 test, giving a butterfat average of 22.11 b. .The average was considerably better than the second ‘highest return oi 20.71 b. fat from Whangarei. the largest group, where 523 cows were tested, returning an average of 3711 b milk at a 5.6 test.

The average May production since the association commenced operations in Northland in the 1939-40 season, is 123,7941 b, fat from 7484 cows at an average of 16.01 b. fat. During May of last year, when a great number of cows were dried off, only 21.1481 b. fat was the output from the 1274 cows remaining under test at a 16.61 b. fat average. “BETTERED ONLY ONCE

Kaihu was third highest group. A total of 101 cows were tested, returning an average of 20.61 b. fat. Fourth on the list was the Maungatapere group with a butterfat average of 20.1 lb. which was surprisingly hign for this type of country. LESS IN FAR NORTH Returns from the Far North indicated that production conditions were not so favourable during last month. The Takahue-Herekino group showed the lowest butterfat average of the 25 groups. Under test 140 cows produced an average of 11.91 b fat. The Motu-Broadwoocl group was second lowest on the list with a 10.4 lb. fat average from 124 cows.

Last month’s high butterfat average of 18.1 b. has been eclipsed only once in the past eight seasons. This was in May, 1944. when an average production of 18.31 b. fat; was recorded.

The May, 1947, summary gives a clear indication of the extent to which extremely favourable late autumn conditions have effected and maintained production, particularly when the mid-summer dry spell is taken into account. At that time dairymen feared a repetition of the previous season’s drought and this would have spelt dis-