DAIRYING HERDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17167, 22 May 1919, Page 7

DAIRYING HERDS.

- POSITION IN DOMINION.

INCREASED PRODUCTION.

VIEWS OF STATE EXPERT.

[by telegbaph.— correspondent.]

WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

The position of the dairying industry in New Zealand was referred to before the Industries Committee to-day by Mr. W. M. Singleton, assistant director of the dairy division of the Department of Agriculture. He said that at the last census they had 793,215 dairy cows for the 191617 reason. lie estimated the average yield per cow at 161.81b of butter-fat as against 142.11b in 191011, an increase in six years of 19.71b of butter-fat- This represented an increased export value of £1,276,000 besides an increase in by-pro-ducts.

The Shorthorn was the foundation of tho dairy herds which were established by the large farmers in decentralisation work among the smaller farmers. It was difficult to make them realise the necessity for attention to breeding. Some of tho Shorthorn breeders, however, were realising the need for segregating dairy strains. The special purpose dairy cow was now coming more into favour in Tarnnaki. They had the greatest average yield per cow for any district in the Dominion. This might be due to a certain extent to the grass, but it was due also to the adoption of tho special , purpose cow.

Continuing, Mr. Singleton quoted figures showing tho decrease :n Shorthorn breeds, and the increase in Avrshires, Fricsinns and Jdrseys. Taranaki was a district of high land values, and it was found that there was a tendency for the special purpose cow to follow the increase in land values. The arguments used in favour oi the dual purpose animal was that a calf was worth more than that of beef. The value of a cow when her dairy period was ended wag higher, but witness's estimate was that the increased production of but-ter-fat in the life of a special purpose animal was of greater value than tho whole beef value at. the end of her time as a dairy cow. To use labour most efficiently the special purpose dairy cows must be adopted. Witness gave figures showing the good results obtained from the department's testing to assist farmers in culling their dairy herds. One man was now producing more butter-fat with 25 cows than with 54 previously. The testing of purebreds was going on very satisfactorily now. The numbor of breeders co-operating with the department had increased in the year front 118 to 150. It should he worth while to make efforts to bring under the notice of farmers tho value of tho department's testing work. The chairman suggested that it would be worth while to meet the farmer on his farm.