GROUP HERD-TESTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22490, 6 August 1936, Page 9

GROUP HERD-TESTING

SEASON'S AVERAGES THE MORRIINSVILLE DISTRICT HIGH LEVEL OF PRODUCTION [from our own correspondent] MORRINSVILLE, Wednesday A high level of butter-fat production in the Piako County surrounding Morrinsville is revealed by the final figures of the New Zealand Co-operative Herd Testing Association for the 1935-3(3 dairying season. The Ngarua group topped the list of over 80 groups in the association with the high production of 312.811b. of butter-fat per cow for 997 cows in 285 days. There were 11 herds in ths Ngarua group; seven averaged over 3001b. of butter-fat per cow*? and none were below 2501b. of fat per qow. The leading Ngarua herd had the good average of 358.411b. of butter-fat per cow for 65 cows. One cow in the Ngarua group gave over 6001b. of fat and about one-third of the cows gave over 3501b. of fat.

Morrlnsville and Kereone Adverse weather affected production to some extent in the Morrinsville group, where the large total of 2343 cows averaged 260.261b. of butter-fat in 271 days. Of the 33 Morrinsville herds, six averaged over 3001b. of fat per cow, the best average beinc; 345.91b. of fat for a herd of 55 cows. A further 14 herds averaged between 2501b. and 3COlb. and 13 were below 2501b. Of the cows under test, 732, or about one-third, were credited with over 3001b. of butter-fat and two gave over 5001b. of fat. The Kereone-Kiwitahi groups, 773 cows, averaged 294.461b. of butter-fat per cow in a season of 282 days. There were 11 herds under test, the best average going to a herd of ,51 cows that gave 385.151b. of fat. Five herds averaged over 3001b. of fat per cow, and four were between 2501b. and 3001b., only one failing to reach the 2501b. mark. Eleven Kereone cows gave over 5001b. of fat and 350 gave over 30011). In the Walton group 1060 cows in 12 herds averaged 275.291b. of butterfat in 283 days, the top herd being one of 93 cows, with a production of 337.721b. of fat per cow. Only one herd averaged over 3001b. of fat, but nine had averages between 2501b. and 3001b.

The Tahuna District The small Hoe-o-tainui group, with seven herds and 582 cows under test, had the good average of 289.361b. of fat per cow in 269 days. Its best herd was one of 93 cows, averaging 330.031b. of fat, and two herds averaged over 3001b. and three others were between 2501b. and 3001b. Hoe-o-tainui had one cow credited with over 7001b. of fat and 265 cows gave 3001b. or more of fat. The Tahuna group's 820 cows averaged 269.961b. of fat in 264 days. The leading Tahuna herd was one of 38 cows that averaged 357.151b. of fat, and three others averaged over 3001b. of fat. Six cows gave over 5001b. of fat and 275 cows gave over 3001b. There were nine herds and 536 cows tested in the Patetonga group, which had the good average of 295.661b. of fat for 279 days. Its best herd was one of 70 cows averaging 341.651b. of fat. Four herds passed the 3001b. mark and four others were between 2501b. and 3001b. Two cows gave over 5001b. and half the cows tested were credited with over 3001b. of fat.

Waitoa and Te Punlnga| The Waitoa group's 1196 cows averaged 269.041b. of fat in 269 days. The best average out of 17 herds was 315.711b. of fat for 59 cows, and six herds averaged over 3001b. of fat and five were between 2501b. and 3001b. Only two cows passed the 5001b. mark, but 450 gave over 3001b. , The Springdale group's 1537 cows averaged 271.651b. of fat in 273 days. Out of 20 herds, the best average went to a herd of 85 cows with the high production of 398.041b. of fat. Two herds had averages of over 3501b. of fat, another was over 3001b. and 11 were between 2501b. and 3001b. Six Sprincdale cows gave over 5001b. of fat and 552 gave over 3001b. The Tatuanui group's 436 cows averaged 240.631b. of fat in 254 days. The top herd averaged 254.511b. of fat for §8 cows. The Te Puninga group's 1862 cows averaged 276.51b. of fat in 271 days, the best of 17 herds being one of 100 cows averaging 324.211b. of butter-fat per cow. Only two herds had averages of over 3001b. of fat, but 13 others gave between 2501b. and 3001b. - One cow gave over 5001b. of fat and over 700 cows exceeded 3001b. of fat.