PUREBRED HERDS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7978, 8 December 1911, Page 2

PUREBRED HERDS

RECORD OP PERFORMANCE.

ELIMINATION OF THE UNFIT.

On several occasions recently reference lias becu made in these columns to the marked improvement that is taking place in the quality and producing capabilities of tho dairy strains of cattle throughout tho Dominion through •judicious selection, and tho general desire by dairymen to eliminate the uitprofitablo members of their herds- Since the convincing lessons taught by the soaks and tester have boon applied it has been abundantly proved that there is no ocher reliable means lo determine a cow's productive capacity, provided always that slio is given a fair chance to i prove her worth, by being properly fea and otherwise well cared tor. The day of tho unprofitable cow is passing and -tho time will quickly arrive when every cow that is fod and cared for will have to prove that sho is able lo show her owner a profit over and above working expenses. Under tho prevailing prices oi land and labour none but the very best axo good enough, but the question arises, wnoro are tno animals coming from to replace the rejects as quickly os they are discarded? The auction market lias its risks, for apart from tho danger of introducing disease, no matter how well accredited tho cows or heifers under offer may bo, wuother reason's testing will be necessary before anything like an accurate knowledge of their yielding ability will be known, and it may happen that they will also bo rejects after trial, even though they come from parentage that have established a good name according to private tests. The building up of highly profitable herds is not accomplished in one year, or iu two or three years, but by the steady persistent effort made by per* actuating tho desirable qualities in the offspring of parents of both sexes, especially the male, that have proved themselves to have fixed capabilities through several generations. It is therefore wise for every Tallyman to secure a reliable milk-record sire for his herd and build up gradually rather than take risks in. buying in the surplus stock of unknown milking pedigree from other herds at high prices, and which have not given ; proof that they are profit-earners. They may be, but there is the risk, for it is certain that the vendor will not i offer those heifers that ho thinks arc his best. During the last two seasons fancy prices have been paid for tho surplus stock from purebred herds of showyard reputation, but in no instance that tho-writer is awaro of, save tho sale of Weraroa yearling bulls at Palmerston last month, has there been any authenticated performance covering a full period test been givhn to show what the female ancestors have produced. ‘ Not a few of these fancy cattle have turned out duffers, although their breeding was said to be of , the best. The evidence that holds good with the testing of ordinary dairy herds is equally applicable to, and urgently required of all purebreds, for it is here that the hope for futu'rd perfection will be realised. Because an animaTs breeding qualifies it for admission to a stud book it does not follow that that animal is of the right strain to fix hereditary milk and butterfat producing characteristics in the offspring. Kecognising this, ono at least of tho associations governing .purebred breeds of cattle have introduced short period tests, and cows producing a given quantity of buttor-fat in a stated time are awarded certificates, of merit. While this is good'in its-way, the test itself ; is not convincing. No short-dated test, no matter how free It may be from suspicion as to its goniuneness, if of much value as an indicator of a cow’s annual earning power. It is tho persistent yielder over the full period of lactation, that,is tho profitable cow from a ‘dairyman's point of view. Owners of purebred/ stock are beginning to recognise the hedessity of full period tests, and many' of them are willing to have their herds so tested, so that when tho offspring are put on tho market the performances of themselves or their ancestry can be accurately stated. It is suggested that the system of semi-official tests which have proved very successful iu other countries could bo introduced here under State supervision, so that there would be no suspicion of faking or unfairness. The working system connected with semiofficial tests was published in these columns some days ago from an article appearing in the “Agricultural Journal." Since then inquiries have been made as to the likelihood of the Agricultural Department taking- the matter up. Seeing that the State, has already given a lead in this direction, mid m many other ways shown a ready willingness to, further the interests of the primary producer, there is no doubt that if representations connected with this matter aro made to headquarters the same desire to assist iu a forward movement will be displayed. CANADIAN EXPERIENCE. -

In, connection with 'tho foregoing, tho following extract from the report of the Canadian Veterinary Director-General and Live Stock- Commissioner, Mr J. G. Rutherford, for tire year ending March Slat, liAiO, will servo to show the. progress of the movement in that country: “This work, which lias for its object the supervision ■ and testing of purebred dairy cows, is constantly increasing in popularity. ’ln tact, the number of bleeders of purebred dairy stock desirous of availing themselves of its conditions has become so great that it has been necessary to add a third inspector for the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, while in other parts of the Dominion the work is also growing. : “Except in tho provinces named, however tho work has not yet grown to such an extent as to require that the men engaged should devoio then; whole time to it, although they are in all cases fully qualified for their duties. The demonstration of superior milking qualities in the various breeds and in diftcrent individuals of these breeds has proved to bo of great economic, importance, and tho enthusiasm shown 'by owners is easily understood when it is realised that tho prices, especially of young bulls of dairy strains, are largely controlled by the milk-producing records of thenprogenitors. The work is also beneficial in many other ways, as a desire'to have each animal make the best possible showing leads to intelligent experimentation with different rations, .as also to the cultivation of special care and kindness in tiro treatment of milking cows. These benefits aro particularly well marked.in tho case of the young farmers and farmors’ eons,' .