HERD-TESTING IN DENMARK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 17

HERD-TESTING IN DENMARK.

EFF ECTIV E CO-0 P ERATION. If cow-testing could influence a herd kept under the very best conditions, and whose avorage yield of milk was already h'gher than tho majority of herds, then it must be admitted that herds where tho production is relatively low must be proportionately benefited. —Results of Cow-tasting.— Some figures relating to the Vagcn Society, which is the oldest-established in Denmark, show the result over a scries of years, and indicate a decided improvement year after year in the yield of milk and butter. It will bo noted in all of these tables that not only is the milk production increased, but there has been an increase in the quantity of butter-fat. For iust.anco, the average increase for tho first 10 years, during which time tho number of herds tested increased from 13 to 24, was about 9001 b of milk per cow, and tho butter-fat had increased 0.49 per cent. Those gains may not appear large, but it must not be ovcVlooked that- now herds wore constantly beiiig added year after year, and thus the average increase was kept low. A record of one of tho individual herds owned by a member of tho association shows more clearly the gradual increase in both these respects. In 1895-96 the average was 70231 b of milk, and tho percentage of but-ter-fat 3.30. In 1902-3, 77761 bof milk, and butter-fat porcontage 3.52. In 1909 ; 10 tho average reached the remarkable height of 81241 b, and tho butter-fat percentage had increased to 3.61. These are amazing figures, and perhaps will scarcely bo believed by farmers who think they are doing wonderful things when they get a return of 40001 b of milk, with a butter-fat percentage of 3.5. —Australia and Denmark. —

Those figures (says a writer in the Weekly Times) only servo to emphasise tha tremendous disparity between Danish dairying and Australian. The x\ustralian climate is better, the country is more healthy for stock, and tho quality .of the soil is immeasurably superior, and yet, notwithstanding all these drawbacks, Denmark can cito a record liko this. And it is not ono of a few; it is ono of very many. I could quote other authentic instances taken offhand which are even more surprising. Mr Manson's farm at Kollo Kollo, not far from Fredrickaborg, can show better results. For many years ho has kept an accurate record of his milk and his butter-fat testing, and during these years he has mado use of bulls bred out of his best milking cows, and kept only the heifor calves out of thoso cows showing a high record, with tho result that ho lias in a fow years immensely increased tho milk production of his heard. In other words, Mr Hansen on his own farm has simplv practised the principles inculcated by the testing associations clscwhoro. The average of his herd of ob oows was in 1895 650 galons per head, whereas in 1903 the average totals amounted to nearly 900 gallons, with an average butter-fat percentage of 3.9.5. Dast year tho average exceeded 900 gallons, and there was a still further increase- in the butter-fat. With a vengeance ho is breeding milking machines. Ho neither shows nor breeds from what we in Australia are pleased to call "pedigree" bulls. He breeds from animals bred from his best milking cows. And ho feeds his herd and he tests it. As a result he oan show these figures. With our system in Australia I don t bolive there aro 20 herds that can show results much more than half as good. —Somo Big Returns.— There is surely no need to emphasise further then the value of those practices which are advocated. Like most other Danish farmers, Mr Hansen foods his cows according to their" milk production. Thus they may be getting from 401 b to 601 b of roots. 511> to 81b of hay. plus straw, and 71b t) 121 b of oil cake. Count Moltko's tfarm, known in Denmark as one of tho "largo estates," comprises an area of about 900 acres, and may bo quoted as another example. On this property there are about 300 cows, all of the red Danish breed. Here the soiling system is in vogue. The cows are wholly fed inside, being led out only for exercise. Feed i.s carted into tho cows morning and evening. Tho treatment of tho land as regards manuring was wonderful, but it was profitable. An Australian farmer would fall down with fright if ho read the figures. Dressings of artificial mnhure are not estimated by the cwt., but by the ton, and where farm-yard manure is applied, it is simply piled on. A 900gallon average is obtained on this farm as the result-, needles to say, of testing and feeding. Another instance taken at random was Mr S. Mussen, on the Island of Jutland. lie shows an average of over ROO gallons per cow, and with a buttorfat (est of 3.71. He estimates the average return for his oows as over £2O a year. But individual instances of this kind can

'be given by the dozen. I have mentioned 'them because they show more plainly thi value of testing than do tabulated serie» "which include new herds that are being admitted to the society month by month or year by year. ■ —Tabulated Results.— i An interesting table of statistics showing tho classification of nearly 2000 herds is as follows:

] If the herds are classified under different percentages of fat in milk the disposition is :

This tabie shows that tho Danish breed of cows, (hough heavy milkers, are not rich milkers.

! —Organisation.— j All over Denmark these milk-testing societios arc splendidly organised, and they ■ work hand-in-hand with tho Ipcal cattlebreeding associations, and simply because they aro fanners' organisations and the farmers havo retained control, there api pears to bo no jealousy or clashing of interests. It is the aim of tho central organisation of the cattle-breeders and recordtesting associations to do everything towards the promotion of the industry. . They organise meetings between local managers and assistants of each association for general 1 jjiscusion and instruction. They encourage f the practice of uniform and thorough booki koeping by tho asociations, they assist in . tho thorough training of export assistants, and they assist the record-testing asociations in tlieir endeavous to include other branches of farm work under a system of careful control. The executive collects all the facte and figures relating to the year's ■ work and publishes them. They attain wide publicity, and thus stimulate tho interest of all concerned. I —The Expert System.— 1 I havo before mentioned that the farmer* generally follow tho advico of the experts. So much respect is attached to tho opinions and advice of the control society's offioera that the majority of farmers now refuse to breed from any but their best cows. Tho initiation of this practice on a farm must necessarily bo followed by some monetary loss, for it means that the milking strength of tho herd is numerically lowered for two or threo years, or perhaps longer. But afterwards there is a substantial gain, and even the small farmers are content to wait for tho turn of the tide. Very frequently, in addition to discharging tho duties already to ; tho visiting expert will advise as to manures and chango of crops, that is if it is thought desirable to deviato from tho established rotation; and to say to which bulls the cows should bo taken, and to which boar the sows should go. If a farmer is in possession of a cow which does not produce good milk, the expert advises that she should bo sold, and that sho fihould not be usod for breeding purposes. The bookkeoping systom is an admirable one. The expert makes up tho accounts, so that the farmer has an exact knowledge of every detail in his possession. Tho charge for this work —that is, for testing, advice afl to feeding, bookkeoping, etc., varies with the different societies, but the minimum U Is per cow per annum, and the maximum 2s 3d. This money goes towards (ho payment of tho salary of tho export, and is supplemented by Stato grants.

Annual AvoragpeL No of Herds. lb. lb. 2 .. .. 3000 to 4400 21 .. .. .. .. ,. 4400 to 5500 135 .. .. .. .. .. 6500 to 6600 386 .. .. 6600 to 7700 438 .. .. 7700 to 8800 158 .. ... .. .. .. 8800 to 99O0 27 .. .. 9900 to 11,000 5 ., .. Over 11,000 1172

Average Test. No. of Herds. per cent, par cent. 2 .. .. 2.91 to 3.00 i 17 .. .. 3.01 to 3.10 1 50 .. .. 3.01 to 8.10 181 ....... .. .. 3.21 to 3.20 i 321 .. ..' 3.31 to 8.40 2S0 .. .. 3.41 to 3.50 19G .. ... .. .. .. 3.51 to 3.60 1 96 .. .. 3.61 to 3.70 28 .... .. .. 3.71 to 3.60 6 .. .. 3.81 to 8.90 2 .. .. 3.91 to 4.00 3 .. .. .. .. .. Over 4.01 1172