HEAVY DECREASE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19888, 16 March 1939, Page 14

HEAVY DECREASE

PRODUCTION OF MILK HERD-TEST RECORDINGS AVERAGE SOLD. DOWN POVERTY PAY ASSOCIATION Compared with the figures for February, 1938, and for the same month of 1937, the milk production average of the Poverty Bay Herd-Testing Association’s cows showed a sharp decline during February, 1939. The average, 4731 b., was more than 801 b. below that of last February, and over 1201 b. below that of the previous year. Butterfat yields also sank markedly, the average being 23.31 b. for the month just closed, as against 27.811 b. and 29.51 b. for the two previous Februaries. The association now has eight groups under test, and the distinction of returning the highest individual figure for butterfat fell to the Tolaga Bay group, the best cow of which gave 041 b. of fat. A cow in the Wai-paoa-Gisborne group gave 501 b., and another in the Hicks Bay-Te Araroa group 541 b. The highest herd average was returned by a herd in the ManutukeWainsake group, with 381 b., and Hicks Bay-Te Araroa were again prominent with a herd averaging 371 b. The number of cows under test decreased from 5535 to 4065 between February, 1938. and February, 1939, the effects of the long 'dry season also being apparent in this. Detailed Figures Detailed records for the month have been compiled by Mr. M. Whitham, secretary to the Poverty Bay Group Herd-Testing Association, as under:— TOLAGA BAY GROUP —l2 Herds Tested — Pnws Hi milk Tost 11). fat

TAHUNGA-NGATAPA-PATUTAHI —lB Herds Tested—

MOTU-PUHA-TE KARAKA —l9 Herds Tested—

MANUTUKE-WAINGAKE —lO Herds Tested —

WAIPAOA-GISBORNE —ls Herds Tested—

HICKS BAY-TE ARAROA —lB Herds Tested —

RANGITUKIA-TIKI TIKI —l9 Herds Tested —

RUATORIA GROUP —5 Herds Tested—

UOWS i Highest herd av. 106 o. nm 756 K 1 CSl 4.7 H). lilt 36 Highest cow .. — 1050 0.1 04 Group average 033 542 5.0 27.5

Highest herd av. 15 704 4.9 35 Highest cow .. — 840 7.3 61 Group average 641 511 4.9 25.2

Highest herd av. 35 674 5.0 38 Highest cow .. — 1050 5.7 60 Group average 827 533 4.6 24.9

Highest herd av. 28 562 5:5 31 Highest cow .. — 840 6.1 51 Group average 364 471 5.0 23.7

Highest herd av. 8 060 5.2 35 Highest cow .. — 900 0.2 56 Group average 410 454 4.9 22.4

Highest herd av. 22 680 5.4 37 Highest cow .. — 840 6.4 54 Group average 542 435 5.0 21.8

Highest herd av. 20 466 4.6 22 Highest cow .. — 840 4.5 33 Group average 390 350 5.1 17.6

Highest herd av. 51 508 5.3 27 Highest cow .. — 990 5.1 50 Group average 258 313 5.1 10.0 ASSOCIATION SUMMARY Feb., 1939 . .. 4065 473 4.9 23.3 Feb., 1938 ., .. 5535 555 5.0 27.8Feb., 1937 .. .. 6131 599 4.9 29.5 1