BAINFIELD 27

Southland Times, Issue 19395, 8 November 1924, Page 12 (Supplement)

BAINFIELD 27

THE HISTORY OF A WONDERFUL COW. This exceptional cow may easily be termed Southland’s “wonder cow,” for no other cow in this province, and only one other in the South Island, irrespective of breed or age, has ever approached within 301bs of her butter-fat record cf 910!bs, which was authenticated by the Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture less than two years ago. But what of her history, both prior and subsequent to this outstanding record? Being fully conversant with this, the writer can vouch for its authenticity. Bainfield 27 is now a 7-year-old cow, having been born in 1917 on the Bainfield Estate at Wai kiwi. Little did her breeder dream when he mated Bainfield Dutchman to Oakwood Daisy Bell, that this would result in the birth of a cow that was likely to knock at the door of a 10001 b record. Presumably, she was not outstanding as a specimen in her earlier days, for she was put into the main herd of milkers at Bainfield, along with forty other cows. It was at Mr Hunt’s first annual sale that Mr T. Y. Dickie of Ferndale, Mataura, purchased a cow, which, when delivered, proved not to have held to her service. It was ultimately arranged between the vendor and purchaser to substitute another cow in her place, and Mr Hunt sent Bainfield 27. Mr Dickie was not long in recognising the virtues of this substitute cow, for after having milked her in his herd by machine he applied to have her semi-offi-cially tested. It is to Mr Dickie that the credit is due of Bainfield 27 ever becoming known to the public, and her first few months on test, proved her to be a rare cow indeed, she producing in the vicinity of lOOlbs butter-fat in one calendar month. Mr Dickie, however, made a very substantial offer, or rather a sale was arranged, Mr Dickie securing the figure he placed upon her value from Mr C. H. Potter, of Pukerau, the present owner. Bainfield 27, in first-class condition, was landed at Pukerau within 48 hours of her purchase, and continued to be semi-officially tested at Willowburn, joining several other cows which were then under test there. From then out she never looked back, and finished up heavily in calf after 365 days continuous milking three times a day, with the wonderful performance of 910Ibs fat — 23,2031bs milk, average test 3.92, still giving 5 gallons milk. Calving within three weeks after the concluding date of her test (thus meeting the calving obligations of the test), she thereby gained her certificate'of performance from the Department of Agriculture.

Her highest day’s milk was 94|lbs, this weight being recorded by the Government official during one of his inspection visits. But the peak point of her capabilities had not been reached seemingly, as being once again entered on semi-official test she started another 12 months’ record by beating her own previous figures for a single month by 151bs fat, and her highest day’s milk by lOlbs. Her figures during the first three months were.

On these figures she was shaping well for a lOOOlbs record, as it is generally admitted amongst breeders that to get a rough estimate, the best month can be multiplied by nine. Unfortunately, however, she was accidently stinted on December 4, 1923, which would have only given her a 10 month’s record from calf to calf. Mr Potter wisely decided to withdraw her. It is the experience of most breeders of Stud stock to meet with disappointments, and those connected with this cow suffered the saddest disappointment because had she approached a 10001 b record she would have been the only cow in New Zealand to have aggregated so much fat for two successive years. By her record in 1922-1923, she holds, as a four-year-old, the butter-fat championship not only of New Zealand, but of Australasia. She is now again on test, doing great guns. Never dry since the day she came to “Willowburn’s” famous stud, she has dropped two splendid heifer specimens of the breed, one of which is now a yearling, while the other is yet a calf, being dropped on September 6. For the 23 days in September she has produced 17921bs milk at a 3.77 per cent, test, representing 67.551bs fat. while during last month, October, she averaged close cf lOOlbs milk per day, thrice a day milking. As her official figures for October are not yet available they cannot be given. She is expected to go very close to lOOOlbs fat, which if obtained, will give her an unassailable reputation for continuity of production. Her most notable features, however, are not so much her great powers of production, as her great power of reproduction her undoubted constitution and vigour, and the possession of an ideal milk vessel. In this latter respect she stands out as a queen of all high producers, for not in the history of a generation of breeding has New Zealand produced such a cow. As instancing her claims as a free milker, the writer personally‘timed Mr Potter while at the midday milking. She gave 28|lbs which he drew from her in exactly five minutes. And what of her general outlines. Yes! Some would say she was plain. That is the most any critical judge could say against her, for her general outlines are quite even and symmetrical. Low set, good length of body and quarters with great #iepth, she carries a decidedly even keel,, s 6 much so that it gives her a very square appearance. This squareness is accentuated by her very level udder, it in its place being well caught up and extending fully along the barrel. From a back view she shows a tremendously well sprung rib, and a squareness of quarters hard to beat, with an even depth through the thurls. A medium fine shoulder, an admittedly plain head, and a silky, medium textured skin briefly describes her physical appearance. Her breeding is conspicuous, comprising 75 per cent. Dutch, 25 per cent. American Friesian blood. Her dam, Oakwood Daisy Bell, now on semi-official test at “ Willowburn,” is also a consistent producer. As a 3-year-old she produced 496.121bs fat, and as a 4-year-old 603.21bs fat, while during October she averaged 751bs milk per day at 4.1 test. Bainfield 27’s grand-dam, Oakwood Gowan, is also owned by R. J. Potter and Son, she having produced 5081bs fat as a 6-yesr-old. The sire of Bainfield 27 is the noted bull, one Bainfield Dutchman, sire of 11 C.O.R. daughters, including Bainfield No. 16 —72Blbs fat, and Bainfield 2nd—7O9lbs fat. He in turn is a son of the famous cow, Oakwood Topsy, 6941bs fat, one of the foundation cows of the late Bainfield Stud. These strains are all notably high testing, and so it is not surprising that Bainfield 27 should avarege 3.93 per cent, test when she produced her great record. She has been mated to one of the very best sires ever known in Southland, her yearling being off Rosevale King—Sylvia dam (9831bs fat) and her recent heifer calf is off the macd “Wifio.wb.uxji”

antha King Quality, who has 10 tested dams in his pedigree. It is Mr Potter's intention to mate her to her sire, in which case the progeny will be inbred. Whatever the result, Friesian breeders in this province will be with the writer in wishing her owner the very best of success with this wondgj caw and hex vgjy promising PQJgeuy,

Milk. Test. lbs. Fat. lbs. Nov., 1923 (23 days) 1967 3.85 75 75 Dec., 1923 (31 days) 2938 3.93 115.49 Jan., 1924 (31 days) 2596 3.56 92.43