Stud Cattle Breeders’ Page.

Southland Times, Issue 20172, 7 May 1927, Page 15 (Supplement)

Stud Cattle Breeders’ Page.

SALE OF “CORDYLINE” FRIESIANS

COST OF COW-TESTING.

ADVANCE REGISTRY. TESTS IN AMERICA. PROLONGED SYSTEM CONCLUDED. With an average of 12,686 pounds of milk, 510 pounds of butterfat the twentyfourth and final year of the Advanced Registry system with a 365 days testing period has just closed, resulting in the highest annual average on record, says the March issue of the Ayrshire Digest. This average exceeds 1925 by 1243 pounds of milk, 52.44 pounds of butterfat, while there is an increase of 2794 pounds of milk and 116 pounds of butterfat above the annual figures of ten years ago. The high spot of the year was the record of Vis Bountiful Lassie, bred and owned by the Vermont Industrial School at Vergennes, Vermont, that was not only the highest for the year, but her yield of 24,556 pounds milk, 923 pounds of butterfat was the most outstanding production in the last decade. Her record came within four credit points of exceeding that of the American Champion Garclaugh May Mischief. It is a singular coincidence, that a Vermont cow should produce the second highest milk yield for the Advanced Registry, and become living chainpion of the breed, for some fifteen years ago the Green Mountain State furnished the breed with its first 20,000 pounds milk record cow, Jean Armour. The other ten-ton cow of the year is Chinook Peter Pan Dimple, of the Washington State College at Pullman, with 20,018 pounds milk, 703 pounds fat. However, her credit i>oints were exceeded by the Pennsylvania State College senior four year old, Penshurst Marian, that gave 18,926 pounds 4.36 per cent milk, 825 pounds fat, and was given second place for the year with the Washington cow third. The production of 19,490 pounds of milk, 755 pounds fat firmly settled all question of fourth place for B. M.’s Bangora Melrose, of the Kansas State Agricultural College at Manhattan. Glen Foerd Marian Star, of Glen Foerd Farms, Torresdale, Philadelphia, in senior four year old form, produced 18,155 pounds of milk, 733 pounds fat, a most creditable yield, considering that she also ranked among the outstanding producers of 1925. These animals are the only ones credited with a yield exceeding seven hundred pounds of fat during the year. The solendid yields of milk of the following four cows entitle them to honourable mention. Melrose Canarv Bell 2nd, bred and owned by the Kansas State Agricultural College, and a stablemate of B. M.’s Bangora Melrose, produced 18,001 pounds milk, 654 pounds fat. The next two cows were tested at South Farm, owned by John Sherwin of Willoughby, Ohio. Bay of South Farm produced 17,890 pounds of milk, 675 pounds fat; Dalmusternock Miss Robina 2nd, a nine year old, gave 17,780 pounds milk, 569 pounds fat. Peter’s Ruby, owned by B. C. De Witt, of Hornell, New York, produced 17,004 pounds milk, 628 pounds fat. Of the above named animals, five are owned and were tested by State institutions, a most splendid testimonial of the nuality of Ayrshires being bred and developed under the guidance of these scientific men. The general average of all Advanced Registry records, 6831 in number, was raised forty-three pounds milk, and two pounds fat. The various class averages, as listed in Table 11, are practically the final standing of the records of this division. The average increase in production since 1917 has been most gratifying. The increase in milk is equal to 943 pounds or 10 per cent, while the butterfat has been brought up 40 pounds or 11 per cent. Twelve new State class records in ten States were announced during the year; of these five were new high yields for all ages, in their respective States. Fortytwo breeders in twenty States completed one hundred and twenty-two records. Fifty per cent of these were made in four states, Pennsyl - ania leading with twenty-six; Massachusetts second with twenty-one; Ohio, third with thirteen; and Kansas, fourth with eleven. The largest number of breeders receiving certificates are found in Pennsylvania, followed closely by Massachusetts and New York. ROLL OF HONOUR. The Roll of Honour test of 305 days, with a living calf dropped within 400 days of the starting date of the record, completed during the year averaged 10,570 pounds 3.39 per cent milk, 422 pounds fat. a very gratifying average. There are now 1060 records completed in this division with the most satisfactory average of 10,482 pounds 4 per cent milk, 430 pounds fat. This is a slight increase over last year, and the highest yet attained. New production marks were made in twelve states by twenty-two cows for their particular ages; while three cows in three States broke the previous high records for all ages. Forty-nine breeders in nineteen States received certificates in the Roll of Honour. Twenty-nine records completed by ten breeders gave Pennsylvania first place. While Massachusetts cows finished twenty-five records, they were represented by only seven breeders. The eighteen certificates issued to New York State cows going to nine breeders; interchanging the positions of these two States in number of records and breeders.

Festa Fizzaway 2nd, owned by Clover Brook Farm at Bristol, Pennsylvania is the only Gold Medal winner of 1926. Her yield of 15,289 pounds milk, 569 pounds fat, as a senior four year old is the highest yet recorded at this age. Her trophies for 1926 include a French Prize €\ip, as the high cow for the year, a Gold Medal for exceeding the National class record, having begun her record in the closing days of 1924, her production was made under the old rules; and a Silver Medal as the leader of her class in Pennsylvania for the year. Among the outsanding records completed was that of Sir Robert’s Romora Bell, owned by the Pennsylvania State College, that became United States champion for her age with 14,744 pounds milk and 570 pounds fat as a junior four year old. Willowmoor Marion, owned by Glen Foerd Farms, Torresdale, Pennsylvania, by producing 15,580 lbs milk, 573 lbs. fat, added another splendid record to her past performance. She is the dam of Glen Foerd Marian Star that has been referred to earlier. Fanney’s June Maiden, owned by G. G. Feeder, West Allis, Wiscousin, gave 15,318 lbs. milk, 586 lbs. fat.

For the first time the Association awards Silver medals in the Roll of Honour for the highest producer in each age class in each State during the year. Fifty-six cows, in eighteen states qualified for this award. In the junior two year old class in Connecticut a tie resulted so that each animal was given a medal. Five bulls were admitted to the list of Advanced Registry sires during the year, bringing the total proven bulls with the Advanced Registry to 370. Close to twenty-five herds have completed one year’s work under the Herd Test plan. The averages of these herds are most commendable, with a good proportion exceeding 300 pounds butterfat. The dairyman states that the Home Country has still a few Friesian cows which set the pace in filling the milk bucket and which are the envy of many. A recent happening is that of Findlay Gladys H., belonging to Mr T. D. Allan, of Parkhouse, Lanarkshire, which yielded over 2000 gallons in the year. She is the eleventh 2000 gallon daughter of Findlay Adena 50th, but there are now 174 British Friesians that have attained the 2000 gallon standard*

BURNS AS A FARMER. A BREEDER OF AYRSHIRES. PIONEER IN HIS DAY. That Robert Burns was distinguished as a breeder of Ayrshire cattle as well as the poet supreme of Scotland is explained by the Farming News. The farmer Burns, is defended by this well-known publication that maintains that there is no just cause for the statement that Burns was "a good poet but a bad farmer.” It is stated that at the poet’s displenishing sale at Ellisland a cow and her calf sold for 90 dollars, which was a record price at that time and caused a great deal of talk. These animals were of the “improved breed” known as Dunlop cattle, now recognised as the ancestor of the Ayrshire. As a matter of fact, Burns was a pioneer in up-to-date and scientific farming in his day. He and his brother Gilbert were among the moving spirits who founded Kilmarnock Farmers’ Society in 1793 for the purpose of spreading information about improved methods of agriculture. Colonel Fullarton, in his report on “The Agriculture of Ayrshire” in 1795 pays a high tribute to Burns’s qualities as a farmer, and recommends the “best method” of dehorning young cattle—a method which, he says, was suggested by Burns. The very first time Burns's name ever appeared in print was as the winner of a Government premium of 10 dollars, for the best sample bushel of flax seed grown in Scotland. Again, at Ellisland—the hard, stony land of which he described as “the riddlings of creation”— his crops were the marvel of the district and greatly impressed farming friends from Ayrshire who visited him there. SALE OF “CORDYLINE” FRIESIANS. NEW BLOOD FOR SOUTHLAND. Buyers from all parts of the South Island were present at the dispersal sale of “Cordyline” Friesians held on account of Mr G. Aitcheson, Kaitangata, lately, but despite this fact a goodly percentage of the offering found new homes in the Southland Province. In all 76 lots were offered, 74 of which were sold under the hammer at j prices which were considered particularly I satisfactory considering the state of the [ dairy market. In addition to “Cordyline” stock Mr L. Colbourne’s ‘.‘Hollywood” was ■ also submitted, and this was quitted at a ' good average. The top price of the day ' was given by Mr T. R. Eades, Edendale, I for a two-year-old bull, Cordyline Cremona Pontiac, the figure being 55 gns. A three-year-old heifer, Cordyline Johannes Mercedes, went to Mr W. Dickie, Mataura, at 54 gns, while the eight-year-old cow, Cordyline Colantha Cremona (dam of the topprice bull) was bought by Mr R. H. Dickie (Mataura Island) at 53 gns. In addition the following sales were made to Southlanders—Cow Byrs, Cordyline Peace to Mr R. H. Dickie at 47 gns; cow four years, Hollywood Dutch Mercedes, to Borstal Institute, Invercargill, at 36 gns; cow, five years, Cordyline Daisy IL, to T. R. Eades at 37 gns; cow, 17 years, Aurora De Koi, to L. Colbourne, Kaitangata, at 42 gns; cow, 7yrs, Cordyline Griselda De Koi, to T. R. Eades at 40 gns; cow, six years, Cordyline Pontiac Pledge, to J. Young, Wallacetown, at 30 gns; heifer, one year, Hollywood Rowena, to W. Dickie at 40 gns; heifer calf, Cordyline Calantha Cheer, to B. Richards, Tewaewae, at 21 gns; yearling heifer, Cordyline Pontiac Cremona, to R. H. Dickie, at 25 gns; heifer, three years, Cordyline Dutch Rag Apple, to J. Brown, Waianiwa, at 12 i gns. BALANCE BATIONS. In a pamphlet on “The Feeding of Dairy Cows,” compiled by Mr James Macintosh, Dairy Husbandry Section of the National Institute for Research in Dairying, University College, Reading, England, among other things, emphasis is laid on the careful selection of balanced rations for milk production, and it is explained that, in this matter, two points merit special consideration. In the first place, well-balanced rations are more economical than unbalanced rations; this has been amply proved by trials. In the second place, where the feeding is proportionate to the milk yield, heavy-milking cows, though receiving a heavy and costly diet, produce milk at a lower cost per gallon than those receiving a lighter diet and producing less milk. The one-gallon-per-day cow is the most costly producer of milk, because the cost of maintenance has to be added to the cost of one gallon only, whereas with the three-gallon cow the cost of maintenance is spread over three gallons. This is illustrated by a table which shows that the cost of food per gallon of milk of a cow with daily yield of one gallon may be put at (based on English prices at time of writing) 16id per gallon, 10jd per twogallon, and falling down to 7d per five-gal-lon cow. HALFPENNY A DAY. COST OF COW-TESTING. AN AMERICAN ESTIMATE. One cent a day is all that it ocsts the average man to have a cow testing association record kept on each of his cows. When we think of the toll that the some eight million boarder cows are taking from the profits of American dairymen, that seems like insignificant sum. And it is small—very small, compared to the profits which w'ould accrue if we would give all of our cows a chance and then eliminate the ones which do not pay for the cost of keeping them. In one State, where a survey has been made of all herds which have been kept in cow testing associations for the past five years, it has been found that the cows are returning an average of approximately 65 dollars more each year. For a herd of fifteen cows that means an increased profit of almost a thousand dollars a year. Surely quite a return from an investment of less than a cent a day on each cow. It means more than 900 dollars a year nett profit. That difference can help a lot in the life of the average dairy farm family. It can mean the difference between a mere existence and real living. It will only take a few years for it to buy the radio, the automobile, the water system, the lighting and power plant, and the other improvements needed to make life really worth living on the average farm. It is fortunate, indeed, that the cost of putting the dairy farm on a business-like basis is so small as to be within reach of everyone. When all of us take advantage of the opportunities offered, the leaks can largely be eliminated, and our dairy farm homes will become shining examples for the rest of the world. Next time someone asks you about joining a cow testing association, don’t let a penny a day on each of your cows prevent you from taking advantage of the opportunity. —The Dairy Farmer. At least 39 Friesian cows in New Zealand have yielded over 1001 b fat in one month, the amounts ranging from 1011 b to 133|1b. The top figure was put up by the renowned Alcartra Clothilda Pietje in November of I 1921*

NON-BREEDING. FAILURE OF DAIRY COWS. VALUE OF SPROUTED OATS. Six virgin dairy heifers that had failed to get with calf after being repeatedly served by different sires at the United States Department of Agriculture Dairy Experiment Farm, Beltsville, Maryland, were fed sprouted oats in an effort to correct their barren condition. According to R. R. Graves, in charge of the experiment, five of the six heifers were settled in calf after 30 days of this special feeding. Six dairy cows that had raised calves but had apparently become unable to conceive were fed sprouted oats also with the result that five of them got with calf after 19 to 48 days of feeding. Similar tests made at the suggestion of Mr. Graves gave equally favourable results.

Feeding sprouted oats to overcome nonconception in dairy heifers and cows was suggested to Mr. Graves by a study of the work done with small animals at the Univesrity of California in which it was discovered that a»fifth vitamin had a bearing on the fertility and reproductive organs. This vitamin, named vitamin E, was found in such feeds as green leaves of lettuce and alfalfa.

Whether or not the' fertility results obtained in heifer and cows fed sprouted oats is due to a vitamin has not been determined, nor have enough trials been made to conclude definitely that the method will always give positive results. Mr. Graves states that animals in their undomesticated state have a breeding season closely allied with the spring flush of new grass; and that under modern methods of management, cows and heifers are bred at all times of the year. Many of the cases of nonbreeding may be due to functional disorders brought about by a state of domesticity in which the natural breeding season is ignored. The beneficial effects of sprouted oats may be due to a stimulation of natural dietary conditions at the normal breeding season. NEW AUSTRALIAN RECORD. With 19,562 pounds of milk, 903.57 pounds of butterfat, Miss Dot of Glen Innes, owned by the Department of Agriculture, Sydney, Australia, holds the Australasian record for an Ayrshire cow. In addition to this good year’s record, "Miss Dot” has a nine months record of 15,958 pounds of milk, 727 pounds of butterfat. Both of these records were started after this cow was eight years of age. It is interesting to note that as a two-year-old this cow made but 5,805 pounds of milk and 232,54 pounds of butterfat in 273 days. However, each year’s pro--1 duction increased until her phenomenal record was established, as well as an average on seven records of 273 days each of 9,210 pounds of milk, 404.87 pounds of butterfat. At eleven years of age Miss Dot of Glen Innes has been again started on test. Her most outstanding daughter is Bright Eyes of Glen Innes with a year’s record of 15,572.5 pounds of milk, 730.94 pounds of butterfat. POPULAR AYRSHIRES. One of the outstanding winners of Australia is the bull Scottish Hero of Gowrie Park, owned by W. P. Brisbane and Sons, Gowrie Park, Weerite, Victoria. This bull has won grand championship honours for five years at Melbourne, the leading show of Australia. The only bull to ever defeat him was his three-year-old son, Scottish Pride of Gowrie Park, that was victorious at the 1924 show. For six years Scottish Hero of Gowrie Park has headed the first prize group. He is descended from the well-known record cow, Linda of Gowrie Park, with 13,401 pounds of milk, 641 pounds of butterfat in 273 days. BULLS AT LOW COST. HOW RED POLLS ARE SOLD IN VICTORIA. According to Mr. A. J. Smith, Dairy Supervisor of the Victorian Government’s State Research Farm at Werribee the policy of the Victorian Government is “Bulls at a low cost.” Mr. Smith in an Australian exchange that the dairy and beef breeders are realising the great value of the Red Poll both for milk and cross breeding purposes and he says that the demand for purebred bulls from tested cows far exceeds available supplies. The Werribee strain of Reel Polls is now well dis- • tributed over the whole of Australia and I reports on the progress towards the re- | spective purposes—milk and beef —are most ’ gratifying. I The Government Red Poll herd under the i able management of Dr. S. S. Cameron, I Director of Agriculture for Victoria, says i Mr. Smith, has done, and is doing much to i impress Australian agriculturalists with the true value of the Red Poll in the dual I respect. “Our bull calves,” he says, “are | sold on the butterfat production of their [ respective dams at. the standard price of 1/- per lb butterfat produced—that is, if a cow produced 100 lbs of butter fat her progeny is valued at £2O. In the case of the bull progeny of heifers the standard price is £lO/10/-. This enables even the poorest of farmers to buy a good and reliable bull.”’ RURAL EDUCATION. CHILDREN AND THE LAND. A writer in an English paper says—“An estimate that only 25 per cent, of the coun-try-bred children remained on the land in Great Britain, had been made by Mr Christopher Turner, who, speaking on Rural Education at a conference of the National Union of Teachers, regarded it as a good omen for the future, that the subject is under serious consideration and that teachers and others are conscious of a need for a change in the present system. It is a serious condition of things when we find that three out of every four of the children born of country parents drift away from the life of the nation, which centres in the country. Indeed, this drift is, from every point of view, an unmitigated disaster, for the rural virtues are too valuable an ingredient of our national life to be lost.” “The influence of the country on our national education,” said Lord Eustace Percy (President of the Board of Education), recently, at Maidstone, “is a most valuable influence toward keeping it true to realities, natural, free from artificial catchwords, and from the element of mental shirking, which, too often comes from living in the midst of machinery that you don’t understand.”

With the ratio of urban to rural represented by 34,000,000 townspeople against a rural community of 8,000,000 souls, there is every disposition to take the easy course of shirking the problem which surely is the production of a race of rural industrialists, who can adapt the most recent scientific and business principles to their affairs, and, at the same time, develop, rather than lose, their own rural instincts and traditions.

BREEDERS’ PARS. The annual general meeting of the New Zealand Friesian Association is to be held on July 21 at Wellington. Nominations for four vacancies on the council were to have been in the secretary’s hands by May 1. It is averred that there are only 22 cows in the British Isles which have produced 10001 b or more of butter-fat in 365 days—and all are Friesians. The latest to attain this distinction is a Friesian (Lund Juliana) owned by Mr C. W. H. Glossop, of Yorkshire. She yielded 2199 gallons of milk containing 1,1511 b fat in 365 days. Friesian cattle are the same the world over though there are instances were there are slight variations in the appellation given them. In Holland, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand they are called Friesians; in South Africa, Frieslands; and in the United States and Canada, HolsteinFriesians. Ayrshires are being shipped into Somersetshire, England, to replace the Shorthorns destroyed by the foot-and-mouth outbreak. At a recent dinner of the Ochiltree Schoolfellows Reunion, Chairman Jacob S. Murray, the well known Ayrshire breeder assured those present that a member was in attendance who had not missed a meeting in 52 years and was wearing the same trousers as on his initial appearance. It should be interesting to dairy farmers to know a little of the feeding given to the great cow, Monovale Queen Bess, the junior two-year-old and three-year-old leader of all breeds in New Zealand. This cow is at present on semi-official test, and has given over 1001 b fat every month for her first 187 days. Throughout she has had ample grass and green feed, this constituting the main part of her diet. In the spring, however, she was fed on turnips, but for the first six months the only supplementary feed she had was leas than half a bag of bran. At the beginning of last month she was put on a limited supply of bran and Moose Nuts, while she still had plenty of green food. Early in February her milk supply dropped to 751 b daily, but by the end of the month it had risen to over 801 b. Last season she gave 961 b daily at once period on short grass on twice a day milking. The following interesting particulars show the world-wide distribution of Friesian purebred dairy cattle:—ln the last quarter of 1926 the Carnation Milk Farm, Seattle, forwarded pedigree bulls to San Domingo, Guatemala and Madrid. The twentieth Carnation Friesian was lately shipped to China, while the last shipment to Japan included a son of Segis Pietertje Prospect (1,158.951 b fat), a son of Adirondoe Wietske Maid (four records over 10001 b fat), a daughter of Matador’s Latest 28,0001 b 2-year-old daughter, a son of the 30,0001 b cow Hazelwood Bracelet Mercedes, and the Wisconsin State Fair prize-winning son of Carnation Segis Prospect, whose dam is a I,loolb 3-year-old daughter of Segis Walker Matador, and a son of the 32,0001 b All-American champion show cow Till Amook Daisy Butter King de Koi. RESEARCH WORK. FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY. London, March 9. An extraordinary discovery, made by the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research Com. mittee, was announced in advance of their report by Lord Bledisloe, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, in the House of Lords. The virus has not yet been isolated, he stated, but it was now proved that whereas the virus becomes inert in the flesh of a carcase twenty-four hours after slaughter, it remains active for thirty to forty days in the blood, and for seventy-six days in the bone marrow. One immediate result of this discovery, which he described as one of the most valuable made in this branch of re. search for many years, is that the Government are about to issue an order compelling pig-breeders who use slaughter-house offal to boil such offal before using it as feeding stuff. A GRAVE SOURCE OF DANGER. figures given by Lord Bledisloe show a striking decrease in foot-and-mouth outbreaks following the tracing of a case in Lanarkshire last year to pig carcases of foreign origin. A drastic order prohibiting the importa. tion of carcases from the Continent was then made, and the steady decrease of British outbreaks, taken together with the new discovery and the continued increase of outbreaks abroad, shows that science has put its finger on one of the gravest sources of danger to British stock breeders. Lord Bledisloe said that there have been only nineteen outbreaks this year, compared with thirty-nine in the same period last year. Outbreaks had fallen from 1929, in. volving a payment of £2,205,000 in 1923, and 1440, with a payment of £1,389,000 in 1924, to 204 last year, when £128,000 was paid in compensation. In the same period foreign outbreaks have enormously, and the numbers foi last year were: —Germany, 187,200; Denmark, 97,000; Belgium. 35,000; and France, 48,000. ‘‘The order prohibiting foreign importations,” said Lord Bledisloe, “has protected us against the real danger of the prevalence of disease so near our shores.” He added that the research committee had traced many of the recent outbreaks to the consumption of slaughter-house offal by pigs. The chairman of the Research Committee which has made the new discovery is Professor C. J. Martin, F.R.S., director of the Lister Institute and Professor of Experi--1 mental Pathology in the University of London. THE REASONS WHY. Writing to the Dairyman “W.G.” gives his reasons for testing as follows: 1. Because nw family wanted a motor car and I could see that a car called for a larger income. 2. Because I found that the tester was a man of ideas and had taught my neighbour a few things I hadn’t known either. 3. Because I wanted to find out if myoid bull was the gentleman he looks or a bit of a humbug. 4. To make sure that I wasn’t feeding butter-fat to the pigs. 5. Because my boys were beginning to get restless over the daily milking of 60 cows saying that 40 better ones would give a bigger income. 6. This is the most important reason: Because I had just wakened up to the I fact that I was trying to make a living with cows that were doing no more than making a living out of me.