HIGH-YIELDING COWS

Southland Times, Issue 23610, 10 September 1938, Page 19

HIGH-YIELDING COWS

Importance Of Herd

Testing

WOMAN TOPS GROUP AT EDENDALE

Particulars of the individual averages in the Edendale group of the Southland and Otago Herd-Testing Association show that premier position in the group has been secured by Mrs E. Taylor’s herd on the Wyndham Ridges. For a number of years Mrs Taylor has been testing under- the group system, and by systematic culling of her herd has now reached the satisfactory average of 3501 b of butterfat a cow for 272 days from a herd of 40 cows. The herd comprised grade Jerseys, and included 10 two-year-olds and nine three-year-olds. The former averaged 2761 b of fat for 224 days, and the latter 3121 b for 250 days. The highest cow, a seven-year-old, produced 5151 b of fat for 301 days. Although Mrs Taylor’s herd has always been well up in the merit list, this is the first time she has topped the Edendale group, and she is to be congratulated on her success, especially as the average test for the season was 4.7. These figures, obtained in a poor season, speak for themselves and show the value of continuous testing combined with systematic culling and sound farming methods generally.