AIDING PRODUCTION

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 410, 19 July 1928, Page 14

AIDING PRODUCTION

HERD-TESTING RESULTS VALUABLE WORK OF N.Z. ASSN. Each year the New Zealand Co-opera-tive Herd-Testing Association has been able to report increased expansion. Last season proved no exception. “It is now generally recognised,” states the chairman, Mr. Dynes Fulton, in his annual report, “that the farmer to obtain maximum results must systematically test his cows, and it is the duty of the association to provide a complete and efficient system of herdimprovement at a reasonable cost. • The association average for the past season shows a reduction on the previous season, brought about by two factors. The average for the season under review was based on all cows in the herd in milk 100 days or more whereas, in previous years, the averages were for normal cows only. The drought during the past season also affected the average. The association average during the past five years has been as hereunder:—

“Calf marking has become the biggest factor in our herd improvement work, and it is responsible for many farmers continuing to test year by year,” continues the report. “I regard calf marking as the key to the future profitable expansion of the dairying industry and therefore an asset to be zealously safeguarded. As you know, calf marking is now in the control of the Dominion Group Herd Testing - Federation, and I am pleased to report that recent legislation lias legalised the work and has placed restrictions on its use, which general]*’ are to our satisfaction. Within our association, the work is expanding rapidly. Over 3,200 calves have been marked fx>r members, as against 1,541 markings the previous year, and 641 the year before, when calf marking was first adopted. “The second series of marked calf fairs was held at Morrinsville, Frankton Junction and Te Awamutu early in March last. Very satisfactory prices were obtained at Frankton and Te Awamutu. At Frankton the 118 calves offered all changed hands. The Morrinsville Fail' was not a success, adverse weather conditions and lack of outside buyers resulting in more than half of the offering being taken home. Your directors are inclined to favour, in future, the one central fair at Frankton Junction. “In addition to the sales mentioned above, some hundreds of marked calves were sold before reaching a fortnight old. A shipment of 61 was sent to Fiji at the end of February, and all marked calves available during the past two months have found buyers at prices exceeding £5 a head.” Highest Producing Herds “Members owning the highest producing herd in the various sections during the past season were as follow:

“Mr. Koch has now headed the section over 100 cows for two years in succession.

“Mauawaru is again to be congratulated for the third season in succession on being the highest group in the association, its average for 1,470 cows being 287.011 b of fat in 267 days.

“The honour of having the highest cow in the association goes to J. L. Clarjc, of Manawaru. The cow is a grade Jersey and her production is 773.071 b of fat of 263 days.”

Season. Cows. Aver, lb fat. Days. 1923-24 31,003 207.81 237 1924-25 55,745 227.52 238 1925-26 56,010 232.02 244 1926-27 60,507 255.49 250 *1927-28 72,734 228.37 241 (♦Average based on all cows in the herd.) “The following figures will serve to indicate the steady progress of ciation since its inception:— the assoSeason Groups Herds Cows 1922-23 6 157 6,900 1923-24 630 31,003 1924-25 45 1,278 58,308 1925-26 49 1,336 57,756 1926-27 52 .1,432 68,732 1927-28 60 CALF MAF 1,570 IKING 76,697

Place Cows Butterfat Bays Paterangi 13 377.25 271 Otorohanga .. 362.38 255 Manawaru .. 32 3S1.02 274 Okoroire .. 68 366.13 284 USTgarua .. .. .. 92 348.83 288 Manawaru .. .. 102 340.43 275