A GREAT DAIRY HERD

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 55, Issue 3938, 11 August 1937, Page 11

A GREAT DAIRY HERD

SIXTY COWS AVERAGE 415 LBS BUTTER-FAT. FIGURES FROM WAIRARAPA. To average over 400 lbs butter-fat on test, with every cow tested, in a herd of sixty cows is a splendid feat. To do so on country that is not particularly suitable for dairying is especially meritorious. Such was the record of Mr W. Campin’s herd for i last season, on his farm near Greytown—a herd managed on ordinary dairy practice, but very well managed. The maximum number of cows brought into the milking shed was 61. One was found to be sick, and was tested only once, and then dried off. Of the 60 cows tested fpr the full season, 49 gave over 350 lbs production—l 6 gave 350-399; 14, 400-449; 11, 450-499; 6, 500-549; 0, 550-599; 1, 600-649; and 1, 650-699. The top cow, a 7-year-old Jersey, gave 656 lbs fat in 294 days. The second cow, an 8-year-old Jersey, gave 618 lbs. Other leading cows gave 532, 528, 516, and 512 lbs fat, being aged 5,5, 8, and 6 years respectively. The monthly herd averages were as follow: September, 41 lbs; October, 52 lbs; November, 53 lbs; January, 46 lbs; February, 44 lbs; March, 44 lbs; April, 32 lbs; and May, 25 lbs. FINE TYPE OF COWS. The herd’s foundation influence is credited to a “ master ” bull, purchased by Mrs W. Campin from a foannevirke Jersey breeder about 11 years ago. He was secured by a rather fortuitous circumstance for just £9. Of his daughters two have produced over 600 lbs, eight over 500 lbs, and the remainder have averaged very well indeed. Some of the cows seen interested Jne greatly because of sound constitution (writes Mr H. A. Seifert in the Dominion). One was a 13-year-old, which gave 411 lbs fat last season, and has two 5001 b daughters in the herd. Another old Jersey-Frie-sian gave 505 lbs at nine years. The herd was predominantly Jersey. The cows generally show splendid udder development; even on the older cows the udders are well carried, not dropping to any degree. The udders are of large capacity, gained from length and breadth, but not depth. Their shape is a dairy classic. Mr W. B. Campin, Jnr., who took me round the cows, stated that they developed rather slowly on this farm. The three-year-olds were only as big as most two-year-olds he had seen on many good farms elsewhere. The comparative smallness of the cows of all ages here seen was noticeable. Evidently they are “ quality \ articles in small packages.” The bulk of the herd were in what could best be termed good store condition. No fat cows and no thin cows were seen. Harrowing is carried on extensively for the purpose of spreading manure, not to aerate the roots, though. Paddocks are harrowed “as necessary,” and the average over the whole farm would be twice yearly. CROPPING. Crops are grown for supplementary feeding, equivalent to 10 per cent of the farm’s area. About 21 acres of mangolds are grown for spring feeding. Maize has been tried for autumn, but none too successfully. The main crop is turnips, gome 10 to 12 acres of these being grown. Pur-ple-top are sown for early summer feeding and green globe for late autumn, winter, and early spring. Sowings are made of turnips in small lots from Ist October on to March.

No ensilage was seen, but there was a good supply of hay on hand. Mr Campin emphasised the fact that high production was impossible on his land without ample supplementary feeding. The pastures alone were .. and unreliable.

Last spring, when starting out on this record season, the cows were fed heavily from the time of coming in. In the morning they were given hay plus mangolds, turnips through the day, and hay for the night. Cows fed like this quickly reached peak condition. In October an eight-year-old cow produced 103 lbs fat, the record production for one month of any cow on the farm. MANAGEMENT. “ The cow is never to blame.” That is the milking-shed motto on this farm. Mr Campin and his son stress the importance of cow care, with quiet handling at all times. Mention was made of the difficulty nowadays of getting good shed labour. The milking team consists of Mr Campin, his son, and a boy employed for the season. The shed is fitted with a fourcow plant, all cows are twice stripped and twice-a-day milking is practised. Mr Campin, Snr., makes quite clear his opinion that chief credit for the Splendid record established is due to This son, Mr W. B. Campin, who is an enthusiastic member of a young farmers’ club. He was one of 300 young men who attended the Palmerston N. conference a month ago. Mr Campin, Jnr., smilingly told of his ambition to beat the 400 lbs average mark. The previous season the herd had averaged 383 lbs. He had then remarked that it should be possible to get 400 lbs, which had never been achieved in the Wairarapa Herdtesting Association’s records. By a coincidence two other herds last year achieved the distinction. Mr F. Wadham’s herd of cows in the same group averaged 409 lbs, and Mr W. Moore’s, in the Gladstone group, 25 cows, averaged 401 lbs. Mr Campin, Jnr., is a firm believer in testing, on the ground, particular,ly, that from a tested herd one knows which calves to keep. Their herd was tested for some years prior to the depression, then testing was dropped . for four years, and resumed only in \the past two seasons. He considers that they lost much by not testing over those years.

A cheese factory is supplied, and the whey utilised for pig-feeding. The pigs return £lOO a year. In each bail at the shed I noticed rock salt was placed for the cows. I was informed thatflick was also provided for the

herd in the paddocks, with salt again available.

The' production here achieved was not easily obtained by assistance from an extremely fertile farm. The land is ojily second class, and the general condition only fair. For one thing, the farm would be greatly improved, in that wind-blown district, by the provision of a great deal more shelter. Mr Campin agrees with this, and it is intended to develop this needed improvement. As it is, the cows are rugged, but adequate shelter would generously influence pasturegrowth at all seasons, and thus provide improved feed for the herd. High production is not obtainable through any one factor. Three bear influence—breed, feed, and care. On Mr Campin’s farm the full combination has been skilfully utilised. With some diffidence I undertake the placing /of each, as here worked out. First, breed. The cows are a splen-didly-bred lot, showing great type, allied to exceptional constitution. Second, care. The attention and care, both in the shed and in the field, are of the highest standard. Third, feed. The nature of the soil does not ap-’ pear to permit of the development of the highest class of pastures. The most visible opportunities for improvement of the farming appear to lie in shelter provision, improved soil drainage, if possible, improvement of soil texture, if possible, by further and heavier liming, perhaps heaver fertilising and re-sowing of some pastures. All these are largely concerned with the feed factor. These suggestions are advanced in full appreciation of the already high standard of this farm. They are somewhat of an attempt to make perfection more perfect.