GROUP HERD-TESTING

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1935, Page 24 (Supplement)

GROUP HERD-TESTING

DROUGHT CAUSES DECLINE NORTH TARANAKI HOLDS UP WELL. \ - The dry season that has been experienced in North Taranaki is reflected in the January averages of the cows under test in the Taranaki Co-operative Herdtesting Association, though the fact that the decrease is so slight indicates the way North Taranaki has weathered the drought in comparison with the rest of New Zealand. That is due in some measure to the fact that there was a general absence of the drying winds, which have a parching effect on the pastures. The returns show that the 18,826 cows tested under the association averaged Una January 6851 b milk, 4.8 test and 33.111 b of butterfat, compared with the 19,872 cows tested last January averaging 6981 b milk, 4.8 test and 34.331 b of butterfat. There is thus a decrease of 1.221 b of butterfat this January, due to the decrease of 131 b in the milk output. The decrease amounts to only 3.5 per cent., which is remarkably low under the conditions that have prevailed, and will, it is certain, compare more than favourably with any part of the Dominion. Uruti group with 732 cows heads the list this January with 7071 b milk, 5.2 test md 36.741 b fat. Last January Uruti with 374 cows averaging 7271 b milk, 5.1 test md 36.581 b fat was fourth on the list. Last year Okau-Tongaporutu group with 109 cows, 7661 b milk, 5.1 test and 38.971 b if fat headed the list, but this year with 119 cows, 7221 b milk, 5.0 test and 36.251 b >f butterfat that group is second. Comparison of the returns shows that here is still room for culling, as there s a wide discrepancy between the best md the worst herds in each group, while he returns supplied to each testing larmer must also indicate that in each lerd there is also a wide discrepancy beween the best and the worst cows, and hat culling could be done effectively to ncrease the average, even if the cows lulled were not replaced. In some ’roups the lowest producing herd averages barely half as much as the highest producing herd. That is noticeable in he Lepperton-Brixton-Huirangi group, or instance, where the average of the L,301 cows is 30.891 b of butterfat The righest producing herd, a large one of )7 cows, averages 42.41 b fat, while the lowest producing herd of 41 cows only iverages 21.31 b fat. Urenui-Onaero ’roup, which incidentally is the lowest producing group with an average of !&.531b fat for the 654 cows, is the most wen, the variation between the highest producing herd of 60 cows (33.81 b fat) md the lowest producing herd of 87 lows (25.41 b being only 8.41 b fat. The iifference between the highest and the lowest producing herds in other groups raries up to 21.11 b fat. This January Waitoitoi-Pukearuhe has he highest producing herd, 20 cows averaging 52.81 b fat, whereas last January Uruti had that honour, 65 cows averagr ng 47.51 b fat. This year Uruti is fifth, >0 cows averaging 44.11 b fat. MokauA.wakino group has the lowest producing ierd this January, 48 cows averaging 211 b fat. Last January Kohuratahi had the lowest herd, 15 cows averaging 20.71 b 'at. Inglewood has the highest individual producer this year with 851 b fat. Last /ear that honour went to Stratford-Mid-hirst-Tariki group, where a cow produced 981 b of fat.