HERD-TESTING CRITICS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20639, 30 January 1937, Page 15

HERD-TESTING CRITICS

THE SYSTEM DEFENDED The testing of dairy cows for milk and butterfat production has recently been criticised by various Taranaki farmers on the grounds that its usefulness is limited; in the first place to detecting the “duds” and enabling their elimination from the herd, and secondly, because it does not enable the farmer to breed and maintain a herd will average more than about 3001 b of butterfat. Whatever criticism experienced dairymen may now feel justified in levelling against herd testing and Its allied scheme, “calf-marking,” I think, writes H. B. T. in the New Zealand Herald,

it can be honestly contended that without, the aid of these, dairy farming would not be the profitable business it has become in the Dominion. Another criticism of combined herdtesting and calf-marking is that, until there is a more definite knowledge of breeding and reproduction of type, the marking of calves cannot be valuable. These opinions are of interest to the sheepfarmer because he, with no approved and generally adopted scheme for improving the production of his stock, has considered himself at a considerable disadvantage compared with the dairyfarmer in that, with his animals, dairy observation and frequent tests of production have been impracticable. With other than stud sheep breeders, no record of Individual parentage and production performance are generally kept, hence improvement for either wool or meat production is largely a matter of chance. It is to this position—one jointly occupied by both sheepman and dairyfarmer prior to the introduction of herd-testing—-that the critics of herd-testing and calf marking apparently advocate returning. Principles of Breeding All great improvements in livestock production in the past have been effected through the selection and mating of individuals of proved productive capacity, followed by a repetition of the same method with the progeny. It has invariably transpired that certain unions have produced stock superior to either of the parents, while others have shown deterioration in consitution or production. Where both constitution and production have been improved, successful breeders have intensified the family characteristics by close, or “in-breeding,” and have thus produced many outstanding animals whose production has by many times doubled that of the original parents, and whose progeny could be depended upon, given reasonable feeding and attention, to give equal or better results. Loss of Constitution These are, broadly, the principles involved in herd-testing and calf marking, and it is hard to see how they, intelligently applied, can fail to secure steady improvement in both the production and health of the animal. If it ctan can be proved that they have failed jn either direction through no fault or omission of the dairyfarmers concerned, the whole of the accepted principles in stock breeding must be suspect, and the outlook for the sheepman, who has generally few records to guide him in bis selection for breeding, is gloomy indeed. Several of those dairy farmers whose criticism of herd-testing has been published, have referred to the necessity for heavy cullings essential on account of diseases or various ailments which, one would infer, have become more prevalent since herd testing was established. The extent of the culling necessitated by disease and unsoundness is apparently now so extensive that when affected animals are discarded it is provided they are sound, in order to necessary to retain even low producers, keep up the size of the herd. If this is the position, and disease and weakness are so much on the increase, it indicates that the fault or faults must lie, not so much with the system of herd testing, as with the application of the known principles of breeding and feeding. Linked Characteristics Through the extensive researches cf many famous men, both past and present, the science of genetics has been elucidated to such an extent that tile breeder who has studied the science can predict with considerable accuracy what the result of any given mating is likely to be. But the development of the animal subsequently to a heavy

producer, by no means depends solely upon its inheritance of a tendency to yield heavy returns of milk, butterfat, wool or whatever its produce may be. While the inheritance of this tendency is essential, it must be soundly backed by capacity and constitution. It is possible, and indeed probable, that it is the neglect of these important characteristics in the breeding and rearing of dairy stock which have resulted in the disappointment experienced by farmers. The breeding and development of all livestock follows the same general principles and the sheepfarmer, in his endeavour to breed high-er-producing animals, must beware lest he fall into the same error that is now limiting the dairyfarmers’ output. Like productive capacity, constitution and form giving capacity for food and air, are primarily inherited from the parent stock. Development subsequent to birth, however, depends solely upon feeding, housing and general management ensuring the maximum opportunity of robust health. Importance of Early Feeding From personal observation the writer is convinced that many dairyfarmers have concentrated almost solely upon the butterfat inheritance of the cows and bulls they have mated. Constitution and capacity have been neglected. This has resulted in weakly heifers having a high production inheritance entering the herd. While their constitution can stand the heavy drain they produce excellently. They are soon weakened, however, and disease of one sort or another is inevitable. Another Important factor in rearing sound producers is that, however carefully they are bred, they must be well fed during their whole period of growth. “Half the breeding Is in the feeding,” is literally true where breeding signifies productive ability. Unadulterated skim milk is a poor ration for any growing animal, but is too often the diet of the future dairy cow. Sheepmen may well take a lesson from the apparent mistakes of dairyfarmers, who blame a system when the fault lies in their misapplication of it. There are no short-cuts in successful breeding; “the longest road home,” when “home” is heavy and round is usually the shortest road continuous production without a breakdown in health. The “long road” involves an equal amount of consideration being given to constitution, conformation and feeding as to inheritance of productive tendency.