PROGENY TESTING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21244, 14 January 1939, Page 13

PROGENY TESTING

INFLUENCE OF THE BULL The underlying principle in “progeny testing” is by no means a new one; Indeed, it is probably many centuries old, states a writer in the “Live Stock Bulletin.” Maybe in all ages there have been breeders who have relied on this principle. It is certain that the great English cattle breeders of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries made much use of it. Robert Bakewell, the great improver of the Longhorn breed, made it a basic principle in his work at Dishley. After much incestuous breeding together of certain individuals he began the work of loaning out young bulls to district farmers. These selected bulls were closely watched and measured up, by studying the progeny which they had sired. The famous Collings Bros., who helped to lay the foundation of the English Shorthorn breed, also worked on the lines of progeny testing. Was it not by this means that the famous patriarch of the breed was discovered? Charles Colling had noticed some remarkable vealers coming into the Darlinghurst market, and by following the sales back to the farm he discovered the great and Illustrious bull, Hubback. This bull had first been sold to a blacksmith, and later to. a Mr Fawcett, from whom he was purchased by Colling Bros. The proof of Hubback’s greatness was the progeny test. Now and again in all breeds there appears a great and famous sire. Just such a bull—at least, in a large degree—was the grade bull, Jimney, whose story makes interesting reading. Recognised Feature of Farming In Denmark, Holland, Canada and America, bull indexing has gamed much headway, while in New Zealand a three-year survey is at present under way. In Victoria quite a large volume of work is being carried on among the herd-testing farmers, in addition to some leading breeders of pure stock. In British Columbia a sixth list of indexed sires was recently released by the Department of Agriculture of that State. In some of the American States, bull proving associations are controlling many bull circles, where the successful bulls are transferred from one breeder to another while they are in useful life. The 1936 report of the Danish Herd Test work tells of 34 bulls that had from five to fourteen daughters whose average yield exceeded 6001 b of butterfat. Dr. J. Hammond, the celebrated English authority, who recently visited New Zealand and Australia, said in his report to the Australian Government that much more attention to herd testing was necessary, such work being the first step towards a scheme of proving dairy sires. The average cow will probably not drop more than four female calves in her life time, but a bull may sire from 50 to 100 calves in one year. With artificial insemination this number may be increased ten to twentyfold. Work in Denmark Just how practical this work has become is shown by the service of 1200 cows (on one island in Denmark) during the past year, the sperm having been collected from tw-o proved bulls. When it is remembered that the work of the bull in the herd to-day may have a far-reaching influence on the profits —if any—that will be secured from the herd in from five to ten years’ time, the influence of the bull is seen to be of the greatest importance and demands the utmost attention. The measure of a dairy cow is definitely her own records of production, plus her reproducing ability. Her female calves are usually but half of her progeny, as these are generally too few to make a serviceable index of her transmitting ability. Her records of production are generally taken as a guide to her value, but it should never be overlooked that ability to produce and transmitting ability are by no’ means one and the same thing. There is usually no need to stress this thought, since it is a common experience among farmers and stud-breeders alike. The progeny test to-day—as in Bakewell’s time—is the only worth-while guide of transmitting ability. Any assessment of a dairy cow’s ability must be based on known records. Presumption - useless; facts are : needed-.