HERD TESTING.

Wairarapa Age, 30 July 1936, Page 5

HERD TESTING.

WAIRARAPA ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING. CHAIRMAN’S SURVEY OF YEAR’S WORK. CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT SHOWN. Mr. L. R. Wilton presided over a good attendance of delegates representing Gladstone, Greytown, Featherston and Pahauten at the annual meeting of the Wairarapa Herd Testing Association, held at Greytown. It was decided to donate two guineas to the Wairarapa Boys’ and Girls’ Calf Clubs, the amount to be utilised as prize money as first, second and third cash prizes for championship judging for calves from dams tested in the 1935-36 season and calves from dams under test in the 1936-37 season. The following rule was carried at the ‘annual meeting of the council of the federation held at Napier:— 4 4 Calculations shall be from the fourth day after the day of calving.” No credit is given for the day of calving or the first, second and third days after the day of calving.

Remits from the Wairarapa Association to the federation meeting urging that the Massey College herd testing course be held during the off season, and that a definite rule be laid down to prevent break aways from associa-

tions were both referred to the Herd Recording Council. The Herd Recording Council, in control of group herd testing, consists of, one representative each of the Department of Agriculture, N.Z. Dairy Breeds Federation, N.Z. Dairy Board, Dominion Group Herd Testing Federation.

Mr. C. M. Hume, Herd Recording Supervisor, was in attendance and addressed the meeting on matters pertaining to the future running of the association in the Wairarapa The meeting decided to leave testing charges as they have been for the ensuing season and to commence canvassing at an early date. Mr. L. R. Wilton was unanimously elected chairman for the ensuing year and Mr. J. Watson was reappointed auditor. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the chairman for his services to the association and to Mr. Hume for attending and addressing the meeting. A SUCCESSFUL SEASON. The chairman, Mr. L. R. Wilton, In his ninth annual report, stated: 44 The past season has been one of the most successful for some years, being a big lift for the dairyman after the previous two seasons of drought. Production stands at a particularly high level, and this, coupled with better prices for butterfat, places Vie dairy farmer in a more comfortable position. Many good performances have been recorded; especially have those farming on lighter country benefited this season. Some herds finished the season early, this perhaps, owing to the two previous drought seasons when production terminated early. The Gladstone Association is to be congratulated upon having achieved the very satisfactory average of 317.43 lbs. butterfat in 269 days over all cows in its group. (Continued on page 3.)

DAIRY HUSBANDRY. “It is beneficial to commence supplementary feeding, if possible, well before the end of December to help maintain the yield of milk. This is a period when, if the cows are helped along to overcome the usual decided decline in milk yield it will mean a lot towards a good season. If sown for grazing purposes, red clover gives excellent results, carrying the herd along until turnips or rape are ready for feeding. Many dairymen are now growing sufficient mangolds to feed in the summer and obtain good results at this I period. Most farms consist of several classes of soils and the farmer is realising the benefit of sowing suitable grasses on the different soils. Stony ground has been made to produce wonderful stands of lucerne, whilst light and sandy soils grow excellent subterranean clover. Both of these are of prolific growth and when established on such often despised paddocks will even return more butterfat per acre than the good pasture soils. CARE OP YOUNG STOCK. “When the best remits are to be obtained, it is essential that the young stock should be done well. Even whilst the cow is Carrying the calf, when the dam is in good fettle during this period, a calf of good stamina is born. To keep a cow in good heart during the lactation period means the difference between a weakling or a sturdy calf. When calves are fed well from birth till when they come to profit as heifers, they stand a good chance of showing their capabilities as producers. Also, a young animal that has been treated well during its stages to maturity, has in after life greater resistance against disease and can more easily stand up to heavy seasons of production. It has been found that young heifers when grazed on new grass, grow into well-framed animals and prove producers. . Testing has shown that well done two-year-olds produce equally as well as three-year-olds, the farmer gaining an extra season’s production instead of keeping them to : come to profit as three-year-olds. CHOOSING A SIRE.

“There is a big enquiry for bulls from registered pedigree dams under group herd test. The dairy fanner feels that a cow tested under ordinary herd and pasture conditions and having records of good butterfat production is a capable animal with good constitution. It is a good plan to inspect the dam of a bull before purchasing the latter. The future of the herd that is being built up rests a great deal on using a bull whose progeny show an improvement on their dam’s production. It is not always profitable to run a breed of choice, mostly it is preferable to choose a breed that the farm will adapt itself to. For instance, Freisians do well on good country; Jerseys require a warm farm, whilst and Shorthorns thrive on lighter country. Many good herds have been built up from a few of the best producers in the herd. BENEFITS OF TESTING. “Ono of the first things that herd testing has shown is how to secure a maximum production of butterfat from a minimum number of cows—not a quantity of butterfat from a big number of cows; also a maximum production of butterfat per acre. Herd testing is a wonderful guide for all farmers, but if the young dairy farmer tests right from the commencement of his farming he will go right ahead. Some farmers test thefir herds for years, yet do not make headway, the causes generally being over-stocking, cows badly wintered, disease, and using bulls that prove valueless. Dairy farmers may have some idea of the production of cows, but testing will confirm this one way or the other. Testing has its advantages in many ways. It often detects faulty milking machines; also towards the end of the season it has surprised some farmers to find, when lifting the lids of testing buckets, that they must have been putting the cups on several cows which for some time had been dry. “Farm employees are found to be very keen on herd testing. They as well as the owner like to know what they are milking. It is nice to see boys on farms taking an interest and doing their ‘bit,’ helping the farmer make the cows pay. These boys must remember that they must earn more than their wages and keep, otherwise the outlay by the farmer would not warrant employing labour. They must take an interest in the cows and farm and help the farmer make a profit on his outlay. ’ ’ The number of calves marked this season is 142:—Greytown, 50; Gladstone, 46; Featherston, 17; Martinborough, 29. This season (1935-36), 5794 cows were under test; in the previous season, 6221. “Own Samples Association*” cows tested this season totalled 135, against 262 last season. A summary of all groups ‘in the association shows:—Total number of cows, 5794; average production per cow, 282.981b5.; average days, 249; average production per day, 1.0681b5. Average production p-er cow, average days, and average butterfat were respectively as follows in the years indicated:— 1934-35, 239.481b5., 254, .9401b5.; 193334, 252.931b5., 249, l.Ollbs.; 1932-33, 237.311b5., 249, .9521b5.; 1931-32, 230.18 lbs., 244, ,9391b5.; 1930-31, 237.641b5., 248, .9561b5.; 1929-30, 251.301b5., 249, 1.0091b5.