HERD PRODUCTION.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19011, 31 July 1933, Page 8

HERD PRODUCTION.

NEW ZEALAND RECORD. 70 COWS AVERAGE 460L8 FAT. , A New Zealand reoord has been established by a herd of 70 highgrade Jerseys, whioh for the season just ended returned the remarkable average production of 460.91 b fat In 302 days. This great herd, which is the property of Mr G. Fell, Pakaraka, Bav of Islands, thus ‘wrests, the supremacy of the group herd testing movement [from Mr. A. Cunninghams . herd of 52 head, which three seasons back averaged 4531 b fat in the Morrinsville district. Many years ago the oouritry to which goes the honour ol tthis sensational 'performance was considered quite unfit for dairying, anu M is still looked'upon by the older school f of settlers as a poor area. Climatic conditions which make all-the-year-round dairying possible are in some measure responsible for the high average of Mr Fell’s herd. ~ The record-breaking herd owes Its development to the use of two pedlfrree Jersey bulls, both sons of Waiplko Masterpiece C. 8.8., and bred by Mr E. J. Saxby, of the Alfalfa Stud, Hamilton. . .. ' The record herd is milked In the same shed as Mr Fell’s other herd of 90 head, the two herds showing fac-. tory returns of 51,0001 b. fat, which Is within 8J per cent, of the herd test figures. The 160 oows representing the two herds have been grazed on approximately 300 acres of hilly and > ; undulating second-class land, a little steep in places, but for the most pait easy and well watered. Tho leadins herd had the advantage in that It had the pick of the paddocks, which had been topdressed with slag and super mixture for three years, at the rate of about 6cwt. per acre. The pasture consists- chiefly of clovers and paspalum.v . The only supplementary feed was a limited supply of bran In June and July, which was given to the best producers only, as there was not enough to go all round. The bran was greatlj missed in August and September, bul the low price of butterfat prohibited the purchase of any more. Eight acres of swedes and m stack of hay proved a considerable help over the June— September period. The eight acres used for growing the swedes was also utilised for Japanese millet, which was drawn upon In February and March,, while a certain amount of en- I silage was fed from January to April. Mr Fell considers that he could have done even better with a supply of soft turnips, for summer and autumn feeding. - '