SEMI-OFFICIAL TESTING.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume VI, Issue 5, 15 May 1913, Page 471

SEMI-OFFICIAL TESTING.

GOOD WORK BEING DONE.

W. M. SINGLETON.

The official testing of purebred Holstein and Jersey cows for their butter - fat production, which was undertaken last spring through the co-operation of the respective breeders’ associations and the Dairyproduce Division of the Department, has progressed favourably during the season.

- The final figures will bear testimony to the fact that a number of the cows have done very creditable work. ’ Already several have given more than the minimum required for qualification. For mature cows this standard has been placed at 350 lb. of butter-fat, the requirement decreasing by one-tenth of a pound fat for each day the animal is less than five . years old at the date of her calving until the age of two years is reached. Figured on this basis, a heifer calving on the day she is two years of age, or less, is required to give 240-5 lb. . fat.

Starting as yearlings, four heifers have produced good records. The Jersey heifer Lady of Collingwood, owned by Mr. E. K. Hellver, has produced her butter-fat requirement of 240-5 lb. fat in 140 ■ days. Mr. Donald’s Holstein heifer Netherland Princess IV has produced the same requirement in 153 days. The former commenced her test at the age of 1 year 356 days, and the latter at 1 year 353 days. The Weraroa Holstein Jessie Fobes Beets has produced her minimum ' in 190 days. At calving she was 1 year 356 days old. The Jersey cow Rewa Amaryllis, owned by Mr. W. H. Booth, starting at 1 year 335 days, produced her 240-5 lb. fat in 223 days. Taking into consideration the ages of these animals, this is doubtless good work.

The two-year-old class is fairly strongly represented in Jerseys that have produced the standard, six having already passed the requirement. The record performance for Jerseys is’ that of Mr. E. Eagle’s cow Belvedere Briar, which gave 276-1 lb. fat in .159 days. Although the Holstein two-year-olds are represented by only Mr. W. ■ Remnant’s Colantha Pietertje Buttercup; she has the credit for having produced her requirement in the same number of days as Mr. Eagle’s Jersey. These . records are accompanied in this class

by those of Mr. A. E. Missen’s Dominion Lovely’s Gem, having given 269-7 lb. fat in 199 days; Dr. F. J. Watson’s Charmer of Bulls, 270-1 lb. fat in 204 days Mr. W. N. Stephenson’s Campanile’s Palm, 243-5 lb. fat in 209 days; ' and Mr. J. D. Healey’s Bridal Bouquet, with 274-7 lb. fat in 210 days.

In the three-year-old class Mr. G. Aitchison’s Holstein Gladys II holds the distinction of having produced her requirement in the. shortest time viz., 125 days. Indeed, up to the present this cow heads the whole list in this respect. She is, however, closely followed by Mr. R. J. Linn’s Jersey cow Belvedere Rose, which qualified in 138 days. Gladys II had to produce 292-5 lb. fat and Belvedere Rose 278-9 lb. to qualify. Thus far these two cows hold first and second places amongst all cows, with regard to having produced their requirement in the smallest number of days. Other Jei’seys in this class that have qualified according to production are Mr. R. J. Linn’s Fitzwilliam’s Fancy, with 280-5 lb. fat in 168 days; Mr. W. V. Harkness’s Zest, with 301-6 lb. fat in 177 days; and Mr. R. J. Linn’s Queenie Lass, with 311-2 lb. fat in 195 days.

For four-year-olds the only entrant as yet to qualify is the Holstein cow Countess of Galatea, owned by Mr. Newton King, which gave 342-5 lb. fat in 237 days.

In the mature class the Weraroa Holstein cows, Mary and Manola, head the list, having produced the minimum requirement of mature cows (350 lb. fat) in 169 and 173 days respectively. These two are followed by two other ■ Holsteins Mr. Leith’s Gipsy Girl, in 187 days, and Mr. Newton King’s Lady Rozine, 196 days. . Among the mature Jerseys, Mr. R. J. Linn’s Miss Urenui has qualified in 202 days, Mr. C. C. Buckland’s Holstein cow Glendowie Emblem qualified in 222 days, and Dr. F. J. Watson’s Jersey Silver Maid in 242 days.

The foregoing remarks apply only to those cows and heifers which have, up to the end of March, produced the minimum requirement for their class. All these animals are continuing with the test, and will have good records at the expiry of their year or lactation-period. Other cows which commenced their test at a later date have yet to be heard from, and records quite as creditable may be forthcoming.

Considering that practically all of these cows are. milked only twice daily, and that many of them are running with the ordinary herds, these figures are certainly creditable to the breeds and owners represented.