AIM TO OBTAIN UNIFORM HERDS ADAPTED TO GIVE MAXIMUM OF ECONOMIC PRODUCTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 3, 4 October 1948, Page 5

AIM TO OBTAIN UNIFORM HERDS ADAPTED TO GIVE MAXIMUM OF ECONOMIC PRODUCTION

Breeding Good Dairy Stock

* . i (Contributed by W. H. Mandeno, Consulting Officer, Herd Recording Dept., N.Z. Dairy Board) The season for mating stock is the time when dairy fanners cement the foundations of their future herds. With the stock at their disposal farmers aim to breed the best of replacements for any members of their herds that have to be culled for failing in their ability to produce sufficient milk of the required butterfat content.

It is heartening to find an in- . creasing demand for bulls that are bred by men who keep before them the reality that dairy cattle are maintained- by mankind for food production. It is fortunate that in the last few years the industry has organised for itself the recording of .animals that have shown ability to produce to economic standards. In this regard the publication of the N.Z. Dairy Board Sire Survey and Merit Registers has shown that New Zealand dairymen are realising our need to overhaul the lead gained by other countries in adoption of scientific breeding methods. The aim of breeding is to obtain ..a uniform herd of the animals adapted to give maximum usefulness un- • der economic The aim to produce spectacular individuals may be relegated to those able to indulge in dairying as a hobby. , The basis of breeding is the re- • corded production for the offspring •of matings at this season. As it is almost impossible truly to assess the breeding value of a cow the sire is the object of most attention. Ii has been found that no other way -exists for further improvement in ■ dairy breeding than by the use of the Progeny Test. For ■ this reason individual service with the recording of matings is the first essential .and then follows the identification •of the offspring and testing of the unselected “get” of a sire. This may appear reasonable, but since the •days of the great founders of the modern breeds such as Robert Bakewell, the Progeny Test has been forgotten in the “art” of breeding and in the interests of various organisations.

twelve heifers into production as early as possible. Without ten unselected daughters the Dairy Board will not give a reliable Survey of a bull. > To enable yearling sires to give maximum usefulness it is important that breeders rear them well to a useful size. On sloping ground a yearling of reasonable 1 size has no difficulty in serving selected three-year-olds so that no reason can be advanced for not securing the required number of calves for survey. The main trouble with proving a sire is that the number of heifers may often exceed that normally required for replacement purposes, and in a very few - cases these untried stock actually force the sale (albeit to eager buyers) of calves by Merit Sires;. . Mating has? Several consequences which at this time need careful consideration. The diming of mating, is of course due to the fact that maximum economic production in New Zealand is obtained by having the cows calving about 4-5 weeks before the active growth of spring grass. Factors can vary this timing where grass grows better in the winter than summer, or where pastures are so wet in winter that heavy stocking reduces their later production. The main point to watch, however, is that sufficient' supplementary feed is provided for this critical period. Whilst it has been found that it pays to bring stock through the winter in good order, it is more important to have adequate high quality feed on hand for early calves. This enables full expression of the natural impulse to produce which is then in full swing when the spring flush comes away.

With the size of present herds, single matings provide difficulties unless arrangements are carefully organised. The essentials comprise service pen with easy access ' for stock and easy observation by milkers in the shed. Depending on the number of sires in use the pens with dimensions down-to, ! say five yards square should be alongside { the cowyard with gates to give entry from both the yard and the bull paddock. ll has been found that a single service is as effective as any other method except in the case of a “shy breeding” cow which if still in season may be served again at the next milking. In this way the number of •cows put to a single bull may be greatly increased. As it is essential that maximum use be made of bulls, proven to be breeders of good stock the energy of bulls must be conserved. Similarly it is important that a young sire should be given about thirty services, to ensure a reasonable chance of getting about

The question of conservation of silage, hay and “cool storage” grass is adequately covered by publication of the Department of Agriculture and advice by Field Instructors. It is, however, too seldom realised that the saving of up- to one ton of hay and two tons of silage per cow is • carried out on a great majority of those farms recognised as being run on the most profitable lines. It is very apparent from the bull sales that .many farmers do not appreciate the value of research in breeding. It is recommended that the Whitcombe and Tombs publication “The Principles of Animal Production” written by Dr C. P. McMeekan and other leaders in practical dairy research in New Zealand should be read by all Y.F.C. members and farmers. It covers in very simple language the Reproduction, Growth, Nutrition and Breeding of farm animals.,