S.I. Herds Top N.Z. Butterfat Averages

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31119, 23 July 1966, Page 16

S.I. Herds Top N.Z. Butterfat Averages

South Island dairy herds topped the herd recording averages for the Dominion during the 1965-1966 season. The average butterfat production per cow was 3541 b, compared with 3511 b the previous year.

Addressing delegates at the annual meeting of the South Island Herd Improvement Association yesterday, the chairman (Mr J. G. Macartney) said the average was the highest on record. However, the figures did not mean as much as they used to.

“We have herds which would more than hold their own with the best in New Zealand." he said. “We have two herds of 100 cows, with one of them averaging 5001 b of butterfat, and the other 4991 b. On an acreage basis, this is working out at 3601 b to 4001 b, which is pretty good.” Mr Macartney predicted that there would be a substantial decrease in the number of herds tested. The trend in farm “propaganda," he said, was completely away from individual cow production to total production. During the last year, membership—and the number of herds—had decreased by 47, but it involved only 519 cows, and indicated a further increase in average herd size.

Mr Macartney said the association’s work was supported by the pedigree breeders. “If it wasn’t for them we would be in a sorry plight. The pedigree breeder must test to sell his stock, and you must realise that at the present time, and in the future, they will bear most of the burden.” Mr Macartney said artificial breeding would also have an effect on the number of herds tested. If artificial breeding was improving the herds, there would be less testing

I because there would be fewer cows to be culled. From now on all cow details and production figures will be handled by a computer service, and Mr Macartney said he was sure it would achieve a worthwhile reduction in processing costs, as well as an improved presentation of testing records. The association is to make a 5 per cent rebate in fees, which will return £1676 to owners of tested herds and £4471 to association members attached to the spring mating artificial breeding groups. The same scale of fees, however, will apply during the coming season. The association's general manager (Mr J. C. Unwin) said there had been a 5 per cent fall in membership, but only a 3 per cent drop in cows. In the Bay of Plenty there had been a 12J per cent drop in membership, and in Auckland area, 10 per cent. Herd recording figures quoted by Mr Unwin showed that Northland was second on the list with an average of 3391 b of butterfat. “A few years ago they couldn’t get 3001 b, but artificial breeding has had a lot to do with the improvement,” he said.