HERD BUILDING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 960, 29 October 1910, Page 8

HERD BUILDING.

DAIRY RECORDS A NECESSITY. Tho value of cow testing, and . tho need for records, in order that farmers could purchase wisely, were dealt with on Wednesday night by Mr. W. M. Singleton, of the State Dairy' Division, at the Wairarapa P. and A. Society's .annual social. Mr. Singleton said that lie had been glad "to notice the interest which .was taken in the butter-fat competition conducted by. tjie society, ; Being interested in the cow-testing nloveriierit which had come'so prominently before 'the public of late, lie took a special interest in .this portion of .the society's competitions. He had been not altogether, displeased to see that the cow wliich carried; off the honours' in the butter-fat competition was one which had been connected with ' the : Dalefield 'Coiy-t'esting Association during last r season,, and the present season. ' The'owner of the cow (Mr. W. Saywell) was to be congratulated on the performance,"of his,.entry, and not only was . lie to be, congratulated" on. the possession • of:/this - particular; cow, but also ",on having. one of the best herds in ,the district. - It was very ' questionable -whether that herd would, not carry; off the honours if all the;;herds which the individual ;cows in the v.; competition; represented ' ■ were brought into a contest.- The,fact of tlie. owner of the winning cowhaying(liis records' from the Resting association ■ iio doubt enabled him; to . select, the. right ; animal to place in the competition. ' ■ If this principle of selection, held good in such circumstances, it would also .'hold' good as \ the: right - principle '" on 'which .to -select- tho. mothers of the 'heifers which; wero brought'in 'fo.fe-. pleriish the individual ' farmers'- dairy ■nerds. If such mothers, as those, cows were mated with; a'.' purebred;' bull ofa' •good milking strain, the result would ■surely be that;the herds'of tho farmers throughout the^poininion: would' be, re-: plenished with the right . kind :of'young «OWS. "'

A bull of good: milking: strain, should transnjit that desirable quality in a dairy cow of being a good milker. The .importance: ofthe' milking strain •' must not 'be' overlookedTlie' l fact 'that"the. jbull waa purebred, was not sufficient, and the extension of: the , cow-testing;. movement .would : undoubtedly, educate the farmers . to- such '■&' point- that there would be a demand for records in the purchase of purebred bulls. Breeders of dairying stock iyould be asked to civo a record of the production of a bull's dam and .granddam on both' sides: It was. right, that, such figures should be available, and should be giveu'in order to enable a progressive dairyman; to obtain tlie class of bull with which he desired to build up his herd. ■ To-day, many farmers, were paying money for poor crossbred bulls,' and some. ;were . paying' fair .prices for poor purebred bulls, but when records - were mailable, _ there would bo a demand at ligher prices for purebred bulls backed "7 good records of; their, dams .and granddams. ' • - ■