THE STATE'S WEREROA HERD.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1049, 11 February 1911, Page 8

THE STATE'S WEREROA HERD.

SOME PARTICULARS,

In view, of rooent statement's by tho Minister.for Agriculturo on tho subject of Stato dairy, herds, particulars of what is being done at tho 'Wercroa Experiment Farm) whero thero is a largo herd of dairy cattlo, aro of moro than usual intorost. '

Tho herd now consists of Holstcins and Shorthorns. Tho Shorthorns aro: mostly thoso which havo been bred on tho farm from tlio cows which woro tho best milk producers. Tho Shorthorn siro in uso is tho bull obtained from England (Lord of.t-ho Wyriches). Male, progeny by this bull havo mot. .with a ready salo at public auction. ,/I'ho Holsteins wero purchased about eighteen mouths ago. The cows were bought from Mr. J. Grigg,, of Longbeach, Canterbury, and tho stud bull is Sir.do kol Inka Piotcrtjo, which was sold to tho Stato by his importer, Mr. Newron Kj'ng, of. New Plymouth. Tho Department was fortunato • in getting tho bull, and it is said that ho was obtained at a very reasonable price. Tho. cow's aro reported to bo proving great milk producers, and to bo yielding a higher butter-fat contont than is usually attributed to Holstcins. Tests of from 3.8 to 3.4 are the results from almost tho whole of. tho herd. The progeny with .theso cows as dams and Sir do kol as siro is decidedly promising. A;few young bulls'from these'cows by Mr.,Grigg's bull wero auctioned in Palmcrston North not - long ago. The highest price was 70 guineas. It is claimed for 'Wcrcroa that it is 'tho.pioneer Now Zealand farm in testing cows as regards their milk and their butter-fat productiveness. For 'several years past tho milk of every cow in tho herd has been weighed and tested ,ot tho nif.ht and, tho morning milkings during her whole period of lactation.. To. the above-mentioned herd will soon bo added tho half-dozen Holsteins which arrived from Sydney on Wednesday, and aro now in quarantine.