HERD-TESTING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1245, 29 September 1911, Page 8

HERD-TESTING.

TEE NECESSITY FOB FEEDING. During tho course of his annual summary of the work of the New Zealand Cow-testing Association, Air. W. M. Singleton, of the Agricultural Department, makes the following interesting reference to tho necessity of feeding: "The yields this season are scarcely up to those anticipated by the owners. The season has not been so favourable as its predecessor and cows in many herds have felt the need of a more generous supply of feed. Ono of the lessons cow-testing is bringing homo to some of the members is the money value of extra feed, anil I know that a number of the cows under test this season will bo given a better opportunity next season, since more members will provide maize or other feeds as toiling crops in addition to tho ordinary pasture. The value of soiling-crops is evidenced by the yields .of two herds pasturing 011 farms on opposite sides of the samo road. Herd "A was fed maize in addition to grass during, the later summer months; herd B ,was given 110 supplementary feed. From the. flush, of t'ho season until tho close the average cow in herd A produced 1121b. of butter-fat; tho average cow in herd B produced 6Slb. butter-fat, after the flush. Tho difference is 541b. of fat, worth, at Is. per pound. .£2 Ms. For a thirty-cow herd this would amount to ,CSI. The owner of herd B has been studying his records, and declares that his cows will have 'supplementary feed next summer. The average cow of herd A for' the season produced 691b. fat. more than the average cow of herd B."