THE DAIRY COW.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1294, 24 November 1911, Page 10

THE DAIRY COW.

VIEWS OF A GOVERNMENT EXPERT.

During the course of a recent address,. Mr. D. Cnddie, • Dniry Commissioner, remarked that yield-testing of dairy herds is the most important question of the day in regard to profitable dairying. Although tbo actual testing and weighing of the milk for each individual cow is only a means to art end, yet the farmer cannot begin to improve his stock successfully without the information thus obtained. A number of formers, of course, have been testing their individual cows for milk and butter-fat productiveness for many years, arid have been well repaid for their pains. But to tho average dairy farmer tho work entails more attention when done properly than he cares to undertake, and tho only feasible way in which the work can bo carried out extensively and correctly is for the farmers to form cow-testing associations on tho co-operative principle.' A mau can then bo employed to devate his full time to manipulating the test carefully, and to tho compilation of tho necessary returns, which require careful recording* to bo of any valu-e. Tho cost to the, farmer is infinitesimal compared to the value of tho information received. A good man could test about 3000 cows, and continue tho work required for that number right throughout the season. Assistance would, bo required with the'olerical part of it. ■ '

Great progress has been made in other countries.in testing dairy, herds. Two years'ago tho method was introduced'by. tho Department at Dalefield -factory, in tie Waircrapa. That association ha.? proved so successful that three other cowtesting associations were fanned in different parts of the North Island the following year (i and for this season two additional societies have commenced operations ■under tbo control of tho Department, one being at Stirling. Soveral others are now working under the control of farmers themselves at their own oxpense, and'altogether something liko 10,000 cows will be tested this year, and tho owners furnished with a, complete record of the performaiicc3 for tho whole seafon. This is a very encouraging result, mid it- indicates that farmers are rapidly realising the value of the work, and they cannot do so"too soon. ONE OF THE LESSONS OF THE BECORDS. Referring to the records that havo been compiled by the Department, Mr. Cnddie though it would 1)0 interesting to note the difference in productive capacity of the various herds. The majority of farmers) ho said, no doubt realise that it is riot always tho cow. that gives. tho big flow of milk at tho flush of the season that returns the most profit, but it is the coTf that keeps up a fairly good supply for a long lactation period. As an example of this, tho figures of the first association proved that tho cows milking seven to eight months gave an average return of 2271b. of fat; whereas tho cows milking nine months gave an average return of Et7lb. of fat—a difference of 701b., which at. Is. per pound for butter-fat is equal to ,-£3 10;. per head for tlie herd milkini; tho longer period; and to breed from such cows should be tho aim of every farmer, nlv-'ays rcmcmberin" that tho purebred sire from a good milking strain should bo used. THE DOAL-PURFOSE COW. Many dairy farmers aro alive to tho necessity of keeping the real dairy cow typo —i.e., fine in front, with a deep body, a well-sprung rib. and a good business end, ns compared with thf? animal that has a tendency to bcefiness. Tho Department's figures showed a typical case. Tho dilfer-

euco iu production between theso two classes ol cows—the dairy type having produced 3511b. of fat and tlio dual-pur-pose cow only KiGlb. of fat—reckoned nt Is. nor pound, shows a difference cf .£lO 18s. The dairyman's aim should bo to hived a special-purpose cow, not necessarily a purebred, iolely for dairy purposes. And only the nedigrco of performance should count in liis case. There is no reason whatever why a typical dairy cow should not possess a hardy constitution and considerable size, and withstand any winter likely to -be experienced in New Zealand, provided plenty of feed and shelter are provided.