SEMI-OFFICIAL TESTING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1500, 24 July 1912, Page 8

SEMI-OFFICIAL TESTING.

STATEMENT BY THE DATRY COMMISSIONER. THE LINES OF WORKING. The question of semi-official herd-testing which was discussed by mora Hum one of the Breeders' Associations nt therercnt Talmerston Winter Slidw mid which lias been taken up by the Holsi-oin breeders is referred to by the Dairy Commissioner (Mr. D. Cuddie) in the latest issue of the "Journal of the Department of Agriculture." The Dairy Commissioner says:— One of the most gratifying developments of the industry of lata years has been the importation and breeding of purebred cattle. Large sums of money have been spent in bringing to New Zealand typical specimens of the well-known dairy breeds, including males and females of Jersey, Holstein, and Ayrshire stock. With the advancement of yield-testing of crossbred cows and a keener desire on tho part of dairy farmers to obtain higher returns •an improved demand has been created for purebred sires whose dams are of high milking capacity. In fact many dairy farmers all over New Zealand now realise the importance of using no other bulls than those of a purebred strain. "There are now tunny deep-milking cows amongst the popular breeds and some of the owners of the* animals have complete records of the milk and butter-fat production of their stock; but notwithstanding the fact.that these records may be quit* accurate and dependable, both buyers and sellers of pedigree animals are prepared to acknowledge that it would be mutually beneficial to them to have the production of their best stock checked by some independent authority. All breeders recognise that pedigree does not always mean performance, and the comnilatoii of duly authenticated milk records would therefore, tend to popularise the particular breeds concerned, safeguard the dairymen against the purchase of tho wrong clcs of.animals, facilitate the sale of stock between tho breeders themselves, and probably pave the way for a remunerative export trade in purebred dairy cattle'.

" "This question was recently hronplit under the notice of many owners of purebred dairy cattle of the different breeds most of whom agreed that semi-official records of performance would prove beneficial to all concerned. Mr. W. 11. Sinjrleton, assistant director .of the Dairying Division of the. Department dreiv up a'basis on which the work might be undertaken and it is his suggestions which have been adopted by the Holstein breeders." . The following rules to govern tho .semiofficial testing of purebred dairy cows give an indication of the lines on which it is proposed to cary out the work:— . 1. The Department will assist in the semi-official .testing of only such cows as aro properly and duly registered ill the New- Zealand Herd Book of the breed to which they belong. 2. When a breeder desires to have a cow tested for a semi-official record he must intimate his desire to the secretary of his Breeders' Association.

3. The secretary of the Breeders' Association must see that such cows are duly registered, and to notify the Department of tho. owner's wish a fortnight prior to the date of calving of the particular, cow or cows, and to state that such cows are eligible. •t. Every cow, in order to qualify for a semi-official record, must drop a calf within fifteen months of the commencement of her test; and 110 four-year-old or mature cow can be acceptcd for test unless sho lias dropped a calf within fifteen months of the commencement of- the test. 5. Tho owner will agree to weigh or cause to be weighed each and every nulKing of the cow during her lactation period. Eecord blanks for this purpose will be supplied by the Department. Within a week after the end of _ the month, the ovraer shall forward an ink copy of this record to tho Director of Dairy Produce, Wellington.

6. If a weighing of milk be inadvertently or otherwise missed this space shall not be filled in by tho owner, but must, bo left blank and «n explanation forwarded, so that the particular space, muj bo filled in by the Department,, when tho cow will be credited with what is considered to be the correct figure. 7. The inspecting officer of the Department is to have the right at any time tc visit the farm on which a row is miner test. Ho .shall take the weights and samples of four consecutive milkings as nearly as possible every nnjntli. This sample shall tfe kept under lock find key or sealed between milkings. Tho sample of milk will be tested for butter-fat by a Departmental officer, tho monthly fat production of the cow will be estimated by taking tho total weight of milk for the month from the owner's sheet and the butter-fat test of the composite sample of the four milkings. 8. The owner shall at the end of the lactation period or test forward a report of the yearly production of milk taken from the monthly records 011 a form supplied by the Department, and shall make affidavit before-a Justice of tho Pence that this is true and correct.

9. Tlie annual production will be obtained by totalling the production, of pounds milk and butter-fat for each. month dur- I in;* one lactation period, and not exceedin? twelve months. 10. During the period of the Departmental officer's visit to the farm for checking and sampling purposes, not more than one cow under inspection shall be milked at one time. • 11. The names of heifers and cows which produce up to the minimum pounds of milk and pounds butter-fat required bv their class will be Riven a semi-official record. Cows muter three: years old shall .bo classed as-two-year-olds; cows from tlvrea to four years old shall be classed as three-year-olds; cows from four to five years old shall be classed <is four-year-olds; cows five years old and over shall be classed as mature. The yeld of butter-fat required for rt semi-official record. For Holsteins is;—lf two years old at the commencement of the test, ■ 2-10.511). fat; if three years old at the commencement of the test, 277.01b. fat; if four years old at the commencement of the test, 311!.51b. fat;• if mature at tho commencement of the test, 350.01b; fat. A heifer starting -a test on the day when sho is two years old, or before that date, shnll jive the amount of butter-fat required for a two-year-old. For every day sho is over two years old sho shall uive o.llb. of fat more. This increase will"" be required until when, as a cow five years old, she shall given the requirement for a mature cow.