DAIRY COWS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2153, 20 May 1914, Page 10

DAIRY COWS

IMPROVING THE BUTTER YIELD. ■ The annual report of the South Island Dairy Association contains tho following reference to tho need lor improving dairy herds: — The question of improvement of our dairy herds by'culling after proper testing—that is, weighing and testing on proper lines regularly and systematically—should be considered. Of all the plans and schemes before us there is probably none that thero aro bigger cash results in than tho improved milking capacity of our cows. In this South Island our cov.s supplying factories do not average over' 1701b. butter-fat per cow per annum. There are factories ivhero. tho cows arc not averaging over 1501b. ISy careful breeding from tho best bulls, come from well authenticated milking strains, it is quite possible in a few years to bring tho average New, Zealand cow up another 1001b. of but-ter-fat per cow, which would not even then bo a very high average. As there are about 200,000 cows milking in New Zealand, this would mean an addition of £1,000,000 per annum, to our revenue, calculating butter-fat at one shilling per lb. Wo Lave now a moans of getting stock for breeding from an assured milking strain, the Holstein, Ayrshire, and Jersey Breeders' Association, having now for some time been testing under the Government semi-offi-cial test. Among these breeders aro many who have cows whoso tests for the full period of lactation provo that many are giving from 500 to 6001b. of butterfat, and in several cases over 0001b., so that to aim at 2701b. as a desirable goal is not expecting too much.

In tho North Island cow-testing associations have proved of groat benefit, and have fairly opened tho eyes of dairymen there to the value of breeding from tho very best stock, even at considerable cost, so much so that, sad to say, our South Island breeders lind their best customers in the North Island. They, in the North Island, havo proved that to pay a good big price for a good bull is by no means nil extravagance, but a sound paying proposition. Rome action should bo taken to bring out- more good cattle from Home, by either joint effort or individually.

In the dairy industry tho importation and use of tho best class of bulls has long been almost neglected. We want to copy -our Clydesdale breeders, ..who, year bv year for a long time, havo spared no money to bring out the best stock possible, with the results, that our Clydesdales are a credit to the country. Tho valuo of good Lulls to thcvdairy industry is greater to the vast majority of farmers than even these good horse?. If our dairy cows were improved we could meet tho rising price of laud without fearing the result, and we improve if wo are willing, and it is surprising that South Island, dairymen generally aro not more active on this matter.