A 400lb. HERD

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 61, 30 March 1937, Page 3

A 400lb. HERD

IMPROVED DAIRY STOCK

Canterbury Farmer Grades up Yields

It cannot be denied that the use of any good pure-bred bull oi any of the recognised dairy breeds is preferable to tlie retrograde practice of using any sire merely because it happens to be the nearest available auimal capable of putting cows in calf. This has beconie an established fact, not only thiough tli6 improvement effected by pure-bred bulls, but also, ±rom the equally important angle nationaiiy, of the harm that the mongrel bull has done. Instances of both types are making themselves known in their good or bad conciusions with monotonous regularity. What might almost be described as today' s example of the desirable effect comes to hand in the tabulated observations of a Canterbury dairy farmer. The culmination of this man's deterniination to better himself is seen in the average of 4001bs of butter fat by his herd. Startihg with a mixed herd averagmg 1891b of butter fat, he introduced Friesian bulls. The first result was a rise in the average to 306lbs. The following twelve mouths brought it up to 3311bs., and in tlie next and latest complete year his graded Friesian herd averaged 4001 bs per cow. Whilst the success enjoyed by progressive dairyfarmerg who use pure-bred bulls, is not alvvays phenomenal, cases suoh as that instanced are common, and do not by any means represent the maximum improvement whioh may be expected.