BETTER MILCH COWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1923, Page 4

BETTER MILCH COWS.

AVERAGE AS HIGH AS ANV IN THE WOULD.

In an address to the Dominion Conference of the New Zealand lat mots Union at Wellington recently, Mr '\Y. M. Singleton, Director ol the Dairy Division of the Agriculture Department, outlined the steps which are noli],,. taken hy the division to assist dairv farmers and breeders to raise the standard of dairy herds ill the Do- ; minion. Me stated that although th.ete 1 was room for improvement, the standi ard of the average cow in New Zealand was as high as that in any country of

the world. Tim following report was received by the conference on the subject Irom the Dairy Committee :--"\A'e realise the great importance ol the dairying industry. and desire to point mu that v.-hiR. the average production of biitter--1 j.-t throughout the Dominion is are proximate!y only about ID’lb per cow it i- considered quite possible to raise it | 0 2501 bor even 3001 b per cow. AYo suggest that there are two means of herd improvement mien to us, viz.: First, herd testing with drastic culling

of inferior cow>. an energetic propaganda in this direction being necessary, with where possible the formation of herd testing associations; and, second, though of equal important e. breeding only from bulls who.-e progenitors are of proved merit Mr Singleton said that til s subiTCl was a mo-t important one. 'I here w:i----i M.iu ini' improvement in the dairy herds ol New Zfttland, hut at. the same lime the average dairy cow in the 1 >omitiioti was as good as tlutl in any (nuntry in the world. We were very little behind Denmark in the prodtte lion of luitter-fat. The division was doing a great deal in the way ol milk and herd-test ing. Many dairy companies had risen to the occasion, and wore

running herd-testing associations as part of their operations. Good work was also being done hy the Farmers Union in many districts. Ihe Dairy Division welcomed anv line ol action which would mean more testing ol dairv cattle. They were now testing

just over 7 per cent of the dairy cows in New Zealand, as against I per cent in Canada. About 300 owners were testing their purebred stock, ami owners of bulls which did not have certificates were finding it diiliciilt to get rid n| these ainm'tls. The factories could and should do a little more in this direction than they were doing to-day. Mr K. \V. Dalrymplc Hulls) asked if Mr Singleton considered that judging at shows was being done on riglil

Mr Singleton replied that the dairy fanner who bred for production was proceeding in the right direction. Mr O. !’. Lynch (Paolmkariki) said Hint the Manawetu Union suggested the branding of "dud” cows, «n that they ecu!.l not he passed ell. The recommendation of the committee was agreed to.