FARM NOTES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4646, 9 January 1924, Page 4

FARM NOTES.

IMPORTANCE OF THE SIRE. MILK-YIELDING CAPACITY. Discussing the Inheritance o£ milkyielding capacity and the part played by the sire, a recent issue of the Journal of the Ministry of Agriculture (England) draws attention to interesting investigations carried out at the Maine Agricultural Experimental Station in this connection. When an analysis was made of the “Advance Register of Dairy Bulls” maintained by the Jersey Breed Association, it was found that out of 200 bulls the records of whose daughters were available, approximately one half sired daughters whose records surpassed those of their dams. The results of’a similar investigation in relation to the Holstein-Friesian breed, published since, show similar results. An examination of the Advance Register of this breed showed that there were 111 Holstein-Friesian sires having two. or more daughters with recorded yields. Of these, 65 — or roughly one half —raised the milk yield of their daughters over that of the dams of these daughters. The list was headed by a bull that, on. an average, raised the milk yield of his daughters by 76401 b ; another raised the milk yield of fourteen daughters, on the average, by 48601 b. “These figures,’’ comments the Journal, “are independent of any theory ; they show clearly how important an influence the sire exercises on the performance of his daughters. They demonstrate, moreover, that pedigree by itself is not a guarantee of performance ; pedigree makes performance more likely, and iv appears to be an even chance whether a pedigree sire will raise the level of the herd or not. Although the probability that he will maintain it at the same ‘level is greater, still, the fact remains that he sometimes lowers it, and that the best test of the milking quality of a sire is provided by the records of his progeny. It is, therefore, to be deplored that, for reasons which appear to be peculiar to this country, the prevalent practice is to slaughter the dairy bull before the records of his daughters are available.” ELIMINATING SCRUB ANIMALS. It is to be regretted, states the report of the N.Z. Board of. Agriculture, that there are so many farmers who do not realise the great importance of using only the very best sire available, and, when securing cows for their herds, of taking steps to safeguard themselves against the purchase of inferior animals that have been discarded by others. In these directions they show a lamentable want of regard for their own interests. It has been demonstrated beyond all question that the only satisfactory manner of determining a cow’s milking qualities is by test. If buyers would exercise greater care whe purchasing animals and secure information as to their milking qualities the cull cow problem would be loss acute.

After reviewing the matter most exl'.austively, however, the Board arrives at the conclusion that the time is not yet opportune to make conpulsory the licensing of bulls, or the branding or speying of unprofitable cows, but recommence that active progaganda, in which agricultural and. pastoral associations, herd-test-ing and breeding societies, and dairy companies should he asked to assist, be undertaken against the use of inferior animals as sires, and the sale of cows as milkers when they have been proved to he unprofitable. DEEDING FOR PRODUCTION. . The following, taken from the Journal of the South African Department of Agriculture, i*s quite applicable in thiG country. The jounral says : One of the principal reasons for the low average production of cows in the Union is that they are not fed properly. By weeding out the poor and giving the good-producing cows better treatment and feeding the production world be increased. The following ara some of the important points to be borne in mind in connection with feeding; dairy cows: (1) Feed sufficient bulk ; (2) provide some succulent feed; (3) remember that the common Tarm-grown feeds are deficient in protein, so, jf possible, grow some legume ; (4) feed a. variety of feeds; the bodily requirements are then more likely to be met; (5) feed according to production ; if all cows are given, the same .ration the poor producers may be over-fed and the

good producers under-fed; (6) furnish cows with a regular supply of salt, the daily requirement being 2 to 4 ounces; and regularly supply plenty of clean water.