FARM NOTES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4675, 17 March 1924, Page 1

FARM NOTES.

PUREBRED V. GRADE. SOME STRIKING ARGUMENTS. An Australian dairy expert, Mr H. JApps, recently made the following very sane comments : — The breeding and feeding of dairy cattle embraces the principal phases in dairying operations, and it would be futJe to attempt to give more than a general outline of the main essentials ot these two important subjects. In the breeding of dairy cattie the question is constantly'cropping upshould the average dairyman go in tor pure breeds ? The inexperienced ma i is rather captivated by the great prices realised for pure bred stock, ami lie is often led away with the tion that every calf dropped is a “gold mine. - ' He is, however, usually a much disappointed person. Has it dawned upon you what has brought about these high prices ? It is generally because they have some special blood line, or some peculiar type that commands a price from breeders, or the animal may be supported by a record of production, which is brought about by .skilful handling for several generations, which requires an expert knowledge coupled with a fair amount of cash. But. to bring big prices, the anim.ai must have typo and production, and at the present time production is the greatest factor. The field for breeders —dairymen who make the development of class stock • their main business, and the sale O' stock- the principal source of revenue —i.s rather limited. But if you ate just going to remain a dairyman, and sell your products to secure your •ncome, the question may then be asked—How about the breeds ? Yon are not primarily concerned so much about herd book stock, but good producing cows. Many a grade herd has in it individuals that are great producers. There are some grad? cows making just as much milk and bu ( ter as pure breds, costing throe or four times as much. It may be argued—Why’ part with them while they continue to be heavy’ producers ; but has it ever occurred to you why a grade here and there is such a heavy’ producer ? Bi most cases it is because she is a grade, and not a nondescript. She is a grade because she possesses more or less blood of the pure bred. Somewhere, and at some period some pure bred animal transmuted his producing properties: and it is due to this reason that the dairyman is interested at the mention of pure bred cattle. As a producer your grade cow. may be as good as almost any any pure-bred, animal, but as. a transmitter of production ability', that is. a different thing. It is a known method that a pure bred bull with high production records to back him up is the only' reliable means to obtain improvements. Such an animal will invariably transmit production, but a few grades will. . A good pure bred bull with production and type costing £lOO, is cheaper than if a nondescript were given to y’ou with a bcnis of £lOO and a proviso that you use him as a sire. The same point in breeding applies to the cow. Your extra good grade cow, mated to just an ordinary bull, will very likely’ throw back. If she were a pure bred, and mated to a pure bred bull with production to his credit, it is almost certain that her daughter will be worth raising.