TESTED DAIRY COWS.
INCREASE 45,635 LAST SEASON. AVERAGE YIELD, 223L8. FAT. Mr. W. Singleton, director of the Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture, reports that 196,850 cows were under test for 1924-25, as compared with 151,214 in the previous season. This increase of 45,636 coavs slightly exceeded the total number tested four years ago. In 1909-10 only 815 coavs Avere tested. He slioavs that the 196,850 cows tested represent but 16.5 per cent, of the 1,195,567 cows in milk in the Dominion. Testing is more general in the Auckland and Wellington districts than in any other. The average production of but-ter-fat of all cows under test for 1924-25 was 223.541 b of fat per cow for 229 days in milk. The highest herd average Avas 442.251 b for 308 days, and the loAvest 38.781 b for 130 days. The highest coav avus 870.071 b fat (365 days) and the loAvest 28.61 b (223 days). The average of 2231 b ■of fat, with the moderate pay-out to farmers of Is 6d per lb., represents a return of £l6 19s Gd per coav for 229 days’ milking. In a herd of 40 coavs for 230 days’ milking this Avould return £7OO for but-ter-fat at Is 6d, plus the value of the skim milk.
Mr. Singleton remarks: “It is unreasonable to expect much increase in the average yield of all association tested coavs so long as the number of coavs under test is increasing so much each year and naturally includes more and more unproved animals. It is generally the more progressive dairymen Avho first take up systematic testing and men who as a rule have better producing coavs than the others in their district. When eventually the less progressive dairymen join up Avith the association, the advance in average production Avliich Avould otherAvise have been shoAvn is lost in counter-balancing the effect of the poorer herds of these neAv members. It is, therefore, very encouraging to see that the average association production has been so Avell maintained for the past three seasons. Mr. Singleton concludes: “The present position of herd testing is very satisfactory, and the movement is noAv receiving the serious attention of most dairy farmers. Not only are large increases being made in the number of cows tested year by year, but the average yield is also being Avell maintained, So long as increased numbers of „new coavs are being tested each year no advance in the average yield of all tested coavs may show -itself, but this is no reason why it should be asurned that no improvement is being effected in that respect.
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2962, 14 November 1925, Page 3
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436TESTED DAIRY COWS. Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2962, 14 November 1925, Page 3
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