A PROMISING FRIESIAN HERO.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 142, 22 July 1926, Page 3

A PROMISING FRIESIAN HERO.

PEDIGREES AND GRADES. On Starky’s Road Farm. A herd which gives promise of doing great things in the near future is that of Mr. F. Donny, Starky’s road, Morrinsville. This herd is composed entirely of black and whites, Mr. Donny being a great believer in the Friesian breed and in their suitability for New Zealand conditions, pedigrees, which descend from some of the greatest butterfat producers in the world, so that if they do not do well the cattle will not be to blame. Mr. Donny has been on his Starky’s road farm of 350 acres for only 18 months and has not had an opportunity of getting the pastures into a producing capacity that is satisfy- | ing to him, but under the conditions ruling last season the performance of the herd has reached his expectations. .When the pastures are in good “heart” I he hopes to be able to increase the ; herd to 150. There are about 100 j acres of virgin swamp, which he is starting to bring into cultivation, and he expects this area to become some of the best land on the farm. The herd sire, Westmere Pontiac 1 Korndyke, is a fine-looking animal, • which is line-bred through the Poni tiac Korndyke and Aaggie families, [ which have great butterfat performI ances to their credit. Mr. Donny was very successful last season in the growing of swedes. Fifteen acres of swedes planted on De- : cember 1 have grown to a great size and the crop is one of the best seen in the district. Twelve specimens weighed gave an average weight of over 161 b each. The manure used was about 42cwt to the acre —superphosphate 2cwt, bonedust liewt, sulphate of potash fevv't and sulphate of ammonia Lcwt. Mr. Donny says he will try more bonedust with the mixture next season. On another patch of li acres, 102 head of cattle grazed for 12 days and then did not eat the crop right out.