THE SEASON’S HERD TESTING.

Shannon News, 15 September 1922, Page 3

THE SEASON’S HERD TESTING.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS. The August number of the journal of Agriculture contains some interesting information on the testing operations carried out by the Dairy Division during the past dairy season. It is stated that there was an increase of nine in the number of associations, 235 in the number iof herds tested, and of 5607 in the cows whose yields were computed by the Division’s officers. As was expected, the yield results showed a considerable increase over those for 1920-21. While the latter season was only a fair one in regard to available feed, 1921-22 may be classed as particularly good in this respect. Much credit was due to herd-improvement, which was in evidence in all the associations that have been running for two or more seasons.

Thirty-nine herd associations 'containing 602 herds made up of 13,347 cows in milk 100 days and over came out with an average for all cows of 238.641 b fat in 230 days, the highest association average being 385.491 b in 298 days, and the lowest 168.431 b in 166 days. The highest individual herd produced an average- of 514.701 b fat in 229 days, and the lowest 63.001 b fat in 100 days. Individually, the best cow gave a return of 760.721 b in 326 days, and as a comparison, 40.621 b in 104 days was the lowest record. The average daily production of fat per cow was 1.0421 b.

The number of Associations with herds in milk 210 days and over was 89, which included 479 herds containing 9101 cows. In this section the average for all cows was 271.481 b fat for 261 days, the highest association average being 385.491 b fat in 298 days, and the lowest 199.151 b in 232 days. The leading herd produced an average of 520.811 bin "258 days, whilst 137.821 b in 225 days was the record ol the lowest. In 326 days the best individual cow returned 760.721 b fat, and the poorest return was 86.951 b in 235 daye. The figures quoted show that officers of the Dairy Division tested and computed the records of 21,087 cows. In addition there were some 4825 cows tested for short periods, and 19,652 -cows were tested .in associations controlled by dairy companies for the benefit of their milk suppliers. These numbers when aggregated give a total of approximately 45,564 cows tested, or about 4£ per cent of the Dominion’s dairy-cow population. While the remaining 95 per cent give ample scope for increase in testing in the future, there was some satisfaction in having included in the herd-testing associations a proportion of our dairy cattle which would creditably with that of any other dairying country outside Europe.