CALF MARKING.

Shannon News, 20 December 1927, Page 2

CALF MARKING.

BY HERD TESTING- ASSOCIATIONS Inaugurated some five seasons ago in the Waikato by the New Zealand Co-op. Herd Testing Association, the system of marking heifer calf's has shown’ such manifold advantages to the advancement of the dairying industry as a whole and to the individual in particular that the system has been taken up and brought as near to perfection as possible at present by the Dominion Group Herd Testing Federation. The method-of supplying particulars as to a calf’s pedigree and records is as perfect as can be made. < The declaration giving these particulars must be sworn, by the fanner, before a J.P. or other authority. Only heifer calves from dams that- have been previously tested by a federated Association will be eligible for registration. The dams must be credited in the records of that Association as havinh produced in one lactation period the .following amount of butter-fat', or over, according to age at commencement of test, viz.:— As a 2-year-old, 250 lbs fat. As a 3-year-old, 275 lbs. fat. _ As a 4-voar-old or older animal, 300 lb's fat.

The above standards must be reached in 305 days or less. By qualifying once the licifer calves from any animal will be eligible for registration, subject to any rules which may be in force in regard* to Association membership. No calf will be eligible for registration unless the sire is a registered pedigree. As yet no stipulation is being made as to the butter-fat- backing of the sire, but it is.hoped to undertake this restriction in. the near future. No notice of breed is taken whatever so long as the sire is a registered pedigree and the dam has produced the required record and onc-e this fecord has been produced all future heifer calves by registered pedigree sires will qualify for registration. The marking of the calf is done by a tattoo in the right ear. This is a perfect mark and will stand, even in a black eared calf. First comes tlfe registered mark of the Federation —T in a shield, next the letter indicating the season of birth—C denoting 1927-28, and finally the individual number of the heifer, ’these' latter numbers are consecutive throughout the Dominion and the whole system is carefully administrated and confined to only those Associations who are members of the Dominion Federation; this so that the system may always be-kept clean and free from confusion. A calf register is kept by all Associations, together with all particulars so that at any future date full particulars can be supplied. A certificate of registration is issued to the calf at time of marking. In the Waikato this last season well over 2000 calves will have been marked. The prices realised by these marked calves are naturally greatly in excess of ordinary prices. A marked calf sale is held annually and at the sale in January last the highest price realised was £9 os per head for a lot of 6 calves which wore just ordinary grades. The highest record of the dams was 393 lbs and the lowest 252 lbs.

Without a doubt the marking of calves is going to moan the saving annually of thousands of good calves which would otherwise have been slaughtered and these calves in the herds must increase the average yield.

The Dominion Federation which lias undertaken the administration of this work is composed of every large testing association in the Dominion, with one exception.

Already this season calf marking is well under way aiid it is hoped that of next season's calves many will be marked. The sister Association in the Bush districts calls for many calves and so far more are needed than have been supplied. Prices have been mostly, up to £2 per head within a week of birth (offered). Even at a much lower price than this it is surely well worth saving a good calf and so aiding someone to higher production, but looked at from a commercial rather than a sympathetic point, of view' a marked calf is certainly w'orth more than mere skin price. Further particulars can be readily obtained if desired from the secretary of the Federation or from the Horowhenua Association at Palmerston North.