IMPROVING DAIRY CATTLE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 16, 11 September 1912, Page 3

IMPROVING DAIRY CATTLE

SEMI-OFFICIAL TESTING. One of the most hopeful signs for the future of the dairying industry, from the producer’s point of view, is the rapidly increasing interest that is being shown in the herd-testing movement, not only with cows In the ordinary herds, but with purebred cattle of all the dairy strains. The Department of Agriculture has now submitted a set of rules for the Control of semi-official testing of purebred cattle before they are accepted in t)ie various stud books. Similar associations have mot with groat Success in the older dairying countries of the world, and it is anticipated that before many years a complete record of the performance of every registered cow and of the percentage of every bull will be available as a guide to intending customers. The Holstein breeders have already agreed to adopt the rules submitted by the Department, and it is likely that all breeders of other dairy cattle will follow suit, w riting on the subject of semi-offi-cial testing in the “Journal,” Mr I). Cuddle, Director of the Dairy Division, Says:—

“One of the most gratifying developments of the dairy industry of late years has been the importation and breeding of purebred cattle. Large sums of money have been spent in bringing to this country typical specimens of the well known dairy .breeds, including males and females of Jersey, Holstein, and Ayrshire stock. These importations are still going on, and many first-class animals have reached the Dominion to maintain and improve the already fair standard of our stock, some of which were bred from animals previously imported by enterprising breeders in the days when dairying was a business of insignificant dimensions.

“With the advancement of yieldtesting of crossbred cows and a keener desire on the part of dairy farmers to obtain higher returns an improved demand has been created for purebred sires whose dams are of high milking capacity. hi fact, many dairy fanners all over Now Zealand now realise the importance of using no other hulls than those of a purebred strain. “There are now many deep-making cows amongst the popular breeds ; .and some of the owners of these aniirials have complete records of the milk and hutter-fat production of their stock. But, notwithstanding the fact that these records may he quite accurate and dependable, both buyers and sellers of pedigree animals are prepared to acknowledge that it would he mutually beneficial to Them to have the production of their best stock', checked by some independent authhlity. All breeders recogniso ( tlpjat pedigree' not always mean, c .performance,, an(l the compilation of duly authenticated milk records will, therefore, tend to popularise the particular breeds concerned, safeguard ■ the ■cUiry- - -farmeragainst the purchase of tlie wrong class of animals, facilitate the sale* of stock between themselves, and probably,,pfive the, way,: for n remunerative export'trade in purebred dairy cattle. - 1 ," v ' “Tills matter was rcfcently brohght under the notice of, many owners of purebred dairy cattle. of the various breeds, most of whom agreed that'Semiofficial records of performances would prove beneficial to all concerned.”