SOUTHERN JOTTINGS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 38, 7 May 1927, Page 20 (Supplement)

SOUTHERN JOTTINGS

SNOW AND FROSTS ARRIVAL OF WINTER WELLINGTON, May 6. The white-capped ranges proclaim their own story of a quickly approaching winter. Mount Egmont, Ngauruhoe, Ruapehu, and the Ruahines are all well covered, and the fact that the snow came low down shows that the visitation was not merely a “how do you do.” HERD-TESTING IN WAIRARAPA The farmers of the Wairarapa are now satisfied that herd-testing is a payable proposition, and the system is being more extensively used in order to locate the robber cows, and provide a good basis for culling purposes. A much better average herd now obtains, thus showing improvement all round. It is a striking testimony in favour of herd-testing when it is mentioned that in 1923, the highest producer in one of the groups gave 340.091 b of butter-fat, while last year the highest producer in the same group gave 401.221 b, an increase of 61.131 b. Taking ten highest cows in one group last season, - the yield averaged from 1.561 b daily up to 1.751 b, compared with the ten lowest, only averaging .371 bto .461 b. At Is 4d per lb. butterfat the return from the best cows was £224 17s for the season, as against only £SB 12s 4d from the poorest cows. These figures are very convincing as to the payableness of herd-testing. Another important feature about dairying is that those who have taken up the industry seriously realise that profits depend largely on carefully rearingheifer calves from the best cows in the herd. Starting with even common cows, a dairyman may in a few years easily and economically build up a high producing herd by using purebred sires and steadily replacing inferior cows with home-raised heifers of greater productive capacity. HAWKE'S BAY DAIRYING Contemporaneously with other districts, dairying in Hawke’s Bay Province is now drawing to an end, and a good increase over the previous season’s output is recorded. April of last season was a very poor one, but this year showed a great improvement. The quantity graded totalled 1,185 boxes, bringing the season’s output to 37,439 boxes, as compared with 35,496 boxes last season, an increase of 1,943 boxes. Cheese also shows a corresponding improvement, 1,873 crates having been graded, as against 1,112 crates in 1926.