FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 5, 6 June 1913, Page 7

FARM AND DAIRY.

HERD TESTING. STRATFORD AND MIDIIIRST FIGURES. The result of tlie Stratford and Midhirst Herd-testing Associations are to hand, and the figures make interesting reading for the progressive farmer. In Stratford the herd giving the best results contained 24 cows, wnose average was 23.401bs of butter-fat. In this herd the best cow gave 37.951bs of but-ter-fat and the worst 15.48. ' The herd with the worst results contained 10 cows, and averaged 7.791bs of fat, the best animal producing 15.301bs and the worst 1.87. The average per cow for the Association was 14.00, whilst the ten highest averaged 28.451b and the lowest 4.011b5. In the. Midhirst Association -the best •herd contained 20 cows and averaged 27.3!)1b5, the cows producing from 43.51i1bs down to 17.40. The worst herd contained sixteen cows and averaged 12.12 lbs per cow, ranging from 17.04 to 7.02 lbs. The average Association cow produced 19.201b5, ranging from 45.82 to 3.521 bs. I lie ten' highest cows averaged ami the lowest tea 5,7 lbs,

Tlie completeness of tlie figures must make them of infinite value to the members of tlie Association, who, at the end of each season, know exactly which of their cows have been revenue-producers and which have been robbers, for it is impossible, of course, to judge this from one month's figures. If members put to practical use the knowledge thus gained and cull out the robbers, thereby increasing their output and saving a lot of labor proved to be unprofitable, the value of testing associations will quickly become evident, and it will not be long before farmers all over Taranaki wake up to the need of systematic computation of the merits of their dairy animals, instead of the haphazard methods now in vogue, and cow-testing associations will be the rule rather than the exception. DAIRY PRODUCE. WAIKATO SHOW RESULTS. Taranal'i dairy factories were prominent in the prize-list at the Waikato Winter Show. In the butter classes, the Lcppcrton Dairy Go. (W. Roberts), with !I4 points, was second in the export, class; Te Arolia (,).■ Rutherford). 95 points, was second and Oakura (J. H. W indlelmrn), 94 1 /; points, third in the class suitable for export. Kaponga (C 1 . Farley) !i.i point", was s"oond. and Ma-' ngorei (T. Robinson), 94 points, was fourth in butter for local trade. In the cheese classes Kaupokonui (Win. McDonald) wis second in medium suitable for lorn! trade, and Kaponga (('. Farley) second for cheese suitable for export. DOMINION GRADING COMPETITION. 'I lie vc-nlts of th(> Dominion grading eomni'l ilinn held in connection with the Dnncdin V\ inter Show were as follows: Taiiri mml Peninsula, 9-1.7 points, Leviperloii. 94.58. £5; Tnglewood, 94.21. Mauricevillf (Wellington). 93.94, i'2; Tikorangi 93.09, Mangorei 9:1.47.