COW TESTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 34, 30 June 1914, Page 4

COW TESTING.

In a particularly interesting article which appears in the latest number of the Journal of Agriculture upon the lessons taught by the Cow Testing Association, Mr W. M. Singleton, the dairy expert on the Departmental staff, gives some very instructive remarks relative to the records of young cows. One of the first points noticed is the fact that an exceedingly large percentage of the young cows tested are not considered worthy of a second test. It would seem surprising that only one cow out of every three tested should he found to merit a second trial, and even then the result showed that a further ten might well have been culled, leaving only fiftyseven out of the original hundred producing a minimum of ISOlbs. of butter fat as two year olds, 1801bs. as three year olds, 1901bs, as fouv year olds, and as five year olds. On the face of these figures it would appear that out of a herd of a hundred young cows, only about one half are what may be deemed fair milkers. It must be borne in mind that these tests were carried out ou behalf of the better classes of dairymen, but Mr Singleton considers that the 2281'bs. butter-ftit average is better than a cow census of these districts would indicate. Manifestly, in view of these results, the work of cow testing carried on by the Associations is amply justified. Every inferior producing cow costs as much to keep as one that gives the highest test, so that from an economical point of view, there must be thousands of cows which should be eliminated from the herds in Taranaki and elsewhere. Naturally, dairymen will be interested in the reason for this large percentage of unsuitable milkers. In Mr Singleton's opinion, which certainly deserves great weight, the figures quoted are as strong an indictment against the use of the nondescript bull as can be desired. It is considered that less than five per cent, of New Zealand herds arq headed by pure bred bulls, a much (mailer percentage being headed by a

prepotent dairy bull—that is, a bull all 6f whose heifers prove good milkers. No doubt this unsatisfactory state of dairying herds is in a large measure due to thia most important factor, and the industry will never "be placed on a satisfactory footing until a systematic course of action is taken in connection with the sires of the herds. That the result of the cow-testing work has produced dissatisfaction has a compensating advantage in that it should lead to improvement. There is no excuse for dairymen having an unsatisfactory! herd in these days. Land is too dejir to feed any but the highest test cows, and both pure-bred dairy bulls and cows holding authenticated records are available if only dairymen will pay the price. The first outlay may be large, but the results are greater in proportion. Many a dairy farmer is feeding and milking two and even three cows where one good one would give better and more profitable results. The sooner dairymen learn this lesson the better it will bs for the industry and the farmers, for it is clear that no farmer can afford to head his herd with a bull that leaves one half of his heifers culls from the milking standpoint. The grading up of a herd takes time, trouble Money, but it is a far sounder and wiser policy than trusting to chance. The owner of a heavy producing herd is a prince of the dairying industry, and is deservedly looked up to by the rank and file. Mr Singleton deserves the thanks of dairymen for emphasising the lessons which have resulted from cow-testing.