HERD TESTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 June 1938, Page 3

HERD TESTING

OPERATIONS OF WAIRARAPA ASSOCIATION AVERAGES & OTHER DETAILS FOR PAST SEASON. REVIEW BY THE SECRETARY. In his review of the operations of the Wairarapa Herd Testing Association for the past year, the secretary, Mr A. H. Humphrey, states: “The fifteenth season of the Wairarapa Herd Testing Association, Inc., ended on May 31, 1938. The past dairying season has been somewhat erratic, there being several periodical spells of lack of sunshine, dry conditions, and a long period of rainfall. Production, in most cases, is a little lower than that in the previous season, but still stands at a particularly good level. “Several farmers this season fed hay to the herd during the spells of various weather conditions and found, by doing so, that the cows responded handsomely when the climatic arid pasturage conditions were again favourable. Hay is a wonderful standby, and can be easily handled and fed to advantage during either a drought or wintry period when pasture is scarce. To obtain full results from dairying, dairy cows should be fed hay, as circumstances warrant, for about six months of the year and, by doing this cows could be kept in good heart during the full twelve months. “It is pleasing to note that many dairymen have established stands of lucerne, and on their poorer or lighter country are making use of subterranean clover. Both of these valuable crops are most beneficial towards production.

“Several dairymen, before the season commenced, through top-dressing later than usual —supplies not coming to hand till late —found that this produced much better results than topdressing early in the winter. Excellent results have been obtained by using one part of superphosphate to four, of lime, which is also economical.

( “Most noticeable this season was ! the wonderful recovery, towards the I end of the season, of those herds I which were kept going during the ’ dry spell in March and at the end of l May it was found difficult to dry the t cows oft. > “Three essentials to successful dairy--1 ing which in most instances seem to ' be lacking, or not in sufficient quan- ' tity, are lime, lucerne and hay. i SEASON’S WEATHER. “Although June and July were months of cold, wet weather, cows generally wintered well. August open- ’ ed with beautiful weather which predominated for most of the month, but was attended by very little pasture growth. “The testing season commenced on September 1, in wintry weather, as has been the case for the two previous seasons. However, a good spring growth of pasture, soon developed, but lack of sunshine kept the ground cold and the grass soft, causing low tests for butterfat. October was, for the most part, very mild. Several frosts retarded the growth of pasture and by the 19th rain was badly needed to help along production. After a long dry spell, during which all gravel ridges in paddocks were discernible, beneficial rains commenced to fall on November 17, and very soon the grass was responding well, especially the clovers. The late and slower growth of grass this season necessitated later harvesting of hay crops. From December 17, followed scorching days which wrought more damage to pasture than would several weeks continuous sun. The scorching days made difficult milking, the cows being irritable and withholding their milk. This was understandable as the temperature was often 96 in the shade. The continuous dry weather resulted in a big drop in production in January. Warm rains fell at the beginning of February and at various times during the month. The pastures responded and the milk yield increased. Again there was a long dry period in March, which was more than relieved by continuous rains in April. This was late in the season, but caused a wonderful growth of pasture. From April to the end of May the weather conditions were exceptionally mild. Following are details of herd averages and other particulars (J indicates Jersey, F Friesian, JF Jersey-Friesian, JX Jersey Cross, A Ayrshire, S Shorthorn, PJ Pedigree Jersey):— i? GREYTOWN GROUP, No. 1.

No.- of 2-year-old:—G. A. Bicknell 3. R. W. Beu 3, W. A. Saywell 5, P. Hammond 5, A. J. Thompson 2, Mrs J. R. Hume 7, G. McKenzie 9, A. M. Haigh 11, W. H. Gordon 4, L. J. Thompson 9.

Group figures (production of all cows in the group)Total fat, 306,176; total days in milk, 282,513; total cows, 1156; average days in J milk, 244; average fat per cow, 264.85; average fat per day, 1.08; number of herds, 25.

No. of 2-year-olds:—H. Goodin 4, N. S. Cadwallader 5, F. Wadham 4, R. W. Press 3, P. M. J. Oates 6, G. Hayes 3, Campbell Bros. 1, G. Sadler 5, O. A. Cadwallader 8, W. J. Thomas 7.

Group figures (production of all cows in the group);—Total fat, 339,350; total days in milk, 315,644; total cows, 1206; average days in milk, 261; average fat per cow, 281.38; average fat per day, 1.07; number of herds, 25.

College Est. A J 359 263 1.36 Group figures (production of all cows in the group):—Total fat, 454,119; total days in milk, 398.422; total cows, 1593; average days in milk, 250; average fat per cow. 285.07; average fat per day, 1.13; number of herds, 36.

No. of 2-year-olds: N. S. Hodder Est. 5, J. G. Donald 19, Mrs E. A. Gain 7, H. Graham 3, G. Cole 1. W. J. Feast 9, A. Clarke 6, A. J. Rendle 1, H. W. Willis 5.

J. G. Donald Ayr 345 294 1.17 Group figures (production of all cows in the group):—Total fat, 655,599; total days in milk, 615,474; total cows, 2521; average days in milk, 244; average fat per cow, 260 average fat per day, 1.07; number of herds, 31.

No. of 2-year-olds: R. T. Parsons 11, E. R. Burch 6, A. B. D. Weatherstone 8, J. Martin 4, Mrs .M. Hutana 4, B. Davidson 1, George Bros. 7.

Group figures (production of all cows in the group):—Total fat, 324,417; total days in milk, 341,675 total cows, 1416; average days in milk, 241; average fat per cow, 229.10; average fat per day, .94; number of herds, 23.

No. of 2-year-olds:—R. Ness 4, A. McKay 21, A. Urquhart 3, S. Grant 2, C. Bargh 5, H. Knapp 6, G.' Welsh 2, J. Nunn 7, L. Seddon 6, L. Smith 4.

H. Knapp JX 335 304 1.10 . Group figures (production of all cows in the group):—Total fat, 192,346; total days in milk, 183,957; total cows, 729; average days in milk, 252; average fat per cow, 263.84; average fat per day, 1.04; number of herds, 16. SUMMARY OF ALL GROUPS. All cows in milk 100 days or more are included in the herd average. A summary of the combined figures for all groups in the association shows: — Total number of cows, 8621; total butterfat production, 2,272,007; total days. 2,137,685; average production per cow, 263.54; average days, 247; average but-

Ten Highest Herd Averages. Herd Av. Cows. Days. Av. Fat. G. A. Bicknell 364 33 271 1.31 R. W. Beu 361 21 280 1.28 W. A. Saywell .... 351 48 261 1.34 P. Hammond .... 351 38 267 1.31 A. J. Thompson 346 27 279 1.24 Mrs J. R. Hume 321 34 263 1.22 G. McKenzie .... 308 50 276 1.11 A. M. Haigh .... 300 69 265 ' 1.13 W. H. Gordon .... 290 43 263 1.10 L. J. Thompson 285 72 272 1.04

Ten Highest Cows. Av. Age Fat Days Fat Mrs J. R. Hume, J. 7 539 291 1.85 A. M. Haigh, J 5 521 288 1.80 G. A. Bicknell, J.Gr. 13 514 199 2.58 W. A. Savwell, Fr. 7 508 286 1.77

w. A. Saywell, P.J. 7 502 242 2.07 w. A. Saywell, JF 6 494 284 1.73 A. M. Haigh, P i .... 9 480 295 1.62 G. A. Bicknell, SX 8 473 259 1.82 C. Ingley. J. ... 7 469 277 1.69 W. A. Saywell, JX 6 469 291 1.61 Three Top Three-year-olds. Av. Breed Fat. Days Fat. Mrs J. R. Hume, J. 424 292 1.45 P. Hammond J. 395 278 1.42 W. H. Gordon P.J. 391 311 1.25 Three Top Two-year-olds. Av. Breed. Fat. Days. Fat. W. A. Saywell, J.Fr. 406 284 1.42 P. Hammond JX 386 321 1.20 W. A. Saywell JX 365 284 1.28

GREYTOWN GROUP, No. 2. Ten Highest Herd Averages. Herd Av. Cows. Days. Av. Fat. H. Goodin 361 34 278 1.29 N. Cadwallader 345 57 267 1.29 F. Wadham 336 27 264 1.27 R. W. Press .... 316 38 270 1.17 P. M. J. Oates .... 302 39 265 1.13 G. Hayes 300 61 246 1.21 Campbell Bros. 299 70 278 1.07 G. Sadler 299 27 283 1.05 O. Cadwallader 297 74 271 1.09 W. J. Thomas .... 296 46 257 1.15

Ten Highest Cows. Av. Age Fat Days Fat G. Hayes, JX 7 661 245 2.69 G. Hayes, JX 5 528 258 2.04 N. Cadwallader, JX 5 523 278 1.88 N. Cadwallader, JX 8 516 285 1.81 F. Wadham, J 7 493 279 1.76 H. Goodin, Ayr-Fr 7 487 291 1.67 H. Goodin, J 6 486 289 1.68 G. Hayes, Fr.X 8 485 250 1.94 Campbell Bros., JX 8 470 285 1.64 N. Cadwallader, PJ 10 464 276 1.68

Three Top Two-year-olds. Breed. Fat. Days Av. Fat. w. H. Booth JX 445 341 1.30 H. Goodin / SJ 432 286 1.51 Campbell Bros. JX 407 303 1.34

Three Top Two-year--olds. Av. Breed. Fat. Days Fat. W. H. Booth PJ 447 274 1.63 L. R. Huntley J 376 322 1.16 Mrs M. Johnson PJ 329 258 1.27

GLADSTONE GROUP. Ten Highest Herd Averages. Herd Av. Av. Cows. Days. Fat. H. Myers 363 54 284 1.27 B. Roberts, Jr. 340 28 246 1.38 C. Oliver 330 37 264 1.25 J. Sage 327 51 262 1.24 G. H. Blundell 322 108 252 1.27 S. R. Gawith .... 314 27 249 1.26 C. Swinn 314 34 271 1.15 A. C. Gawith .... 311 72 235 1.32 C. Larsen 310 46 251 1.23 J. James 309 60 261 1.18 No. of 2-year-olds: H. Myers 8, B. Roberts 1, C. Oliver 10, J. Sage 8, G. H. Blundell 2; C. Swinn 1, C. Larsen 4, J. James 11

Ten Highest Cows Age Fat Av. Days Fat G. H. Blundell, JX 4 641 255 2.51 G. H. Blundell, JX 7 631 267 2.36 H. Myers, JX 8 553 312 1.77 G. H. Blundell, JX 8 515 239 2.15 G. H. Blundell, JX 4 513 346 1.48 T. R. Eaton, JX 9 496 278 1.78 H. Myers, JX 4 493 298 1.65 G. Ruston, JX 6 493 313 1.57 G. H. Blundell, JX 4 493 346 1.42 G. H. Blundell, JX 6 492 284 1.73 Three Top Three-year-olds. Av. Breed Fat. Days Fat. S. R. Gawith JX 444 251 1.76 G. H. Blundell JX 396 281 1.40 G. H. Blundell JX 395 276 1.43

Three Top Two-year-olds, Av. Breed. Fat. Days Fat. H. Myers JX 378 285 1.32 W. H. French JX 362 365 .99 Hikurangi

FEATHERSTON GROUP. Ten Highest Herd Averages. Herd Av. Av. Cows. Days. Fat. N. Hodder Est. 357 98 260 1.37 J. G. Donald .... 354 121 264 1.34 Mrs E. A. Gain 339 66 270 1.26 H. Graham 326 32 283 1.15 R. 'Donald 324 201 266 1.22 G. Cole 310 50 265 1.17 W. J. Feast 307 54 266 1.16 A. Clark 302 81 261 1.16 A. J. Rendle .... 302 32 261 1.16 H. W. Willis .... 300 38 233 1.29

Ten Highest Cows. Age Fat Av. Days Fat A. Clark, Fr.X .... 7 745 351 2.12 J. G. Donald, Ayr 7 631 291 2.17 Mrs A. E. Gain. JX 7 588 304 1.93 J. G. Donald, Ayr 6 572 270 2.12 J. G. Donald, Ayr 4 550 293 1.88 J. G. Donald, Ayr X 8 546 288 1.90 R. Donald. Ayr X 7 545 287 1.90 N. Hodder Est., Fr 8 532 298 1.79 J. G. Donald, Ayr 8 525 297 1.77 R. Donald, J 7 522 234

Three Top Three-year-olds. Av. Fat. Breed. Fat. Days R. Donald, Ayr.X 480 264 1,82 A. Clark JX 477 274 1.37 H. W. Willis J 444 244 1.82

Three Top Two-year-olds. Breed. Fat. Days Av. Fat. G. E. Yule Ayr.X 372 277 1.34 J. G. Donald Ayr 346 255 1.36

MARTINBOROUGH GROUP. Ten Highest Herd Averages. Herd Av. Av. Cows. Days. Fat. W. Hume Est. 318 96 287 1.10 R. T. Parsons .... 313 46 267 1.17 E. R. Burch .... 302 53 261 1.15 D. S. Warren .. 292 77 254 1.14 A. B. D. Weather stone 279 49 241 1.15 J. Martin 279 79 269 1.03 Mrs M. Hutana 276 26 271 1.01 B. Davidson .... 273 39 264 1.03 George Bros 260 56 273 .95 F. Wright 254 33 266 .95

Ten Highest Cows. Age Av. Fat Days Fat W. Hume Est, Fr 8 543 298 1.81 E. R. Burch, JX 11 537 295 1.82 W. Hume Est, FR 14 466 303 1.53 w. Hume Est, FR 6 456 342 1.33 J. Martin JX 4 444 300 1.48 R. T. Parsons, JGr 7 439 291 1.50 W. Hume Est, Fr ,4 431 342 1.26 w. Hume Est; Fr • 7 429 303 1.41 Mrs M. Hutana, zJX 7 428 306 1.39 D. S. Warren J 5 416 271 1.53

Three Top Three-year-olds. Av. Fat. Breed. Fat. Days. w. Hume Est, Fr 438 297 1.47 w. Hume Est, Fr 395 297 1.34 J. Martin JX 377 275 1.37 Three Top Two-year-olds. Av. Breed. Fat. Days. Fat. G. Hume Est, Fr 365 274 1.33 E. R. Burch JX 349 259 1.34 A. B. D. Weatherstone J 281 251 1.11

PAHAUTEA GROUP. Ten Highest Herd Averages. Herd Av. Av. Cows. Days. Fat. R. Ness . 352 26 275 1.28 A. McKay . 347 33 276 1.25 A. Urquhart . . 316 36 282 1.12 S. Grant . 311 32 280 1.11 C. Bargh . 302 47 265 1.10 H. Knapp . 299 58 253 1.14 G. Welsh . 277 53 261 1.06 J. Nunn . 268 54 255 1.05 L. Seddon . 251 74 267 .94 L. Smith . 247 38 234 1.05

Ten Highest Cows. Av. Age Fat Days Fat R. Ness PJ 8 552 299 1.84 A. Urquhart JX 6 512 299 1.71 R. Ness J 6 491 293 1.67 H. Knapp JX 6 483 277 1.75 A. McKay JX 6 448 288 1.55 H. Knapp JX 7 440 268 1.64 A. McKay JX 5 438 271 1.61 A. Urquhart JX 3 436 289 1.50 S. Grant JX 5 427 284 1.50 A. McKay JX 7 422 277 1.52 Three Top Three-year-olds. Av. Breed. Fat. Days. Fat. A. Urquhart JX 436 289 1.50 A. McKay JX 401 282 1.42 A. Urquhart JX 384 267 1.43 Three Top Two-year-olds. Av. Breed. Fat. Days. Fat. R. Ness PJ 351 278 1.26 J. Juno JX 336 309 1.08

terfat per c ay. 1.06; total herds, 156. COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS YEARS. Average. Days. Av. Fat. 1936-37 .. 282.92 255 1.109 1935-36 .. 282.98 264 1.068 1934-35 .. 239.84 254 .940 1933-34 .. 252.93 249 1.01 1932-33 .. 237.31 249 .952 1931-32 .. 230.18 244 .939 1930-31 .. 237.64 248 .956 1929-30 .. 251.30 249 1.009