HERD TESTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 July 1939, Page 7

HERD TESTING

OPERATIONS IN WAIRARAPA

DIFFICULT SEASON.

ANNUAL REPORTS FOR PAST YEAR.

Annual reports of the various herd testing associations in the Wairarapa arc as follow (in all cases reference is made in the reports to the difficult season experienced in the past year, which seriously affected butterfat production):—

“Our testing officer. Mr Sandbek. tested 27 herds and 4 ’Own Sample' Association herds and Mr T. Conwell testing officer of the Pahautea group tested 4 herds. This season. 1938-39 1554 group cows, comprising 31 herds and 32 cows. ‘Own Samples' Association in 4 herds were tested. Last season. 1937-38. 1540 group cows, in 36 herds were under test; and 52 cows ■Own Samples’ Association in 4 herds. The average ..number of cows per here in 1936-37 ’was 40.25: 1937-38, 42.8: anc 1938-39, 50.1. Last season. 23 calve: were tattoo-marked, and this season 18.” “The difference in production pei cow on the previous season is. 291bs fat lower, but with 26 days loss pei cow.

Analysis Per Cow Butterfat Production.

Cows returning 50-991bs. fat. 9; 100149, 39; 150-199. 99: 200-249. 188; 250299, 145; 300-349. 89: 350-399. 45; 400-149 13; 450-499. 1. MARTINBOROUGH. “Hay crops, owing to rain, were difficult to harvest, and later, high winds combined with drought conditions were the cause of the failure of root and other crops of supplementary feed. Most of our members did not complete the testing season, but dried their cows off early, this helping them to winter better. Twenty-five group herds, comprising 1545 cows and 54 “Own Samples” cows, in five herds, were under test. The average number of cows per herd was: 1936-37. 63.1; 1937-38, 64.4; 1938-39, 61.8.” GREYTOWN. “Several herds did not complete tljc testing season. In the 1937-38 season 2303 group cows in 49 herds and ‘Own Samples’ Association. 201 cows in £ herds were under test. This season. 1938-39. 2398 group cows in 52 herds and ‘Own Samples’ Association 86 cows in 6 herds were under test. The average number, of. cows per herd in the 1936-37 season was 45.5: 1937-38. 47; 1938-39, 46.1. In the 1937-38 season 48 calves were tattoo-marked; this season 1938-39. 38 calves were fully marked.': FEATHERSTON. “There was a slight decrease in the work as compared with last season s operations. We again had the assistance of the Pahautea Testing Officer for 7 days each month. For the season 1938-39 just completed. 2389 cows were tested under the group method. 52 of which did not qualify for payment. The association average for the past season is 14 pounds of butterfat less than the previous season. The group average for the season 1938-39 was 2461b5. fat. and for the previous season 2601b5. fat.

Statistics. Av. AV. Av. fa per Season Herds cow fat day s da? 1933-39 15 G28 239. 229 1.04; 1937-38 1G 729 ,263. 252 1.04 193G-37 18 791 268. 255 1.04 1935-3G 19 773 266. 2G8 .98 1934-35 20 871 211 237 .88