COWS’ PERFORMANCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 September 1939, Page 9

COWS’ PERFORMANCES

FINAL PRODUCTION TEST. VALUE OF ANCESTRY. The final test of a cow is her performance at the pail. Production of her near ancestors is a valuable key to what she will do and what she may be expected to contribute to the production of her off-spring, but her own performance only a test will disclose. In buying an untried cow or heifer the production of her direct relatives and her - individuality must be the guide. It is fully as important that both the female ancestors and the progeny of the sire shall have attained creditable milk records as it is that the dam shall have such a record behind her. The British Ministry of Agriculture draw attention to the fact that during recent years there has been an objectionable practice of sending to market cows which have been unmilked for longer than usual, or in other words overstocked and consequently suffering unnecessary pain or discomfort. It is pointed out by the Ministry that this practice which at one time was more prevalent than it is now, appears to have been adopted by some stock owners as a result of a mistaken notion that a distended udder indicated that the animal was a good milk producer. Such an opinion is now held only by the ignorant. The overstocking of cows, it is pointed out, is most undesirable as, while it may involve severe suffering to the animals, it may also have a detrimental effect on their future milking capacities. Moreover, a Wise buyer is not deceived by a distended udder as he knows it is not necessary to exhibit an. animal in an overstocked condition in order to reveal its milking qualities.

The important point is this, that it cannot be too widely known that any person responsible for sending to market an overstocked cow, which is suffering unnecessary pain or discomfort as a result of being milked for a longer time than usual, renders himself liable to prosecution under the provisions of the protection of Animals Act. The Ministry point out that there are still some areas where this objectionable practice prevails and an appeal is made to stockowners and all concerned to use their influence to discourage the practice. »