11 March. 1918.] Government Red Poll Herd. 15' 



THE GOVERNMENT RED POLL DAIRY HERD. 



On account of pressure on space, the publication of tlie annual 

 report concerning the Government Herd of Red Poll Dairy Cattle for 

 the year ending 30th June, 1917, has been delayed. 



The herd continues to maintain its excellent production, and both 

 individual performances and averages compare favorably with past 

 years, despite the difficulty of maintaining a high average with increasing 

 numbers; and despite, also, that a number of the old cows which have 

 helped to maintain high averages in previous years have been passed out 

 of the herd. Indeed, some of the younger cows liaA^e quickly forced 

 their way towards the top, and bid fair to eclipse the performances of 

 those older cows which first brought the herd into prominence. 



The demand for bull calves has been beyond all possibility of being 

 met, and scores of intending purchasers have had to be refused. On the 

 30th June last, when no less than 37 bull calves had been booked ahead 

 of calving, it became necessary to stop booking, and it is regretted that 

 so many Avill have to be disappointed before the taking of orders can 



be resumed. 



Muria is again the leading cow, with 12,101 lbs. of milk, of 5.52 test, 

 yielding 669 lbs, of butter fat during twelve months. Although this 

 falls considerably short of the record of two years ago, when she beat 

 all records for Red Polls, and all records for any breed in Australia or 

 Xew Zealand, it is, nevertheless, a very creditable performance, since 

 it followed on a premature calving— two months ahead of normal time. 



Xieotine has established himself as a reliable sire of producers; and 

 the four heifers by him which are included in this year's records, viz., 

 Goldlace (ex Goldleaf), Avesia (ex Birdseye), Cutty (ex Connecticut), 

 and Mahratta (ex India), have the splendid average for a first lactation 

 period of 700 gallons of milk, 340 lbs. butter fat, and 388 lbs. commer- 

 cial butter. This sire will assuredly help to maintain the high testing 

 qualities of the herd, as these first four heifers of his gave an average 

 composite test of 4.89. 



The merit of Nicotine's sire, Acton Dewstone, imported by Major 

 Philip Charley, is emphasized by the splendid performances of the 

 females sired by him that are in the "Werribee herd, notably, Panama, 

 Ontario, Soudana, Congo, Japaua, and Carribea, all of which have 

 exceeded 300 lbs. butter fat. 



1^0 heifers by the imported bulls, Longford Major or Belligerent, 

 have yet been milked, but, considering the milking excellence of their 

 female ancestry, and the opportunity they have with the cows in the 

 Werribee herd, the greatest confidence is felt that their influence will 

 be in the direction of still further enhancing its dairying power. Long- 

 ford Major is likely to impart size, and beef quality as well. He has 

 grown into a massive bull, and, in September last, when not by any 

 means as prime as he could be made, scaled within 14 lbs. of a ton. 

 It is safe to say he could be easily brought to 2,500 lbs. if it was 

 required. 



