lo Oct., 1908.] Improvement in Dairy Herds. 599 



The following figures relating to eleven Jersey stud cows, the property 

 of Mr. G. T. Chirnside, Werribee, are worth quoting to show what can be 

 obtained bv systematic recording, combined with care and attention : — 



Avei'age 42olbs. loz. butter, as compared with the average of the State of about 

 126 lbs. 



This shows what can be done by a thorough system of breeding,, 

 selection, keeping of records, and tests, etc. In the Journal of Agricul- 

 ture of June 1907, there appeared an excellent article on the development 

 of dairy Shorthorns by Mr. R. T. Archer which should be in the hands 

 of every dairyman who is alive to his interests. It clearly points out 

 the splendid results due to systematic effort and is a striking illustration 

 of the value of recording each cow's weight of milk and test of same. 

 Xo- further proof of the value and efficacy of this system should be re- 

 quired. The article shows how Mr. Manifold developed a dairy herd 

 out of his station-bred Shorthorns. The svstem adopted was to weigh 

 the milk of each cow one day in every month, and to take a composite 

 sample of the milk of each day for a whole week in each month — this is 

 surely not much trouble. The cows not giving a satisfactory return were 

 fattened, and all the low testing ones culled. The lowest annual average 

 test was 3.7 and the highest 6.2; very few tested below 4 per cent, and 

 one (Number 123) for four successive years averaged 5.2, 5.5, 6.2, and 

 5.0 per cent. fat. This cow's return for the four periods of lactation 

 was 330 days in milk, 395 lbs. of butter ; 240 days in milk, 339 lbs. 

 of butter; 270 days in milk, 353 lbs. of butteir ; 210 days in milk, 

 259 lbs. of butter. 



Some of the cows milked over 500 days without a break and averaged 

 nearly a pound of butter per day for the whole time. One (No. 473) in 

 six periods of lactation milked on 1850 days and gave 5,335 gallons of 

 milk, and 2,390 lbs. butter, which, at lod. equalled ^99 iis. 8d., or 

 over jQi6 per year; her daily averages were, milk, 2.88 gallons; test, 

 4.08 lbs. ; butter, 1.29. These cows were never pampered in anv wav. 



In 1905-6, 13 heifers on first calf, were milked altogether on 3,820- 

 days, and totalled 3,769 lbs. butter, or a fraction under a pound per 

 day. One gave 403 lbs. of butter in 365 days. In 1905 the averages 

 of the thirteen heifers were as follow : — 



In Milk— Milk Average. Test Butter Return at 



Average Days. Gallons. A\ erage. ' lod. per lb. 



293 ... 583 ... 4-53 ... 289-9 ... 12 I 7 



