Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 079
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| Year | 1940 |
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| OCR Text |
146 MILK RECORDS. Reviewing the results of the 47 circuits as a whol that, class1fying on the new higher standards, of thee, 33:51:)? 41,058 cows and heifers tested in 1939, excluding 973 animals in herds tested during only a part of the season, and therefore not class1fied, 23,777 were included in Class I. and 1925 in Class III. Tlns is equivalent to 59;}; per cent in Class I. and 4; per cent n1 Class III. Thus, 59:} per cent of all the cows and hefiers tested gave a milk yield equivalent to not less than 800 gallons containing 3'5 per cent milk fat in the case of3 a cow and 640 gallons in the case of a heifer; while only 4,, per cent gave a milk yield equivalent to less than 531 gallons containing 35 per cent milk fat in the case of a cow ang‘h/im; glallons in the case of a heifer. e o owing table shows a com arison 0 results from 1914 to 1935 inclusive. gor this gigggrizxrtbhg milk records were classified on the lowe st ' preViouS years :__ r andards adopted in | Cows and Heifers. M Year. Per Cent. Total Number Tested. Class I. Class III. 1935 34,872 1934 32,905 724. is 1933 32,456 75“ 1 1932 31,415 72% l 1931 30,576 72¢ l 1930 30,720 70 1 1929 30, 898 68 1' 1928 30,293 66 2: 1927 29.459 653 2} 1926 29,236 651} 23 1925 28,410 60 5 1924 27,957 ' 65 3 1923 26,952 65 2 1922 27,275 63 2 1921 26,752 582 4 1920 ' 24,191 551 3} 1919 20,786 49 4 1918 17,827 49 5 1917 19,564 50 4' 1916 22,702 53} 4? 1915 26,572 46 6 1914 26,424 39% 9 The average standard attained in 1939 was und . . oubtedl lowered by the inclusion of the larger proportion of ‘neibvj herds,. and by other adverse conditions already referred to, including drought In summer and scarcity of feeding-stuffs MILK RECORDS. 147 in autumn and winter, yet it will be observed from the pre- mling table that the proportion of animals qualifying for inclusion in Class I. in 1939 is only 5 per cent lower than ihat of 1936—namely, 641 per cent, which, taking into con- Sideration the higher standards now adopted, is the highest reached since the commencement of official milk recording thirty-six years ago. It will be observed also that when classified on the lower standards previously adopted, the proportion of Class I. cows and heifers to the total animals tested increased from 39;- per cent in 1914 to 75-12— per cent in 1934, while the proportion of Class III., or obviously unprofitable, animals was reduced in the same period from 9 per cent to 1% per cent. These figures indicate great improvement in recorded herds, yet do not represent the full extent of the progress made since the introduction of milk recording in 1903. It is estimated that milk record herds generally are at the present time giving higher average yields than unrecorded herds to the extent of considerably over 200 gallons per cow per annum. Improvement from milk recording is not confined to herds officially recorded in 1939. A very much larger number have been tested and recorded for longer or shorter periods since the Association’s scheme of milk recording was introduced. And when we consider the spread or diffusion of the benefits arising directly or indirectly from milk recording, we find that these penetrate widely in various directions other than that of individual members of milk. recording societies. For example, there is the effect on the remaining dairy herds of the country. The wide dissemination annually of milk record stock bulls and milk record cows for breeding purposes among untested herds alone must exercise an incalculable improving influence on a very large number of these herds. Such influence is increasing with the extension of the practice of using only milk record bulls in dairy herds. There is also the powerful educational influence and force of example permeating and leavening the whole mass of dairy farmers. If a census could be taken in this connection, it would probably be found that a considerable proportion of herd owners outside the membership of milk recording societies are in one way or another testing and recording the milk yields of their herds who would never have done so had systematic or official milk recording not been in operation. The same consideration applies to the more enlightened methods 0f selecting, breeding, and feeding on milk record lines which have been adopted in many herds not oflicially recorded. There is another direction in which advantage from milk recording is penetrating widely beyond the ranks of milk recording societies. Increased efficiency in the production of milk lowers the cost to the urban populations, and some |
| Title | Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 079 |
