Ársrit Ræktunarfélags Norðurlands - 01.01.1959, Page 38

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Excerpts in English.
The Federation of Cattle Breeding Societies in Eyjafjörd-
ur (S.N.E.) lias been in operation for 30 years and has run
an insemination station for 14 years. Tlie results from this
work during previous years are shown on the tables on
page 5 and 7. Preparations for a bull progeny test station
commenced in 1954. A selection of the first bulls was then
made and a farm purchased for the purpose of carrying out
the tests. On this farm the cultivation has progressed and
additional buildings have been constructed.
In the autumn of 1955 19 heifercalves, sired by each of
the bulls Ægir and Völlur, were taken for rearing at the
station. These heifers calved during the period 4/11/57 to
4/1/58. Owing to various reasons only 12 came into eacli
group. Each heifer remained 10 months (304 d.) under tests
(ref. main table I).
Following conclusions can be drawn from these tests:
1. Unquestionably Ægir has considerably greater dairy
characteristics than Völlur, and the difference comes close
to 26—28%. On the other hand, as to milkfat the qualities
are similar and good in both bulls (compare tables I and II).
2. Ægir’s daughters seem clearly to surpass their dams,
both regarding yield and milkfat. The butterfat statistics
indicate this difference to be near 32%. Völlur’s daughters
do not secrete appreciably greater quantity of milk than
their dams; the milkfat, however, is considerably better, and
when the milkfat is taken into account the yield increase
amounts to 13% in butterfat (compare table IV).
3. Finally, Ægir’s daughters appear to surpass, on an
average, heifers of the same age in their rural district, both
concerning yield and milkfat. Based on butterfat production
this variation is close to 11%. Völlur’s daughters, however,
fall short of reaching the milk production level of the otfters
of tlie same age group. Even though the milkfat yield is