HERD TESTING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 43, 31 July 1939, Page 8

HERD TESTING

REPORT FOR THE YEAR EFFECT OF BAD WEATHER A decline of 2590 cows under test wlicn compared with the previous season's figures is attributed to the adverse spring and winter weather in the directors' report to the Bay of Plenty Herd Testing Association, presented at the 16th annual meeting of the association in Whakatane oil Friday by the Mr W. R. Boon. Mr Boon reported that under the Dairy Board's herd improvement plan, an amalgamation had taken place between the Bay of Plenty Association, and the Poverty Bay and Wairoa Association, so that operation?? for the coming season would be conducted under the name of the Bay of Plenty and East Coast Herd Improvement Association This course was adopted to secure more uniform and economic working of the herd testing movement. j Owing to the Government subsidy a reduction of fees had been made possible, details being: Membership fee £1 for each herd, plus 5s per cow up to 32 cows; then 4s per cow up to 36 cows; then 3s a cow up to 100 cows r and 2s 6d a cow for all cows over 100, a reduction of 4d a, cow being given on all cows over 36 In one herd. The minimum fee is .t6 a herd. SURPLUS SHOWN. Reviewing the financial position, Mr Boon said that the income and expenditure account showed a surplus of income of £'16 16s 4d, and since an amount of £214 7s lid was written off against plant on hand the directors considered the position most satisfactory. The tdtal cost a cow for the past season was .3d less, and in view of the unfavourable seasoa ; ajnd the difficulties attendant upon the sudden drop in the number of cows under test, this result was particularly satisfactory. The associgtion average of 2091';s fat in 237 days represented a serious decline, but it was not necessary to enlarge on the reasons since farmers were only too aware of the almost unprecedented spell of adverse wea. ther, which resulted in almost aii herds wintering badly, with a consequent drop in production. Mr Boon quoted a table showing the progress of the association from 1925.26 when there were 8913 cows under test to last season when there were 30,352. In 1938-39 there were 15 groups, consisting of 371 herds and 30,352 cows were tested and 27,£33 charged for. They averaged 2091bs fat in 237 days. HIGHER HERDS. He congratulated the members who had the honour of owning the highest herds. They were: 1 to 20 cows, J. D. Awakeri group, 11 cows, 5051bs fat 267 days. 21 to 50 cows, G. Bishoprick Te Puke group, 2i cows, 3291bs fat 274 days. 50 to 100 cows, Boon and - Berg Whakatane group, 55 cows, 3401b? fat 261 days. 101 and over, G. J. Murray, Otakiri group, 127 cows, 3161bs fat 270 days. The Otakiri group headed the list of group averages with herds comprising 1455 cows and an average of 2241bs fat in 313 days. A pedigree Jersey owned by Mr J. D. Ritchie gave the highest yield by producing 6301bs fat in 313 days. Mr Boon said that Mr W. J. Law had been clected to the Herd Recording Council, and would represent the association on that body. EXPENSES AND INCOME. Among other items in the expenditure and income account testing expenses are shown as £3747 2s 2d and secretarial and committee expenses at £1605 Ms 3d. wh'ch with other charges makes a total expenditure of £5654 13s 9d. Income was £5671 10s. The costs per cow amounted to Is 1.1 Id, and the income 4s 1.25 d. making a surplus of .lid.