TESTING THE HERDS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 299, 30 April 1941, Page 8

TESTING THE HERDS

REVIEW OF THE SUPERVISOR ADVICE TO LOCAL FARMERS At the New Zealand Dairy Board Conference held at Whakataue last week, the Board's Herd Recording Supervisor, Mr C. M. Hume, stated that the number of herds—s3l7. under Group Test this season constitutes a record. The record number of cows under test was 297647 in the 1933-31 season. It is anticipated that the figures for this season will approximately equal that record, and may even exceed it. The Herd Improvement Associations were now in their second year of operations:. Many initial difficulties had been overcome and the work was running smoothly. From the point of view of work in Wellington, the returns from Associations we're now on a much more satisfactory basis. The amalgamations have certainly been justified. "Women Testing Officers. A serious difficulty, fortunately foreseen before the present season commenced, was in obtaining a stall' of testing officers so that men called up for service could be released. Up to the present 138 women have been trained as herd testers and a further 32 are being trained at Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln, in May. At least (iU of these have already found employment with the Herd Improvement Associations and I understand that With one or two exceptions their work is proving thoroughly satisfactory and 'they lind Iheir duties* congenial and not too strenuous. Caff Saving". In touching on the Calf Saving Campaign, which Avas carried out last spring under the guidance oi the Dairy Board, Mr Hume emphasised the fact, that a Avorthwhile movement had been started. The idea was a little late, in getting under Avay but the exuerience gained has conA;inced us that the Avork was necessary and will ultimately be of definite benefit to the: industry. At the last meeting of the Herd Recording Council held in Wellington in March the Council recommended : "That the Herd Improvement Associations operating in the North Island be asked to act as clearing houses for the placing of calves considered to be of value to the industry by notifying farmers m their, areas of the calves available so that: they may make their awn arrangements for the purchesc of same and that the South ls'rfiiu Herd Improvement Association be asked to co-operate in the scheme as far as possible." Disease in Herds. The Herd Wastage; Returns for the 1939-10 season again emphasise that the most important causes of wastage are : 1. Low production—33 per cent of all wastage. 2. Mastitis—-24 per cent of all wastage. 3. Sterility—l 6 per cent of all wastage. These three problem? represent practically 75 per cent of the total wastage. Low production, said Mr Hume, is being attacked by the Herd Improvement , Association:; through testing of the cows* and through survey of the sires. This is our problem. In regard to sterility detailed data is being collected! through the Herd Improvement Associations from a large number of farmers and is: already contributing to the investigation of sterility and to a definition of the conditions under which it occurs. Mastitis remains to be attacked; and is the subject of as cheme foi 19-if-42. To the extent that management factors are responsible for a high or low incidence of mastitis, so can we reduce our losses from mastitis if Ave know what those factor's are: Mr Hume emphasise*! the fact that it was. now more necessary than ever to maintain and indeed to increase the efficiency of the dairying industry so that the farmers; would be able to play their part in relieving Avar conditions. He drew attention to the fact that the number of cows were under test constituted a record, equalling the 1933-34 season (the slump period) and he anticipated that a further increase in the herds tested would be efTeclcd next vear.