BIG DEMAND FOR MILK TESTING IS EXPECTED IN 1950

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 100, 20 February 1950, Page 8

BIG DEMAND FOR MILK TESTING IS EXPECTED IN 1950

Farmers throughout New Zealand are being asked to decide now about whether they will test next year or not, writes Mr Mandeno, Consulting Officer for the New Zealand Dairy Board at Whakatane. Of course more and more farmers are becoming a little indignant at this as they realise that most good farmers test year after year. Testing is still, however, a seasonal contract with the Herd Improvement Association which is based on normal business methods as are all successful co-operative farmers’ concerns. *

The farmers of New Zealand have been realising that testing pays, and more and more new members join when others drop out. This has been a gradually accelerating process until last season hundreds of herds throughout the country had to be refused owing to inability to increase equipment and trained staff at short notice. To avoid such a state of affairs for the 1950/51 season the Dairy Board has given prominence to the position in the “N.Z. Dairy Exporter”—which shodld reach most dairy farmers. It would appear from the response that many farmers do not want to be left out next season. Stro'ng Objections

A few years ago many farmers would have raised strong objection to the necessity for a decision at this early date. A business man would be surprised at this attitude when he is accustomed to undertake commitments months and often years before fulfilment of contracts. At this stage of the season a farmer should be deciding on his culling and from inspection of his shed sheets should have an' accurate forecast of calving dates. There is then little risk of a change in policy before next season. Whilst many dairymen will have decided that testing is an integral part of businesslike farming, there will be some in whose minds the issue may not be clear. On some farms accommodation of a testing officer is a problem, but generally arrangements may be made with neighbours who have spare rooms. A secluded existence makes some herds rather timid regarding testing buckets and strangers, but often it will be found that the majority of cows are reasonably placid and the ring leaders are actually members of scarey families that are troublesome even without visitors.

The cost of testing has increased over the years as staff and equipment make higher costs, but it is important to remember that relative to the price of butterfat the testing fees have remained fairly constant. Special Significance

In such a prolonged dry spell making reserves of succulent feed of increased value the monthly test returns have had special significance. As Ruakura workers have shown that high and low producers both graze for the same period it is necessary to see th,at the more persistent milkers have the best of feed. A bull whose daughters have not reached outstanding levels in the flush months may yet qualify as a “Merit Sire” if persistency at a more moderate rate has been inherited.

Under exceptionally dry conditions a considerable number of cows may be dried off. Cessation of testing cannot be recommended where cows have the ability to carry on and show on their own records or the survey of their sires that persistency has been inherited.