RECENT DAIRY SEASON SPOILT BY DRY PERIOD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 65, 5 July 1950, Page 5

RECENT DAIRY SEASON SPOILT BY DRY PERIOD

With prospects of a record season, which opened with a favourable spring and continued for several months, dry conditions set in early in the new year and had the result of cancelling the earlier increase which farmers over a wide area had enjoyed, the- president, Mr W. R Boon, states in his report to be presented at the annual,, meeting of the Bay of Plenty and East Coast Herd Improvement Association at Whakatane tomorrow. Despite this setback the season had been a good one.

Mr Booh states that a substantial increase of 113 herds and 8485 cows • was recorded, which brings the total cows tested twice or more to 53,388 in 782 herds—an increase of 18 per cent. Applications for testing next season are already in excess of those applying at the same time last year. This goes to prove that more dairymen every year are realising the value of continuous testing. It must be gratifying also to those responsible for the Herd Improvement Plan and the valuable work of the Herd Recording Department of the New Zealand Dairy Board. The value and importance of herd improvement through breeding, sire selection and noting the results .of the sire survey information is stressed by Mr Boon. He also mentions the necessity for surveying a herd sire, individual mating, calf identification and continuous testing/ Because of increased costs the Association has had to increase charges for herd recording during the 195051 season. The new rates decided on are:—

For herds of 20 cows and under £l2 5s (minimum charge). For herds of 21 to 50 cows, a herd fee of £2 10s plus 9s 6d per cow.

For herds of 51 to 100 cows a herd fee of £6 plus 8s per cow.

For herds of 101 cows and over a herd fee of £8 10s plus 7s 6d per cow.