The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 1927. HOW AUSTRALIA AIDS HERD TESTING.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10318, 29 January 1927, Page 6

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 1927. HOW AUSTRALIA AIDS HERD TESTING.

The Federal Ministry has decided upon a plan to improve the quality and productiveness of the dairy herds in Australia that should interest the dairying folk of this Dominion. It is well-known that, during the past two years, the Commonwealth .Export Control Board, has done much to improve the conditions under which, butter and cheese are graded and shipped. With the aid of its Exports Guarantee Act and Kural Credits Act Australia has,, too, enabled dairy produce to he held when the marketproved unfavorable and to be made available in large quantities when the market happened to be advantageous. The publicity campaign carried out in Britain has also, unquestionably, stimulated the demand tor Australian produce. Concurrently, much has been done in all the States in connection with herd testing. It has now been decided by the Federal Government to subside their •efforts in that' iniportaut direction. What is proposed is that each State Government shall receive from the Commonwealth an amount of 3/6 per cow for the first 400 cows in each herd-testing uiri: and Is for bach in excess of that number up to and including 1000 cows. This plan will, it seemsj work out in this wise: £7O will be paid by the Commonwealth in connection with a 400-eow unit, £75 for a 500-cow unit, £BO for a 600-cow unit, £BS for a 700-cow unit, £9O for a 800-cow unit, £95 for a 900-cow unit, and £IOO for a I‘ooo-cow unit. With regard to Queensland, where no herd testing units exist,' but where the whole of the expenditure is borne by the State, the Commonwealth will render assistance at the rate of 2s a cow, which is the equivalent of £IOO for every 1000 cows tested. It is laid down that every unit must be sufficiently large to require the services of one tester. Other conditions attach to the offer, viz., that each State Government contribute a sum not less than the amount paid by the Commonwealth Government; that any extra expense necessary must be borne by the dairymen; that the testing be done at 30 day intervals; and that the Federal Government officers be allowed to investigate the results that are obtained. For the first- year, the expenditure as far as the 'Federal Government is concerned, will run into at least £IO,OOO so that, with State subsidies to a like amount, £20,000 at least will be available for dairy herd testing. No guarantee is offered by the Commonwealth authorities that the subsidy will be continued next year but an assurance has been given that, if the results of the first year’s operations are satisfactory, more money will he found for the work. It will he widely admitted that the joint action py the Federal Government and the State Governments will make available a handsome sum for use in the important direction of carrying on war more strenuously in Australia on the “scrub” hull and his equally useless companion, the “scrub” cow. Will New Zealand follow on similar lines?