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Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1927, Page 2

It is clear from the reports circulated from time to time that dairying is making much greater progress in the North Isaltul than the South Island. There are several contributory causes lor this. One is climate, no doubt. Another is the value of the land, the greater cost of land in the north stimulating holders to get as much out of ft, and consequently the land is worked more systematically. But of late it is evident from figures published that the increase in output in the north is very substantial and other ' iuses are responsible for the increase. We believe it is .attrihutahle to herd testing. That is a phase of dairying governed neither by climate nor land value. It has been poured into the ears of dairy farmers for a long time pa»t that herd testing pays and though the behest is accepted as a truism, very little heed is paid to i( in prac-

tice. Now the Government is recognising the value of herd testing in n practical way and CTrbinet has approved a grant of £B9OO as a subsidy towards the cost of herd-lc.-ting carried out by associations in the Dominions. Westland, which lias potentialities in regard to dairying--a. humid climate, a steady growth of green feed all the year round and a market- equal to absorbing all local produce—might well

see what can he done about an Association to participate not .so much in any generous part of the subsidy, hilt in the ultimate value to lie derived by these associated in tile increased yields following a careful watching of the profit per row. The robber cow is in most herds far too many of them - but; there is very little check on the animals, and that not with-stand-ing that time and again settlers are warned of tlie value of testing and given striking: examples of returns possible from a- well culled herd. The .Minister of Agriculture in announcing the gilt of the proposed subsidy the other day, gave a striking example well worth quoting. He sat?! the Herd Testing Association found that in one district twenty-nine herds had in each ease exceeded 30!)lh. per cow. One herd went up over the 40011>. marl;. When it is remembered that the average production per cow in New Zealand is less than 2!)0I1> it is quite reasonable to suppose that the general average can. be lifted to a point that would make dairy farming far more profitable than it is at present. Having i his in view the Government is prepared, in spite of the fact that it is a had year, to try t > get more of the dairy farmers to test their cows. "Eventually.” ('(included the Minister, “dairymen will find that marking of calves from cows of big’? productive (loul)tely calves from a superior row by a. pedigree bull would give the dairy farmer such added value as "ouid pay tile whole oj the expenses o Iheid testing. ’ I here is great profit in the undertaking for the dairy tanner, and the marvel is that herdtesting is such n dead letter on the whole.