HERD TESTING

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1931, Page 3

HERD TESTING

ELIMINATION <>F CULL COW#. IMPETUS TO DAIRYING. NEW PLYMOUTH; June 23. The progress made by the Dominion. Group Herd-Testing Federation since its formation in July, 1926, . was reviewed by the president, Mr Dynes Fulton, in a. report submitted at the ; annual . meeting of the federation at New Plymouth to-day. In the 1926-27 season the federation-' had eight affiliated herd testing associations, representing a total, of 88,549 cows. Each successive year has seen additions' to the federation’s membership and last season lits affiliations number 26 associations representing 226,340 cows.. , "The slump of 1921-2 s, was responsible for the formation of the group herd-testing movement,” said Mr Fulton, "and the present low prices, together -with, the immediate prospect of moderate ‘prices only, should, give a fresh impetus to the further development of this vitaL adjunct to dairy farm, management. We should take, a lesson from our chief competitor, Denmark, where at least 33 1-3 per cent, of the cows are under test each year. They have concentrated on herd-test-ing and that factor is largely responsible for their average over all cows of 2701 b.

(PRO'EHTABLE PRODUCTION. ~ "In this Dominion not-more than 20 per cent, of the cows are under test, with an- average over all; caws of 2201 b. Qujte a large .proportion;of ; the. dairyfarmers in the Dominion., to-day can, produce profitable at Is par lb. Their average, however, is not 2201 b., but over 3001 b. It must .'be, obvious, therefore that were it mot for the benefits of group herd;testing up to the present time thousands of our dairy farmers could not have carried on during this present time of low prices and depression. "What has been done by many can be done by practically all. Land described as second class and much regarded as worthless a few years ago, has, with, the aid of fertilisers, been turned into profitable dairy farms. The Dominion is dependent on a prosperous dairying industry. The two vital factors in attaining that objective are herd-testing and top-dres-sing.”

GREAT POSSIBILITIES. Air Fulton drew attention to the work (being done at Palmerston Nortfi by the Department of Agriculture. Its plant research station, in certifying grass seeds, was conferring a great benefit on the farmers of the Dominion. > THeir work, added to pasture management!, and rotational grazing, opened up possibilities of a pro-, dnotion , per .[cow and , per acre: undreamt, of seven years ago. The-• Massey- Agricultural College also provided a I6iig felt '.want for 1 the, tuition oif -young men anxious to take up herd-testing work. The training there was invaluable to them when starting on a group. He anticipated that ,an- increasing: number of,, .farmers’ sons would take- up, this work. The wide experience gained' would he invaluable to them on their return- to dairy farming.

"There are now a number of forces working on the question of production,” said MV Fulton. "I would like to see those forces co-ordinated so that a uniform system of grassland dairy farming could lie advanced embracing the absolute necessities, to bring about the best results in the shortest space of time. With'this in mind, the herdtesting central executive decided That

the kupervisor, at his meetings this wiinter, should uAc a lantern to assist his addresses, and that he should speak on dairy farm management generally instead of confining his remarks to herd-testing. He has been, snpplied with slides by the Department of Agriculture, Massey ... Agricultural College, and the New ..Zealand Dairy Produce Board, and, ~>yith some .very effective slides .on herd-testing. bis addresses should prove really helpful to dairy-fanners.’’. > ... v ., .. . , , “A" ' I'.'

The herd-testing central executive has held three meetings during the paist year and had given' careful consideration to the method of allocation of the Government .subside for the present season, he- added. The executive would not finalise on l this years subsidy of' ' £BOOO until probably August.