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Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1932, Page 4

It is very gratifying to find that herdtesting is growing in, favour in Westland. The report published on Wednesday stated, fifty per cent, of the cows on the . Coast were now being tested and that. percentage means nearly six hundred, cows. The settlers are alive to the; wisdom of testing,, arid that alertness morel essential than ever now that the butter-market lies been flattened. Tp rn'.et the present st/ite of affairs increased production is essentia], and the way to find cut the robber cows in the production of butter-fat,’is .by testing. The present season, like the one before, has been lean compared with past returns, but Jt looks as though butter prices . are going to be almost standardised, and that high levels are not likely to recur. Taking London parity as , the guage, it dias to be remembered that the Home"market, is ..now flushed;. with much foreign butter. Russia is now a permanent competitor with facilities to supply great quantities. Such a competitor pan do much to keep down prices. At the time of wr{t : ng it is not known -whether the quota system for Dominion butter will he finalised at Ottawa for the ITome market. If such should come to pass the position? will he assisted to some extent, but the world production of butter now is so substantial that the supply ‘ ean be considered always more than ample for the demand. This prospect is reason enough for dairy farmers to overhaul their methods of production. In the first place the herds should be of He best.. The .result in that direction already is very satisfying, and if in an improved standard' were more general, the lower price for butter-fat would .not he Mt so much individually. Dairy production makes .up a large part of the national, wealth and those participating (for the same amount of labour) should get as much out of their'enterprise as possible. A profit-, able herd in the ma.tt‘-T of production becomes a first consideration. There are other ways to help the profit in the way of production and manufacture. That is a twice told tale so far as this column is concern, but this Is a time when that aspect should have the most serious concern of the dis* trict dairy farmers,