THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 1922. HERD TESTING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4428, 16 June 1922, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 1922. HERD TESTING.

The first results of the past season of a neighbouring Herd Testing Association have just been published and it would not be out of place to direct our farmer friends to study the results. The work for the year has certainly proved to those engaged in the industry that there are many “ duffers ” milked, and that these take as much time aud feed as the best. There is no questioning the fact that a farmer should be a business man, and that one of the essentials of intelligent farm management is the testing of the herd. The various testing associations have proved over and over again the results that can be achieved by testing. Feed, as is well known, is a very great factor in the production of butter fat, but it must be remembered that the lowest tester of the herd takes as much to keep as the highest tester. In a test extending over three years, the first year a farmer culled 10 out of a herd of 70, and the next year he culled a further 10, and from his 50 cows the third year produced slightly more than he did with the 70 cows. Feed in this case was perhaps the cause, but the farmer saved himself the drudgery of milking the extra 20 cows. It was also pointed out at the meeting that it was useless for a man to cull his herd and purchase at random at the sales. If the cattle he is purchasing have been tested, then he is safe, but otherwise he should resort to breeding, and breeding only from stock that is backed up with butter fat records. The average test per cow in the Dominion is far too low, and we are looking forward to the time when every cow in the country will be tested and prove its worth as a producer. The figures published elsw here speak for themselves, and are worth while a little study on the part of those engaged in the industry. The work that Mr Fyrne has done by giving lectures on this important subject has certainly borne fruit and be is well deserving of the kindly expressions tendered to him bv the Association.