COW-TESTING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4603, 19 September 1923, Page 1

COW-TESTING.

ECONOMY OF THE METHOD. ENSURINP BETTER RESULT®. The shrinkage in the bu,tter-fat cheques necessitates the utmost care in atttending to the general comfort of the herd, because the more the comfort is increased the greater will be the yearly total sum realised for butterfat or milk. There must also be economy gentrally, always bearing in mind that there is a false economy that invariably leads to disaster, namely, the economy of starvation. It is only through milk testing that we can reach the highest standard of production. By cow testing we detect without blunder the -nember of the herd whose annual cost in food and labour is greater than the sum realised by the sale of her but-ter-fat or milk, and even if we do not put a better cow in her place we still have effected economy. The whole dairying world owes a debt of gratitude to the Danes, who first introduced milk testing in 1895. Even the ablest of judges of dairy cows cannot tell with certainty their milking capacities by conformation alene, and a wrong opinion may be formed even by the most careful scrutiny of the milk yield,' except the milk be carefully weighed and tested. Also, it is only by milk testing that we can learn to what an extent are' desirable dairy qualities hereditary ; to what extent individual cows vary from season to season, the effect of age on butter-fat yield, and within what limits does the system of feeding and caring for the general comfort of the herd influence the yield. Milk testing also stimulates the interest of the farmer in the individual members of the herd —a most important point and one bf the secrets of success. There is also the economy of treating the herd in a kindly manner generally, which leads to a sort of sympathy between farmer and cow, and culminates in the best, possible results. Then there is .he economy of cleanliness and general sanitation, which assists in keeping the herd, young and old, in the best of health and enables us Yp turn out highcla*s dairy products which command top prices in the market. There is also the economy of improving the surroundings and general working conditions of the family or the hired hands, so that they may have some inducement to stay on the land, for it is useless to disguise the fact that dairy farming under the worst, conditions is nothing more or less than monotonous drudgery, but if there is a system of give and take between farmers and employees, and attractive working conditions, the work of dairy farming may be made pleasant for all concerned. We must also bear i-n mind .that, as a rule, the best working conditions secure the most whole-hearted services. There is the economy of punctually, which is of much greater importance than many farmers seem to realise. Punctuality in the time of milking and time of feeding calves and pigs will help to increase the amounts on the butter-fat cheques. Turning out late for milking in the morning, as a rule, goes hand in hand with bad temper and unnecessarily harsh treatment of the herd, which results in timid cows holding up their milk. The man who is late out of bed never comes to the milking shed whistling or singing. If he speaks < all it is certain to be in the form of a grumble, forgetting that he alone is the culprit. Truly, there are many ways of ensuring greater results from your dairy herd when proper consideration and attention are given to such simple matters as are outlined above.