HERD-TESTING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5437, 19 June 1929, Page 4

HERD-TESTING.

THE NGATEA GROUP.

ANNUAL MEETING OF BRANCH

The fourth annual meeting of the Ngatea branch of the N.Z. Herd Testing Association was held on Friday afternoon last, Mr G. T. Davidson presiding over a very small attendance. Mr C. M. Hume, general manager of the association, was present, and gave a resume of the year’s operations and financial position. The association, he said, had, during the past season, paid its way out of revenue, and was now financially sound. The average production of all cows tested which were milked for 100 days or over, including slips, sick cows, etc., was between 2501 b and 2601 b of but-ter-fat. The Ngatea group average was considerably under this. Members pointed out that this was probably due to the fact that the testing ceased while Ngatea herds were still giving fair quantities of milk.

Mr Hume said that this could be overcome by a June test, which would be done on request.

Dealing with the 'work of the federation of herd-testing associations, Mr Hume explained that almost all the associations in the Dominion had joined up, and the federation had been the means of securing the Government subsidy. This subsidy would mean a bonus of practically Is a cow tested.

The extension of the operations of his association was touched on by Mr Hume, who explained the means of putting the finances on such a sound basis that it would not need to lean on the N.Z. Co-operative Dairy Co. but could stand on its own feet. This was probable during the coming season, and when it eventuated all the proprietary company herd-testing associations would cease to function and members would join up with the district groups. Great assistance would be given the association by members allowing the amount of Government subsidy to go towards the cost of next season’s testing. The individual amounts would be very small, but the total represented a sum that would be of great assistance to the association.

Mr Hume reported on the calfmarketing scheme, and showed the value of the scheme as shown by the test figures of marked heifers. He mentioned that there was going to be a shortage of heifers owing to the rapid growth of the bobby calf trade, and explained the future of the export trade to the Pacific Islands of marked calves. The address was a long and interesting one, and many interesting side-lines were discussed.