TESTING COWS.

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 148, 4 September 1919, Page 3

TESTING COWS.

Tatua Factory Taking Action. Arguments in favor of the employment cf a tester at the Tatua factory, a man to be controlled by the directors, were adduced by Mr W. Darrall, chairman of dictors, at the annual meeting of suppliers of the factory at Tatuanui on Tuesday. Mr Darrall said to ask tho manager of the factory to do his own testing was like allowing the book-keeper to audit his own books. There was no doubt, said Mr Darrall, that many suppliers milked " duffers" of cows without knowing it in their herds. If 300 cows were culled from the 3000 animals which supplied the factory, there would be. a great difference in the average test and tho quality of milk supplied. A man might be milking 10 cows throughout the year which if tested might prove to be utterly useless to him.- He strongly advocated employment pfa tester, and invited information and suggestions on the point. When a man had his cows tested, Mr Darrall continued, he took a greater interest in them. He worked for a higher standard, a standard it would be impossible to obtain by tho haphazard methods now employed. Testing could be done at 2s per cow per year, or at 3d for each test, the bottles to be supplied by the' owners. Several shareholders offered suggestions and generally approved of the idea. Mr Darrall said plenty of work could be had to keep the tester employed. It had been suggested to him that "he might be put to inspecting the plant and sheds of suppliers. If no objections were raised by the shareholders it was the intention of tho directors to start tho tester almost at once.