HERD TESTING ASSOCIATION

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2903, 30 June 1925, Page 3

HERD TESTING ASSOCIATION

LOCAL BRANCH FORMED. At the conclusion of sin address on Mammitis, given in the Town Hall Supper-room last Saturday afternoon a. meeting of local and district farmers was held to deal with the question of joining up with the Herd Testing Association. Mr. Win. Ross was elected to the chair. In outlining the benefit, to he derived from joining up with the Association, Mr Ross said that, he had been interested in the matter for some time and had his own testing equipment. As a result of tests carried out on his properties, 15 to 20 cows had been milled out, and he was now receiving 7,000 lbs. of butter fat from a less number of cows. He would, personally, prefer to l>e a member of the Association, and was prepared to help in any way to have, a branch formed locally. Mr F. Woods said that an attempt had been made to have a branch formed locally some time ago, and had been turned down by farmers. Mr S. Austin said that the reason that farmers had not taken up the matter before was that it. entailed too much work. The testing had since been simplified, and a man was sent round the farms for the purpose of making the tests. Mr Woods said that the cost to farmers would be, 3s fid per cow for the whole season. Mr Brown said that times had been good for dairy farmers of recent years, and little interest bad been evinced in the Association. However, they could not always have the good times, and farmers would then not want any “boarders.” He was strongly in favour of a branch Association being formed locally. Mr. Austin said as a result, of testing he had been able to cull 30 cows out of a herd of 90 without affecting his butter-fat return. A guarantee of 1,500 cows having been arranged, for in the room, it was decided that a branch Association he formed locally, and that the secretary of the Rangiotu Herd Testing Association be invited to address a meeting of farmers in FoaHton at an early date.