HERD TESTING ASSOCIATION

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2907, 9 July 1925, Page 2

HERD TESTING ASSOCIATION

ADDRESS BY RANGIOTU MEMBERS.

There was a fair attendance of local and district farmers in the Town Hall supper-room last night to hear addresses delivered on “Herd Testing” by members of the Rangiotu Herd Testing Association. The meeting was presided over by Ilis Worship the Moyor (M. E. Perrenu Esq.), who in extending a welcome to the speakers, said he was pleased to see that local and district farmers had taken up herd testing as he believed it was in the best, interests of the dairy industry and farmers.

Mr Gimblett, President of the Rangiotu Herd Testing Association, said he was pleased of the opportunity to address Foxton farmers on the very important business of herd testing. Herd testing had been commenced at Rangiotu two years ago and had proved very satisfactory and he was pleased to say that their two years of experience had conclusively proved that their system was second to none in the Dominion. For one thing, it was cheaper than any other system that he knew of. For the first year the cost to farmers had been 3/0 per cow; for the second a fraction over ?>/- and next year they hoped to have the cost reduced to 2/9. Ii was only by careful administration that they were able to keep the cost down however, and nobody, except the tester, received any remuneration. They were very fortunate in having a very careful and enthusiastic secretary. The Association had grown in membership ever since its incejdion and, although two new groups had been formed, in the near future they would find it necessary to form two more. The Association had commenced with 1500 cows and at the end of June this year the number stood at 0,000. If Foxton came in with the Association this number would be augmented to 7,500.

Tn outlining the benefits to he derived from herd testing, Mr Gimblett said that they had been compelled to tost. Ninety per cent, of iBo farmers to-day could not afford to milk without testing. He strongly advocated that Foxton farmers should adopt their scheme of herd testing. Herd testing was an advance in the dairying industry, and an advance in the right direction. He said that some farmers were of the opinion that they had now reached the highest point in the advancement of the industry, but he was quite sure that there were just as big advancements yet to come in this direction as any that had so far been attained.

While on the question of herd testing, the speaker said that he would like to say a few words in connection with the Dairy Farmers’ Union. Their herd testing Association at Rangiotu was named the Rangiotu Dairy Farmers’ Union Herd Testing Association. He was fully convinced of the great need among dairy farmers for organisation. Tn the past dairy farmers had been pulling in two direction's, one lot of farmers in one direction and another in an other direction and consequently they had got nowhere. If they wanted to achieve greater success in the industry they must have a solid organisation. Twelve months ago a. Dairy Control Board had been instigated and was proved by a majority of farmers to he u step in the right direction. The establishing of this Board, he was sorry to say, had been tlie result of the efforts of only a small majority of those interested iu dairying. Sixty pel* cent, had backed up the Board but the other forty per cent, laid tried to damage it, and that opposition was now attempting, through Privy Council, to upset the absolute control which the Dairy Control Board says it must have. It was only “half-pie," he contended, if they were to sanction the movement without absolute control. Dairy farmers must be properly organised and if they would only get together they could do a marvellous lot to improve the industry. (.'outinning, he said he was pleased to note that sufficient- cows had been guaranteed to start herd testing locally. It would be an eyeopener to Foxton farmers to have their herds tested. It was impossible to tell a good cow from a poor one unless testing was undertaken in. He predicted that in five years’ time the test for cows in the Rangiotu Association would be in the vicinity of 300 lbs per cow. It was absolutely no trouble to farmers to have their herds tested as an official did all the work.

Mr JLegg, secretary' of the Rangiotu Association, also spoke on the subject and said his committee was prepared to do whatever they could for Fox ton if a committee was formed locally and sufficient money guaranteed to carry on operations for one season. lie also gave some valuable advice in connection with the formation of a local branch and outlined the initial expenses. He said that in the near future it would be impossible to sell cows at a sale unless some record of past tests could be produced. The cost of equipment would be in the vicinity of £6O, Mr. Win. Ross said that he had a testing laboratory, fully equipped and centrally situated, which he was prepared to place at the disposal of local farmers to give the Association a help along. Mr Legg said that in that case local farmers had all the equipment necessary and it now only remained for them to get together, form a committee and intake their own arrangements. Mr W. E. Barber asked if the

Rangiotu Association had any trouble in collecting the fees.

Mr Legg said that before a farmer joins the Association he had to sign two orders on his factory for payments. They had experienced no difficulty in that direction, however.

Mr Furguson also addressed the meeting. On the motion of Messrs. Barber and Woods a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the speakers for their very interesting and helpful address.

Mr Gimblett, in reluming thanks, said that they were only too pleased to give any assistance they could to local farmers, and was pleased to see the interest that was evinced in the matter that night. It was a hard job to get farmers together at any time to discuss matters and he again strongly stressed the need for organisation. In the past they had miserably failed because they had been a divided house. He contended that farmers had not had a fair deal in the past in the pig industry. Private bodies and combines had been doing their business for them because of the weakness of the industry and the middleman was receiving as much as the producer. It was the same with the butter and cheese. If all farmers recognised the Dairy Farmers' Union they would all get more improvements and benefits. He had never yet met a business farmer who regretted being a member of the Union. He would like to see Foxton form a branch of the Union. His Association gave preference to Union members. Air Barber suggested that the farmers should form groups, send their pigs to the Freezing Works themselves, have them classed and then put up for sale, and if they couldn’t get a reasonable price, to then send them to London. Mr Gimblett said that a deputation was going to wait on the Meat Control Board on those very lines next week.

The meeting decided not to support a remit that the Government subsidise herd testing but rather favoured the placing of grant towards research work. After further discussion the meeting terminated, it being decided to set. up a local committee to make arrangements for herd testing.