HERD TESTING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 222, 19 August 1937, Page 5

HERD TESTING.

MANAWATU ASSOCIATION. “It is with regret that I report, a decrease in the membership of the association, especially so now that the guaraniccd price foi- dairy produce has given a more settled outlook to farmers’ finances and enabled budgeting of farm expenditure with a reasonable degree of accuracy,” states the chairman of the Manawatu Co-opera-tive Herd-Testing Association (Mr W. 11. Gimbletl) in his report presented to today’s annual meeting. “This decrease should not have taken place,” be added, “as although an increase in the per cow charge was made, thin charge, based on a butterfat basis, was lower than for tho slump years.' Further, it is only by increasing production that oilier increasing costs can be met. and herd-testing will assist in this direction to a greater extent than any other investment. “Despite the fact that *lio decrease in the number of cows tested caused a general inercaso in the pence per cow of all overhead expenses, the year from a financial viewpoint was a successful one,, the expenditure being less than was estimated: the outstanding fees also being the lowest, on record. Tho herd testers in the Auckland industrial district formed a union and bad a conference with the associations operating in that area. An agreement regarding wages transport, etc., was entered mlo. and this will set the standard of wages throughout New Zealand. r J ho associations concerned have a much higher average herd size than this association, and, m fact, higher than almost all other associations outside that area, and in consequence arc better ablo to pay the high wages. This association' has, however, agreed to pay the same scale of charges, our testing officers agreeing to continue doing tho test sheets which the testers in the Auckland district arc not required to do. This will assist to offset' the smaller average herd, but it is anticipated that the coming season will show a financial loss. Tho. executive were of the. opinion that an increase in tho charge for testing should bo avoided if possible. . , “Although a substantial reduction m the charge for calf marking was made, this did not have the effect of increasing _ the number of calves marked. The inquiries for marked in-calf heifers exceeding the supply, members are strongly recommended to adopt calf marking. ‘“The sire survey scheme being launched by the Dairy Board is of great importance to the individual as well as nationally, lho individual will bo supplied with an accurate comparison between the daughters of his herd sire and their darn 6, and nationally a survey will be made of all sires ill use and the results they effect in the dairy industry. At first only unofficial surveys will be’ available to mcmbeis, as but lew members have all daughters. ■of their sires individually identifiable. To enable official surveys to be made in the future, all heifer calves will bo individually identified by. tattooing during tlie coming season. The Dairy Board is providing tho sire survey scheme free and the association will tattoo tho calves free, hence members are esked to co-opcr-afo with this scheme as well as with the depreciation in herds survey.. . . “-Members arc asked to give particulars to the testing officer of the causes of all cows being culled or otherwise disposed of from the herd. This information is being analysed by the Dairy Board an'd will be treated as strictly confidential. Much is talked of the depreciation in herds, but no accurate data is yet available. To have information available as to the inroads diseases, etc., make into the herd, should be of the utmost value to farmers in bringing to the notice of the .Government, Mortgage Adjustment Commissions, and the general public the n.any difficulties with which the farmers have to contend. “Several sales of' tested dairy herds have been held during this spring, bringing very satisfactory prices. Notable among those was that of Mr H. E. Turner, of Kairanga, whoso herd, including 13 rising two-xcar-olds and twenty-eno calves, averaged the high figure of twelve guineas. It is l gi.atifving to see that Mr Turner’s many years of testing:with this association was fuhy roeognisod. - I ’ s “To tho owners of the highest herds and cows I offer my congratulations, Worthy of special mention are those belonging to M,r W. J. McGovern, of Fordcll, whose five pedigree Jerseys have topped the association for the fifth year in succession, and of Mr E. I’. Hall, Kairanga, whoso herd of 61 cows averaged 4441 b of fat in 288 days, this being ' the . highest average yet recorded by this association for a herd over forty cows. The thanks of tho association are due to the dairy company secictarics wtio again deducted all fees without making tho usual legal charge. Sonuj seven years ago the association solicited the help of the dairy companies in financially guaranteeing the association between seasons. 'This they were good enough to do, and their representatives upon tho association’s executive have given good service to the association. The association lias, however, carried its own finances for the past few years and should continue to do so. It lias therefore been decided to revert to the association’s executive being composed entirely of members’ repre enlatives as from the’ 1933-39 season, one member representing each of the eight wards into which the association’s territory will be divided. . . “The smooth running of the .association during the past twelve months reflects great credit upon the efficiency and courtesy of the employees, and affhough several’ replacements have been, necessary in our outside staff, these have been made with every care, and it is felt will give every satisfaction to members. It is with, regret; I report that one of our testing officers, Mr A. W. Rait, was laid aside with ill-health several months ago. We wish him an early recovery to good, health. Tho past year has been a very trying one for the executive, and I wish to express mv appreciation to fellow executive members for the way they worked together, especiallv. when I wr.fi away from the Dominion for several months, when the chairmanship was capably filled by Mr Gudopp.