HERD-TESTING

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 221, 16 August 1939, Page 1

HERD-TESTING

REPORT FOR THE YEAR EEF'IOCT OF BA I) WEATHER. A decline of 2690 cows under test when compared with the previous season’s figures is attributed to the adverse spring and winter weather in the directors’ report to the Ray of Plenty Herd Testing Association, presented! at the ](ith. annual meeting of the association in Whakatane recently, by- the president. 61 r. W. R. Boon, .Mi-. Eoou reported that under the Dairy Hoard’s herd improvement plan an amalgamation had taken place between the Bay of Plenty Association, and the Poverty Bay and Wairoa, Association, so that operations for the (cniing season would be conducted unci: r tin- name of (he Bay of Plenty and East Coast Herd Improvement Association. This course* was adopted to secure more uniform and economic working of the herdl testing movement. Owing to the Covernment subsidy a reduction of fees had been made possible, details being: Membership toe Cl for each herd, plus 6s per cow up to 92 cows ; then. 4s per cow up to 26 cows; then 9s a- cow up to 10U cows, and 2s 6:1 a cow for all. cows over 100, a reduction of 4<l a cow being given on all cows over 96 in one herd. The minimum fee is CO a> herd. Surplus Shown Reviewing the financial position .Mr. Boon saidi that the income and expenditure account showed a surplus el income of ; Cl6 16s Id. and since an amount of C2II 7s lid was written elf against plant on. hand the directors considered the position most satisfactory. The total cost' a cow for the past season was .’9d less, and in view (u the unfavourable season, and the difficulties attendant upon the sudden drop in the number of cows tinder test, Ibis result was particularly satisiactory. The association average of 2091b5. fat in 297 days represented a serious decline, but it was not necessary to enlarge on tin* reasons since tanners Were only too aware of the almost unprecedented spell of adverse weather, which restilted in almost all herds wintering badly. with a consequent dmo in production. Air. Boon quoted a table showing the progress of the association from 1926-26 when there were 8949 cows under test to last season when there were 90,962. In 19988,9 i here, were 16 groups, consisting of 9,71 herds and 99.962 cows were tested and 27.699 charged for. I hey averaged 269H>s. fat in 297 days. Higher Herds He congratulated the members who had the honour of owning the highest herds. They were:— I to 26 cows, J. IX Ritchie, Awakcri group, 11 cows, 6Uoihs. lat 267 days. 2l to 60 cows. (X Bisliopriek, To Buko group, 21 cows, 9291b5. fat 2.4 days. ■6O to 100 cows, Boon and Berg, Yvhakataiie group, 66 cows, 9'4olbs. lat 261 days. 101 and over, G. J. Murray. Otakiri group, 127 cows, 91 Gibs, lat 276 days. The Otakiri group beaded the list

of group averages with herds comprising 1455 cows and an average of 224 lbs. fat in 313 days. A pedigree Jersey owned by Mr. J. 1). Ritchie gave the highest yield by producing 6301b5. fat in '313 days. Mr. Boon said that Mr. W. J. Lawhad been elected to the Herd' Recording Council, and would represent the association on that. body. Expenses and income Among other items in the expenditure and income account testing expenses are shown as £3747 2s 2d and secretarial and committee expenses at £1605 14s 3d, which with other charges makes a total expenditure of £56-54 l3s 9d. Income was £5671 16s. The costs per cow amounted' to Is 1.1 Id, and the income 4s 1.20 d. making a surplus of .14d.