PROGRESS OF HERD-TESTING.

Putaruru Press, 7 June 1928, Page 8

PROGRESS OF HERD-TESTING.

ADDRESS BY MANAGER. Meeting at Morrinsville. About 25 dairymen, representing all the districts surrounding Morrinsville, were present at a meeting of the New Zealand Herd-testing Association addressed by the general manager, Mr. C. M. Hume, in Mor- | rinsville on Monday of last week. Mr. E. C. N. Robinson was elected to the chair. In the course of his address Mr. Hume dealt with the business and j progress of the company during the past year. During the season there was a 15 per cent, increase in the number of cows tested, totalling about 78,000. The question of the Government subsidy was fully dealt with, and at the conclusion a motion was unanimously carried that all money received in the form of subsidy should be placed to the credit of the general fund, with the object of wiping off the remaining plant account, and thereby putting the company on its own feet with regard to finance. In the advent of a Government subsidy being granted on next season’s testing it was moved and carried that a sliding scale should be introduced by which the larger herds would be tested at a reduced rate. Mr. L. Wooderson asked if it would be possible to introduce a system by which the dairymen who had been testing over a number of years could have their herds tested on a slightlyreduced scale.

It was pointed out that unfortunately, owing to many members not testing continuously, it would be very difficult to carry this into effect at the present time.

Mr. Hume then explained how rapidly the calf-marking system had made progress, there being up to the present date between 3000 and 4000 marked. Several orders for marked calves had come in from outside districts, among, which was one from Fiji for 75. Mr. A. Cunningham, of Kereone, placed 10 of the Fiji order at £7 7?. At the conclusion of the meeting Mr. Robinson and MA Wooderson complimented the management on their evident care and tact in selecting men to represent the company on the farms, as during the past season they were impressed by the way the sampling men had assisted in the sheds during testing periods. Mr. Hume was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his instructive and able address.