HERD TESTING.

Shannon News, 8 April 1927, Page 3

HERD TESTING.

PROGRESS OF THE SYSTEM. LEVIN-MANAKAU COMMITTEE FORMED. An appeal for the general support o: farmers to tht; organised herd-testing system was made by Mr. W. 11. Gimblett, president of the Manawatu Herdtesting Association, at a gathering on Mr R. Evans's farm, Buller Road, yesterday afternoon. Mr Gimblett stated that executive had received very favourable reports from the group in operation at this end of the district. They were very pleas--1 ed, at the beginning of the season ; to know that local farmers had decided to come into the association. It had been the ambition of the organisation to extend its operations as far as possible. The association had started in a email way four years ago, and had been growing year by year. It had been found from experience that it was impossible for any dairy farmer to early oiv dairying successfully unless his herd was tested. An association such as this was an incorporated body, with rules,-and. regulations, which every member had to abide by. It was a cooperative movement, which meant that if the members 1 did not pull together it was imposible to maintain a live association. Certain farmers in some parts of the district had started testing verj enthusiastically and had carried on quite satisfied for a season or two, tlvnking that they had found out quite sufficient to suit their purpose. Consequently a number had dropped out of the association, thinking they knew sufficient, having tested every cow in Then*.herds. This idea was a delusion. It was impossible for any farmer to carry on successful dairying unless 1 he was a continual tester year by year. If lie rested for two seasons and then went en for . another two seasons without testing, he would get back to where he started from. The farmer had not on- ' ]y to get rid of the bad cows, but to maintain the standard, and for this purpose constant testing was necessary. Another aspect, Mr Gimblett said, was the financial side of the_ associa--tion. It was found that quite a lot )f members had an objection to what was called "double banking". In naiv districts there were a number of sniqil farmers who had less than 30 cows. These men considered that they mut*t individually have the services of a T.ester month by month. If this group was to be run as cheaply as possible it was necessary for the smaller farmers to work in with their neighbours in th.? matter of testing. This would enable the testing officer to include a far greater number of cows in a group. If this was properly carried out, he thought that the cost of testing need not exceed 4/- per cow which was a yeiy low pric? indeed. He had seen a report from Wairaropa, and the lowest cost, there was 5/-; in Waikato it ranged from 5/6 to 8/-. The association, was doing its level best to keep the cost of testing as low as possible.

Mr. Gimblett added that the association.-, wished to have representation from vhis end of the district on the executive, if possible, and for this reason they intended, if it was the wish of the farmers here, to hold an executive meeting at Levin. The association had six groups and had been holding its meetings at Rangiotu; but there was no representation from this end on the executive, and it was thought that it would be advisable to hold an executive meeting now and again at Levin. The annual meeting of the Association would be held at Palmerston ou June Kith, and he hoped that every, member would attend, as there were some subjects of vital interest to the dairy farmer to be discussed, such as- a Government grant and factory subsidies. He was delighted to see the ladies present on this occasion. The lady membeis of the Association were quite as deeply interested in the testing as the male members were. (Hear, hear). Herd-testing afforded a fine edu >.ation. for the rising generation on the dairy farms, and he hoped that the members would create interest among the young people. The president also stated that in aT. their experience the executive hid not mc-t with a better man for the work ihau theiv tester, Mr A. Hamilton, ami they hoped that they would have hi. services for a long time. (Applause). Mr J. Ferguson, organising secretary' stated that the first member in this district was a lady, Mrs Laing. Mr F. Legg (treasurer) stressed th.--fact that the Association is a strictly co-operative concern, and urged the members in the southern end of the di< trict to consider matters for disou.-. sion at the annual meeting. Mr Single ton, Government Dairy Instructor. would be at the Show, and if the mem beis had any suggestions, such as press ing for a subsidy, it would carry more weight with the Dairy Division thai: with 'any other body. As it was the wijh of those preseir. that a meeting of the executive shoulc be held in Levin, Mr Legg stated that this would be done.

In answer to a question by Mr Evans as to* the practicability of small suburban herds being covered by the testing scheme, the president said that the Association was in some instances dealing with as few as three cows. Mr Evans remarked that it was quit;: a simple matter, where such owners were handy to a larger herd, to work in with a* neighbour for testing. Mr Legg stated that unless there was a number approaching 1500 cows in a group, the Association could not carry out the testing at the present price. It was pointed out that &t Kuku the 'herds generally consisted of fiom 20 to 30 cows.

The President said that the rules provided that the cost should not exceed 4s per cow. However, the point which had been mentioned would give the Association food for reflection as to whether they should have a different price for testing herds of 30 cows or under.

Mr Ferguson said it had been suggested that they should engage a sampler to work with the tester. This •neant having a boy to bring the sarnies over to where the tester was doing his work. In such a case the number of cows to be handled could be doubled.

The President: We will give it our consideration.

A; resolution was passed rceon?.i^e»d"

ing the executive to go inte the quesion cf fixing a minimum price for testing herds of 30 cows or under. Subsequently the following were appointed to constitute a committee for the southern group:—Messrs B. Evans, L. Griffiths and R. V. Brown (Levin), 11. Nicholas (Kuku), and A. M. Atkins (Manakau). A meeting will be held to elect a chairman, and decisions arrived at by th-3 committee will be forwarded to the executive.