ECONOMY OF HERD-TESTING.

Shannon News, 17 May 1929, Page 3

ECONOMY OF HERD-TESTING.

PATEA ORGANISATION RUN AT LOW COST. ONE HERD INCREASES BUTTERFAT 3500 POUNDS. . The small expense at which organised herd-testing can be carried out, also some information regarding th? savings effected for farmers through the combing-out of their herds, were revealed' at the sixth executive meeting of the Patea District Herd-besting Association (Inc.) The secretary, Mr H. Woodyear Smith, reported that at the conclusion of th-3 eighth period the association would be ■in, an exceedingly favourable position. Despite opposition and many adverse reports, this association had conducted an efficient testing service at the price of 4s per cow for group members and 3s for association members. This sum was entirely apart from the Government subsidy, which would be handed on to the members as soon a* it was received. The sum of 4s per cow included the Dominion Herd Testing Federation levy of -Jd per cow. The association, after the first year's working, was in the fortunate position that it would be completely free of debt, and all plant and equipment to the value of £450 paid tors being 'practically the same as at an ordinary milking. This waa remarkable, and, considering that between 6000 lb and 70001 b of milk were successfully handled in 2| hours at each milking on test day, reflected great credit on the owner of the heid and also on the visiting testing officers. The acting-chairman, Mr A. B. Muggeridge, instanced the case of one member who, after one year's testing, had actually increased the butter-fat production of his herd on his,factory returns to the end of January, 1929, by 35001 b butter-fat, the same number of cows being milked as last season. Mr Muggeridge added that the advantages of calf-marking were having a very far reaching effect on dairying, as calves marked with the official ear-mark of the Dominion Group Herd Testing Federation could be bought with confidence, the dam having qualified according to the standards laid down by the Federation. for. This was especially good, considering that during' the first round only 2100 cows were tested, and these were the only cows charged at the rate of 4s. During the second period some 2800 cows "were tested, which meant that 700 cows in this period were only charged at the rate of 3s 6d per cow. During the third period, from which date all cows wen charged for to the end of the season, some 3400 cows were entered, 600 cows in this period being only charged at the rate of 3s per cow.

Everything had to be taken into consideration, and the association had covered all classes of country during the present season's operations. Members had expressed complete satisfaction with the organisation ajid service, some really remarkable cases being instanced where the butter-fat returns from the factory and the returns from the association had been practically pound for pound. The largest herd tested by the association was that of Mr D. Chamberlain, Kakaramea, wher.j practically 200 cows were successfully dealt with, the time taken for milking this, herd with the everyday detec-