The Dairy Industry.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7922, 11 September 1905, Page 2

The Dairy Industry.

IMPORTANCE OF TESTING COWS* | DISCUSSIOE AT A FACTORY MEETING.

At the annual meeting of the Riverdalc Factor shareholders last week i the question of testing cows came up for discussion. Mr T. R. Jxlcy introduced tiie matter and expressed the opinion that every cow in each herd should be thoroughly tested. The time had come when (here was loom only for the best cows in any herd and until a cow had been testod, at least three or four times in the season, and hoinc the tiest satisfactorily, .she tod fo right to iAi permanenlly included in any herd. He would like the meeting to discuss the question and sic if some (scheme c.oula be (propounded which would meet the case. Mr Kavanah suggested that the services of a Government tester be obtained for the work. Mr Jones stated that he had discussed the question with Mr Washer, senr. They had come to the conclusion that it would he a good idea to employ a tester to go around the farms. Each farmer could -pay so much per head for each cow tested. Of course he thought the cost of .iuch an expert would be too heavy ior the Riverdale suppliers alone to .jcar, l.iul he would suggest that one or some of the other factories htj asked to join them in the matter. He did not wish to press the schema on the suppliers, but he recognised that something ought to be done in the matter at once. The Chairman said he would not i ,*! agreeable to,the Company bearing the cost of the scheme. some scheme should be promuilgatuk .vhich would be to their mutual adI vantage. He did not think a Government expert would meet the • cajse 'He Was sure hat by proper co-operation a beneicial scheme lor testing cows could e arranged. Mr Washer, sent., thought t'ha'ti it ' rivate testing bottles Were kept and ■rough! to the factory for testing it ■ .vouM lie a workable scheme. A ; charge would be inAile for the test-

ing, ivlr Wvborn intimated that he had given the subject much consideration. He had been convinced since visiting the recent Dairy Conference at Palmerslon Nortli that the industry in Taranaki would he greatly advanced by having a workable scheme for testing the herds. The matter had seemed complex enough at Ihe outset but he had thought out a scheme which he bplieved would je thoroughly practicable. The .eheino was as follows If 1000 cows were guaranteed at three tests apiece, or, in other words 3000 tests ire guaranteed by suppliers, lie, with ;iis assistant, who was a thoroughly competent man, would undertake to test same at a charge of'4d per test, and find sample bottles, test bottles, numbers, bi-chromatc of potash, sulphuric acid, boxes for carrying, sapmle bottles, etc., providing at tin, end of the contract the Company will take over the said apparatus ai cost price, less 111 per cent ; the Company to give contractor free use of turUiJie, tester, steam for same, icid measures, etc. Any breakages • o be made good by contractor, and my 'breakage oi sample bottles or anything else by suppliers to be made good by suppliers. , Suppliers o take delivery of and return samples to factory, where correct record couhl 'be kept of tests. Payments for testing to 'be made by deducting amount of same from suppliers' milk accounts to be placid to a ledger account to the credit of contractors and payment made to same monthly. Separate tests could ,«arijanged for at a cost of Ml per test. It farmers thought fit they could try the scheme for a season and if a. better one were forthcoming they cpuld easily make the change. Mr Wyborn also suggested thai concurrently with the putting into effect of this scheme, the suppliers should weigh each cow's mi'k and keep a correct record of smie. Tins and the result of the test would givci ihe exact quantity of butter produced w each individual cow, and her value n the dairy would thereby be ascertained.

Considerablei discussion ensued, and it was eventually reserved, that Messrs T. Exfcy, C. Washer, R. W. Foreman, J. B. Murdoch and W. Jones be a committee to go into the question of testing cows and promulgate some efficient and workable .cheme.—Waimato Witness.