FARM AND DAIRY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 250, 1 March 1911, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY

HERD-TESTING. HISTORY OF THE SCOTTISH CAMPAIGN'. There is no man better qualified to recount the remarkable chapter in the history of dairy cow advancement provided by the work of tliose farmers of Scotland who are developing the utility Ayrshire aci-uriling lo pedigree of performance than .Mr. James Duiilop, the Scottish Agricultural Commissioner, now on a visit to this country. Mr. Duulop has been in the forefront of the light to save the bonny little Ayrshire cow from digenerating into a mere ;aiu-y r/east and make it the great utility animal it was intended to be. HOW THE MOVEMENT ORIGINATED. The first idea of testing Ayrshire herds, in order to form a basis for breeding according to performance, originated. said Mr. Dunlop to the writer, with a rather obscure farmers' society after a visit of the Scottish Agricultural Commission to Denmark. The late Mv. John Speir, one of the leading directors of the Highland and Agricultural Society, then induced that body to set aside a sum of money JC2OO per annum for a period of years—to assist local societies in conducting regular tests of herds in different localities. The project met with bitter opposition from the proprietors of show Ayrshires. For many yeays the breeding of thp Ayrshire to a show ideal had gradually devel- ped an animal that was not likely to be a heavy producer of milk. Among the fancy fads that had been gradually evolved were a long, thick, fleshy udlcr, and small button teats. F.,rtui:at<'ly , the great majority of breorVs of Ayrj shire cattle gave the showyard a "'ide '.•erth and bred more or less rjruistently for a commercial anil i.ii with Milking properties. It was the latter stclion cf breeders -who enthusiastically toow i,p the testing movement. For obvious reasons the breeders of showyard cattle recognised that the cow showing a good test was likely to be an animal which would be in demand by the foreign ■buyer, a trade.-which they formerly enjoyed. Notwithstanding'the strong opposition of these people the system of small testing associations became firmly established, until at the present day there are about four hundred herds being tested in Scotland annually. What had been anticipated in regard to the foreign demand came about. Instead of going to the showyard herds, buvers from other countries visited the fa'ruis where they knew milk-record, stocK yas being bred, and purchased the utility stock. The showyard men, unwilling to , lose this patronage, have now, to a considerable extent, entered their herds with the cow-testing associations, ai'-I are breeding more on performance than on fancy points. The Highland Society has continued its grant of £2OO a year, but this sum does not now more than cover the secretarial duties and publishing expenses. The movement, however, is now so securely established as to be practically independent of outside help. It i s now being conducted by local associations with a central authority, which receives the grant from the H. and A. Society and administers it, the Highland Society being, of course, represented on these associations. THE SYSTEM. Mr. Dunlop thus describes the system under which the testing associations are established and conducted. Where twelve or more farmers desire to form a milkr record society they intimate this fact to the central authority, which appoints a milk tester. This official visits each herd once a fortnight if twelve herds are being tested and once in three weeks if eighteen herds are in the association. The modus operandi of the tester is that he arrives at the farm with his testing outfit in the afternoon, weighs and takes a sample of each cow's milk as it is being milked. He does the same the next morning. The butter-fat percentage is entered in an official book of the so eiety, the entry being taken in duplicate, so that the farmer have a copy as well as the central secretary. The official is particular to note the time of milking, and if the morning's weight should exceed the weight given on the previous afternoon he enquires as to the reason, with the object of checking any attempt to make the cow give an exceptional yield at the milkings to be tested. A note of the system of feeding is also taken in the record book, especially of any feeding the cows may receive over and above their pasturage. The acreage allowed to each cow and the rent paid per acre are taken into account in reckoning the cost of production.

When the tester visits a farm he is boarded by the farmer, and should he not be provided with a horse and trap the farmer conveys him to the next farm. Some of the societies provide their official with a means of conveyance. The tester is generally an agricultural student, a young man who is intending to lake his degrees in agriculture. The experience gained on the farms is considered highly valuable to this end. There is. in consequence, no hick of young men for the work. The wages are £1 a week, and, of course, free board. At first 30s a week was paid, but so many suitable men were offering that the rate was reduced. The test is conducted for the whole year round, though in the cheese-making districts the testing is only done for about nine months. The cost to the farmer ranges—according to whether he has a fortnightly or a three-week test — from £3 to £5 a year. The farmer provides absolutely nothing, the tester taking with him everything required, even the sample bottles. Under this system, Mr. Dunlop points out, the farmer gets his result with a minimum of labor, the whole work of his herd for the season summarised and tabulated for him. This saves him a lot of intricate work and much figuring, while the authenticity of the testing is accepted with confidence, an important consideration in catering to an export trade.

A fiOOD .SIIOWYARD TEST. The really first movement in Scotland to calculate the value of an Ayrshire cow according to her performance took place, said Mr. Dunlop, about fifteen years ago. A class was established in certain .shows, competitors in which were judged on both breed points and performance. Fifty points out of a hundred were allowed for breed points and commercial value, and the reinainiiie; liflv for the yield at the one milking, thi's being ascertained during a surprise visit when the competing cow had calved seventeen or eighteen weeks. This was, remarked Mr. Dunlop, the first fillip given in Scotland to the proper determination of dairy cow value. A PKOFITABLE SYSTEM. Speaking of the effect of the herd-test-ing campaign of Scotland on the selling value of Ayrshire stock, Mr. Dunlop said that £IOO was now as common a price for an Ayrshire bull as £4O was seven or eight years ago, and bulls have been sold for export at 200 guineas, more than double the amount the best show bulls in the past were able to attract. The principal demand is from Canada and the United States, but Russia and Sweden are now turning their attention to Ayrshire stock,—N.Z. Times.