HERD-TESTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1919, Page 8

HERD-TESTING.

WORK OF STRATFORD STUDENTS.

The work that is being done at Stratford in connection with agricultural instruction, in the direction of teaching pupils herd-testing is not, perha.ps, generally known and a recent report submitted by the instructor (Mr W. E. Burley) to the chairman of the Board gives some interesting particulars in relation thereto.

The report states: Once a month, or as often as pf-acticable, a class engaged in dairy science sends certain boys to the Stratford Model Farm to take the weights of milk given by each cow at an evening's and morning's milking, and to take samples of such milk for butterfat testing at the soliool, the use of preservatives for samples being included in this work. On arriving at the school tiic class proceeds to carry out the lnit-ter-fat test, of the samples by the Babeoek method, the work being checked by other pupils, bv means of a repetition of the 'Babcock method and 'by the fierber method. All the results, namely, weight of milk, and butter-fat percentages are forms provided for the purpose and from t'lem calculations for the estimated yield of milk and butter-fat per f"w per month made. The value of the butter-fat per cow is tlion calculated on a basis according to the ruling factory price and set out for the instruction of the class and the use of. the Farm Committee. After several tests iiave been carried out the classes make their calculations for the whole period over which the tests luve been conducted. All weather conditions, etc., as far as possible, are observed and irrceulnritios in tests accounted for as far

tfls practicable . . . . Tn the higher olassps groups of boys and jrirls can now be selected to carry out a herd test even without supervision. That, was actually the ca?c in connection with (lie TVcmlier tests, a senior pupil being in charge. Alreadv the new pupils aro preparing to conduct the tests for the coming? season.

In the table of tests attached to the rejiort it; was shown that 42 cows had lieen handled.

The tests are accepted as official iiy the Model Farm Committee and forwarded to the Agricultural Department.