HERD TESTING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9648, 13 November 1909, Page 3

HERD TESTING.

SECOND {REPORT OF MODEL

ASSOCIATION

The October report of the Daleficld Cow-testing Association, keenly awaited by the farmers concerned and the many interested in the advancement of the New Zea laud dairy cow, has now been issued. Tt is full of interesting lessons. A comparison of the figures for Seote mber and October are particularly instructive. In referring to these, however, it should bo pointed out that September was a thirty day month, whereas the past month had a duration of thirty one days. In September the average yield was 9401b of 3.5 milk, or 32.901b of fat, last month the average was 3,1441b of 3.58 milk, or 411b of fat. This is a remarkably fine showing, and affords a good indication of the except! jnal quality of the herds in the Daleh'eld district.

The best herd last month gave 1,3151b of 3.6 milk for the 17 cows, or an average of 47 251b of fav The worst herd gave an average of 8961b of 3.84 milk for the 25 cows, or an average of 34.391b of fat. This does not show a great difference, but quite enough to distinguish between profit and loss.

It is the variation between the better and the poorer cows where the great weakness in the business is disclosed,even with the good herds of the members of this association. The 27 best cows averaged 56.691b of fat for the month, and the 27 worst cows 27.871b, or nearly fifty per cent, less. The best cow gave 67.121b of fat in the month, and the poorest cow only 20.461b. The former is thus producing more than would three cows pf the latter type, or a herd of ten cows each of similar capacity to the former would produce more than a, herd of thirty three cows of a standard of the latter. Even in the herd including this poor cow the best animal gave 45.761b of fat, or two and a half times as much. Of course the result of these monthly teßtings are not sufficient evidence on which to judge the capacity of a herd or of any individual cow. The years test will alone give the true index. However it is very stimulating to have the monthly figures and note the remarkable differences between the herds and the individual members of the herd, is the most important means of education which could be provided for the dairy farmer, and judging by the keen interest being taken in the progress of the work at Dalefield the model Testing Association established by the department will be the first of a rapidly spreading net work of herd testing societies throughout the Dominion.