BUSINESS-LIKE DAIRYING.

Waipa Post, Volume I, Issue 30, 28 July 1911, Page 4

BUSINESS-LIKE DAIRYING.

SYSTEMATIC COW-TESTING.

THE ASSOCIATON MOVE-

MENT.

The testing of the yields of cows has been practiced in dairycountries in some form or other for years, and for many years progressive dairymen have been trying to improve their herds. One of the earliest means adopted was the recording of the quantity of milk given by every cow. The system of paying for milk according to its "test" brought about the system of taking records of butter-fat content of the milk as well as of the quantity and assessing the value of the yield accordingly. The first cowtesting association in New Zealand was formed in 1909, but for several years prior to this a few methodical dairymen had been testing their herds in a very satisfactory manner and with good results. An outcome of their testing was the weeding out of non-paying cows. As the unprofitable cows were ejected and profitable cows were put in their places the factory cheques were swelled, and gradually herds of great value were built up. THE DALEFIELD EXPERIMENT.

These examples brought the work of systematic testing strikingly under notice, and in August, 1909, the first cow-testing association was formed. The dairy division of the Department of Agriculture established the association, and managed it. The place chosen was Dalefield, one of the best-known factories in the great cheese centre of the Wairarapa. The association was worked on the lines of the Canadian associations. About 800 cows were entered, and the officers of the Department conducted a monthly test throughont the season. Some of the results disclosed by the tests were eyeopeners to even the best dairymen and this "fact made all interested wonder how far the dairyman's judgment of cows could be relied on. The Departmental officers put the dairyman's judgment to the test. They asked the members of the Dalefield Association to send in the names of their eight best cows. Some of these farmers selected cows as being amongst their first eight, which they afterwards culled from the herd. Almost every member of the association received surprises when the results were made known. LAST SEASON'S WORK.

Last season the Department extended the movement. It was generally understood that the policy was to establish associations in a few centres and run them on proper lines for a couple of seasons, but that there was no intention of doing so any longer than was necessary to set the farmers an example worth following ; it was expected of farmers that they would form and conduct their own associations once the Department proved to them the necessity for and the value of them. In the 1910 season Dalefield was conducted again under the direction of the Department, and new associations were established at Kaupokonui (Taranaki), Stratford (Taranaki), and Cambridge (Waikato). The Kaupokonui Association was the first of the new ones. On August 19 a meeting of suppliers was addressed by Messrs D. Cuddie and W. M. Singleton, and twenty six of the suppliers who attended promised to support the - proposal to start an association. A total of 1631 cows was entered right away, and the number was subsequently increased to. 2000. There is ample evidence that the cow-testing movement is in good favour among farmers and that it is likely to expand. For the last several months the Department has received from various parts of the Dominion requests to address farmers on the matter to establish and conduct associotions. THE PRESENT BASIS.

It is in view of this that the basis on which societies will be subsidised is especially interesting. The basis is set out officially as follows: —

1. No association is to be subsidised by the Department for more than two years. 2. The number of associations to be subsidised at any given time is to be as many as the number of available instructors will admit of. At the present time this number is six.

3. As soon as each association has been subsidised for two years its place is to be filled by another association, to be chosen according to circumstances.

4. In addition to this subsidising of a few associations, the Department Wxll assist by means of advice, and a little practical help at the beginning as many other associations as settlers are willing to form. Note.—" Subsidise" as used herein means that the Department gives the services of a dairy instructor for organising the association and for testing the samples throughout the season ; works out and publishes the results; and provides free the necessary forms, glassware, acid, etc. This year the Department withdrew from the control of the Dalefield Association, and it is understood that the movement is to be continued and it is probable that the suppliers will join in. New associations will be established at Stirling (in the South Island) and Whangarei (in North Auckland). Kaupokonui, Stratford, and Cambridge are to be kept going as last year, but after this season they will have to run their own associations, except that they will always be able to look to the Dairy Division for advice. THE COST TO THE FARMER.

The items which the dairy farmer, joining these associations, is asked to furnish are samplebottles with brass bands (one for each cow), a spring balance, a sampling-dipper, and a box in which to deliver the samples to the testing-depot. For a herd of forty cows, the approximate cost will be —forty bottles with brass bands (and freight) at, say, 3d. 10s; one sampling dipper 6d ; one spring balance (strong and tested), 8s 6d; one box for samples, say, 7s; total, £l 6s ; or about 8d per cow for the first year, and nothing additional for succeeding years save breakages. With smaller herds, the cost per cow would be slightly higher, since the price of the balance and dipper would be devided amongst the smaller number.

Associations which are conducting their operations independent of the Department will have to have a man to do the testing. If several factories continued one man could be fully occupied in this work alone and if there was a large number of members theexpense to each would be small. The records could be worked out in the secretary's office probably at little extra cost to that branch of the company. In the case of the Ngaere (Taranaki) factory the manager (Mr C. Robertson) did the work of testing and generally conducting the association without charge, and the only cost to the company was that of extra assistance in the factory work. There are various ways of arranging the matter and the way chosen will probably be regulated by the number of members in the association.