HERD TESTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 July 1938, Page 9

HERD TESTING

GREYTOWN ASSOCIATION'S ACTIVITIES. END-OF-SEASON RECORDS. The annual meeting of the Greytown Herd Testing Association was held at Greytown on Thursday, Mr L. J. Thompson presiding over a fair attendance of members. The mastitis test was discussed at full length. Some members present who took advantage of this test towards the end of last season gave their opinions to the meeting. The vital points seemingly at issue were whether the taking of samples for mastitis on the usual testing day for samples for butterfat increased the time of milking and whether benefits were derived from the test. It was found that those members with a plentiful supply of shed labour were not inconvenienced, but those with limited shed labour stated that it naturally took longer to put the herd through. The secretary, Mr A. H. Humphrey, pointed out that by tests and observations already carried out, mastitis had proved to be hereditary, . and by breeding from non-affected cows and the culling of chronically-affected animals the disease might be gradually eliminated from the herd.

A member raised a question of the desirability of non-publication of end-of-season’s records, maintaining that, if these were not published it would do away with any competitive spirit which might exist. The opinion of the meeting appeared somewhat divided on this question.

The chairman pointed out that if members were foolish enough to “boost” their cows with extra feed and a longer period of milking on the test day, they were only deceiving themselves and further were not receiving the'full benefits which herd-testing gives.

The secretary mentioned that if this extra feed was given about the time of the expected visit of the sampling or testing officer, then the cows were evidently partly hungry during the remainder of the month. It had been found, where cows had been transferred to new fresh pasture which was full of' vitality, that the animals took some days to accustom themselves to this fresh feed, and, should the day of taking samples fall during this time it had been found most noticeable that much of the milking was erratic and butterfat tests out of line.

It was finally decided, “that it be a recommendation from this meeting to the Wairarapa Herd Testing Central Executive that the publication of end-of-season’s records be discontinued.”

The following executive officers were elected for the ensuing year: Messrs L. J. Thompson (chairman), A. M. Haigh, R. R. Tilson, R. C. O’Neale, P. Hammond, R. W. Beu, G. McKenzie, P. M. J. Oates, J. Lukies and W. Gray. Messrs L. J. Thompson, A. M. Haigh and P. Hammond were appointed delegates to the Wairarapa Herd Testing Central Executive. Mr James Watson was reappointed auditor. ANNUAL REPORT. The fifteenth annual report stated: — Although most erratic conditions were experienced this season —alternate periods of drought and prolonged spells of rainfall —production- is satisfactory and still stands at a high level. Several herds which were affected by dry conditions in March did not complete the season. However, those that carried over this period satisfactorily were, towards the end of the season, persistent in continuing to yield a good quantity of milk, and finally, were hard to “dry off.” In the 1936-37 season, 2320 group cows, comprising 51 herds, and ‘Own Samples Association,’ 3 herds with 58 cows, were tested. This season, 1937-38, 2303 group cows in 49 herds and ‘Own Samples Association’, 201 cows in 9 herds were under test. The average number of cows per herd, 1936-37 season, was 45.5, and 1937-38 season, 47. In the 1936-37 season, 54 calves were tattoomarked; this season, 1937-38, 48 calves were marked, their dams having qualified by producing the required amount of butterfat. The season closed with a small credit balance. Several new applications have already been received from dairy farmers to have their herds tested for the 1938-39 season when it is hoped to have a record number of cows under test.”