HERD IMPROVEMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21188, 10 August 1940, Page 18 (Supplement)

HERD IMPROVEMENT

PRODUCTION INCREASE OFFICER’S ADDRESS At the annual meeting of the Auckland Herd Improvement Association the chairman, Mr R. A. Candy, introduced the Dairy Board’s Auckland district consulting officer, Mr W. D. Corby, who, in the course of a short address, briefly outlined the functions of the organisation he represents, and the service that this organisation can render to dairy farmers in their efforts to bring about increased production through herd improvement. He stated that the Dairy Board had appointed field men, known as consulting officers, for the express purpose of giving every assistance and guidance to farmers to help them to improve the quality of their stock, and to procure for and disseminate among farmers information on any matter that has 1 any bearing whatever on production. A most important feature of this service, he said, was the collection of material from farmers, based on their actual experience, on any matters relative to the disease and nutrition problems of their herds. Such data would be forwarded to the board’s technical officers, who, in J conjunction with the Animal Research Department, had commenced a comprehensive and scientific attack on these causes of wastage in the herds of the Dominion. Placing Cows Under Test The speaker then appealed to all farmers to make use of the excellent service available to them through the Auckland Herd Improvement Association, and place their cows under test in this and subsequent seasons, because, he claimed, no form of herd improvement nor any appreciable permanent increase in production, could be effected without the aid of herd recording. He also pointed out that it was the patriotic duty of all farmers to use every endeavour to bring about that increase in production so vitally necessary today in order to comply with the Mother Country’s appeal for an additional supply of dairy products. To do this, it was necessary for farmers to strive their utmost to provide more supplementary feed such as ensilage, soft turnips, maize, etc., etc., for next summer and autumn, in order to maintain the peak of production as long as possible. This would also lengthen the lactation period of the cows, if only by two to three weeks, by which it was estimated an additional production of 101 b butterfat, a cow could be obtained. He urged all present to avail thempelves of the services now available to the whole of the dairy farming Community, through the Dairy Board’s consulting officers, in order to expedite the raising of the proUuctive efficiency of their herds. Mr Corby, in conclusion, paid a tribute to the co-operation he had

received from the management and Staff of the Auckland Herd Improvement Association, who, he said, were always most willing and anxious to issist him in his work.