COW-TESTING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 142, 14 June 1912, Page 11

COW-TESTING.

AJf EXPKKPS PRONOHSrCEME2fTS.

Some interesting and Instructive remarks on 4he progress of ithe dairying industry were made by Mr. D. Cuddie, chief of the dairy division of the Agricultural Department, during the course of a recent address at a rural centre in Wairarapa. In his opinion, of all the developments, ibe most important has been the initiation of cow-testing, which was contributing, in an essential degree, to more remunerative results attending tihe dairying pursuit. To indicate the development of tie cow-testing •movement, it may be mentioned that when associations were first established some four years ago, only *bout 800 cows were treated, whereas this year fully twenty thousand cows were being -tested by the various associations.

Mr. Cuddie instanced two members of a testing association. Both were good breeders and treated their cows kindly, rearing the calves from their herds. One used a purebred bull and the other a mongrel. Last year the average yield of the cows was 2931b and 2101b butter-fat respectively, a difference of 851b a cow, or £4 5/ at 1/ per Ib for butter-fat. With- a herd of 40 cows, the man using the piixebred bull would lave made in a year £168 more than the other man.

Beckoning the anmia/l upkeep of a cow, including grazing, labour, interest, accidents, and depredation, at £8; if no more than this is produced it follows that the dairyman is making no headway. -Last year the average cow in "the best herd tested by an association produced 3201b of butter-fat, which, after charging £8 against the cow, -with but-ter-fat at \f, showed a profit of 6d per Jb. The average cow in the worst herd produced only 1601b of butter-fat* which absolutely left no margin of profit. The best cow for a 30-day period, left the owner a profit of £4 15/9 for the period. The worst cow's product was worth only 2/3. It is now generally recognised that it is practically impossible to gauge, the value of a cow unless by the process adopted by the Testing (Association. Mr. Cuddie instanced the case of a member of the association who was in the habit of patronising ealeyards for his cows, who-up. till the middle of February this'year nad'eofled out 28 per cent of his herd and .was fattening them for the butcher. The benefits of testing associations were further elaborated or by the speaker quoting ■ one herd, th<? owner of which, by finding out the duffers and culling,- had- reduced his average of 41b below the association's figures last year to ilb this season. He also emphasised the necessity of purchasing purebred bulls and retaining the heiier calves from the best milkers in each h&rd.