COW TESTING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 250, 18 October 1912, Page 9

COW TESTING.

AN EXPERT'S PRONOUNCEMENTS. ! Some interesting and Instructive remarks on the progress of the 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, the most important has been the initiation of cow-testing, which was contributing, in an essential degree, to more remunerative results attending the dairying pursuit. To indicate the development of the cow-testing movement, it may be mentioned that when associations were first established some four years ago, only about 800 cows were treated, whereas this year fully twenty thousand cows were being tested by the various associationsMr. 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 buLler-fat respectively, a difference of 851b a cow, or £4 of at 1/ per lb for butter-fat. With a herd of 40 cows, the man using the purebred bull would have made in a year £168 more than the other man. Beckoning the annual upkeep of a cow, including grazing, labour, interest, accidents, and depreciation, at £8; jf 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 1/, showed a profit of 6d per lb. The average cow in the worst h?rd produced 'only 1601b of "better-fat, which absolutely left no margin of profit. The best cow for a 30-day period left the owner a profit of £4 15/0 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 ol patronising saleyards for his cows, who up fail the middle of 'February this year had culled out 28 per cent of his herd and was fattening them for.the./bu'fccher. The benefits,of testing. associations were further elaborated or by the speaker quoting one. herd, the' 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 heifer calves from the be3t milkers in each herd.