HERD TESTING WORK

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 223, 17 June 1936, Page 5

HERD TESTING WORK

Activities of Past Season Reviewed DOMINION FEDERATION By Telegraph—Press Association,

Napier,, June 16. Activities of the Dominion Group Herd Testing Federation during the past season were reviewed by the president, Mr. G. 11. Bell, Oakiira. Taranaki, at the annual meeting of the federation to-day. Since February last the regulation and control of group herd testing has been vested in the Dairy Board, the headquarters of the federation having been transferred from Hamilton to Wellington. Mr. Bell said he was convinced the new scheme of control would prove to be in the test interests of herd recording and therefore to the benefit of the industry

The total number of cows charged for the past season, said Mr. Bell, was 221,196, as against 2.33,570 for the previous season. In many districts the late ■ winter was most severe and it undoubtedly had an adverse effect on membership for the 1935-36 season. In addition, many farmers had teen seriously affected by the low price for butterfat ruliug for some years past. More Cows Under Test. Nine of the associations showed an increase of cows under test as compared with the previous season. He was of opinion that they had now touched bottom, so far as the movement was con- | cerned, and 'that in future they could Confidently expect an increase in the number of herds under test. The advent of the guaranteed price should prove a strong factor in encouraging many who had dropped testing during the past, three years to again come into the movement. With years of experience on which to form his .judgment, he unhesitatingly declared that, as a breeder testing had paid him, and as a dairy-farmer testing had returned him his testing fees many times over. The progress of the federation was shown in theifollowing figures:— * Group

No changes had been made since last meeting, the membership standing at 28 as-’oeiations, 18 in the North Island and 10 in the South Island. Levies for the season amounted to £460/16/7, as against £487/2/8 for the previous season. A payment had been made to the Dairy Board of £lOOO. NEW PRESIDENT ELECTED By Telegraph—Press Association. Napier, June 16. , Mr. G. R. Herron, of Southland, was appointed president at the annual meet- , ing of the Dominion Group Herd Testing , Federation. j

Season. Associations. cows. 1 1926-27 8 88.54:1 1927-28 .. 12 122.613 1928-29 21 193.762 1929-30 oo 224.170 J 930-31 26 227.30S 1931-32 28 222.341 1932-33 28 241,508 193-3-34 28 258.486 1934-35 2S 233.831 1935-36 ... - 28 221,196