HERD TESTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 June 1925, Page 8

HERD TESTING

GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY SOUGHT.;

An increase of 101 b m the average production per cow would represent an increase of £1,000,000 per annum to the income of New Zealand. By increasing the average from 1801 b to 2501 b., which could be done in six years by group herd testing and calf marking, an increased reevnue of at least £6,000,000 per annum would accrue./ - Such were amongst the- claims put forward by Messrs C. M. Hume (general manager) and R. M. Somerville (a director) of the New Zealand Co-opera-tive Herd Testing Association,, at Wellington, in asking the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. W. Nosworthy) to grant a subsidy in order that herdtesting might be made general throughout the Dominion. The deputation was accompanied by Mr W. Grounds (chairman of the- Dairy Control Board) and Mr G. Finn (representing commercial interests). Mr Grounds said that the Control Board had investigated the system of group herd testing, and had no hesi* tation in recommending the Government to support it by way of a subsidy. The Control Board had no power by which it could financially assist the scheme. In order to successfully compete in the world’s markets it was absolutely necessary that the average production of dairy cows should be raised. Mr Somerville, in outlining the policy of the Herd Testing Association, laid particular stress upon the neces' sity for semi-official testing, which had already done so much in building up. an overseas market for New Zealand pedigree stock. He touched upon the method of individual testing, where the farmer takes the weights and samples from each cow and sends them to the factory for testing, and pointed out that neither of these methods had increased the average butter-fat production. The average production for New Zealand, he said, was 1781 b of butterfat, as against 2481 b for Denmark. The co-operative dairy companies of the South Auckland district were prepared to find 6d per cow by way of subsidy to group herd testing, provided the Government, would subsidise to the extent of Is per cow. He referred to what other countries were doing in the way of subsidising herd testing. Subsidies were being paid in Denmark, Northern Ireland, United States of America, and Australia, and in Eng-

land last year the Government had subsidised 137,000 cows to the extent of Is 6d'per cow. An increase cf 101 b in the average production per cow would represent an increase of £1,000,000 per annum to the income of New Zealand. By increasing the average from 1801 b to 2501 b, which could be done in six years through universal gorup herd testing and calf marking, an increased revenue of at least £6,000,000 per annum would accrue to the Dominion. Mr Hume pointed out that under the individual system of testing the progressive farmer had improved his herd, but owing to the fact that the cull cows passed from one farmer to another, the industry as a whole had shown no improvement. His association was of the opinion that the only satisfactory method of eliminating the cull cow was through a system of branding. Al cows tested would be branded. In/the event of a cow being sold, the presence of a brand would call for a production card being submitted with the animal. The low producer would, therefore, go right out of the industry, as her figures would prove her unprofitable. The association was not strong enough to make branding compulsory. It felt, however, that should a subsidy be granted the

— v - - o Government would have a unique opportunity through branding of eliminating the cull cow. The association was inaugurating a cajf-marking scheme for next year, whereby the heifer calves from animals producing 3001 b of butter-fat or over should be marked by way of tattoo in the ear, and a complete register kept. These calves must be by a registered pedigree sire, and in addition a declaration would have to be made in respect of each entry. This system would tend to only the best calves being reared, and, a few years hence, only “marked” heifers being offered in the saleyards. It was safe to assume that in the near future the financial institutions would advance only on “marked” stock. It was considered that the herd testing system as now outlined was absolutely complete, and after a three-years’ trial they could confidently recommend it to the Minister as being worthy of Government support. In reply, the Minister said ho wished it to be clearly understood that he was not antagonistic in any way to the group system of testing, as carried out by the Herd Testing Association. Ho had realised for a number of years past that some definite scheme should be brought in to improve the average production throughout New Zealand. Finance, however, was the deciding factor.. He had already agreed to tbo subsidising of laboratories at WallaceVJ “ e Hawera. He would look carefully into the matter with an unbiased mind, and would do what he possibly could to meet the requests of the deputation.