HERD TESTING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 2 July 1925, Page 3

HERD TESTING.

N.D.A. SUPPORT.

GOVERNMENT ASKED FOE

SUBSIDY

Unanimous support for the .group herd-testing idea and for the proposal, emanating from the 'W aikato, that the Government be approached for a subsidy to assist the work, was forthcoming from the N.D.A. conference yesterday afternoon. Continuing his address alter the Star went to press, Mr. O. M. Hume, manager of the N.Z. Co-operative .Herd Testing Association, enumerated the following seven reasons why a Go\ eminent subsidy should be paid for herdtesting:— (If To eliminate the culL cow. (2) To encourage the marking o I calves, and thereby eradicate the scrub bull. (3) To reduce the cost of testing. Definite progress could be made only bv testing year bv year; and many farmers found that, ait os a cow, testing Alias too- dear. (t) To raise tire average production of dairy herds. Lt was here that the question of subsidy nnrsrts he looked at front the city standpoint. Increased production in the country would give more production in the city. A Government subsidy would be a community tax. and the hulk of it would therefore be found by the city people. That wa« Avhv the Gham.ber>s of Commerce had been approached for supporf>— and very valuable support they had given. (5) All New Zealand’s competitors in the world’s markets were subsidising herd-testing. (6) Despite the fact that, the Dominion had the finest dairying climate in the world, her fat average was only ISO pounds per annum. If they could raise that to 250 pounds—and he had no hesitation in saying that with universal testing and calf-im-rliing they could reach 250 pounds within ten years—that would mean an extra income to the Dominion of £6.000,000 per annum. (7) The subsidy was recognised as being in the best possible interests of all classes of the community. THE PROPOSALS DISCUSSED.

Replying to a questioner who wished to- know how the association proposed to deal with herds smaller than the 35 cows fixed as minimum for inclusion in a group, Mr. Hume .said that one experiment made had been to have the testing officer take the samples one month and the 1 farmer the next. One of their groups comprised 54 herds; but they were still experimenting. On the whole, ho was doubtful of being able to include many, of the ismaller herds—of IS and 20 cows that was.

Mr. Sinclair (Opotiki) thought the demand too modest. A shilling a cow was not enough to ask from the Government. He would go for two shillings. The Department of Agriculture had unexpended £60,000, so could not object that, it was short of money. Eighty-nine per cent, of New Zealand’s revenue came out of prim ar y e p rod acts, so that the subsidy would still come out of the farmers’ pocket. Replying to a further question, Mr. Hume said it Avas generally admitted that the bull Avas more than half the calf; and the surest Avay of improving the quality of a herd Avas to head it with a recognised butter-fat bull. To put the discussion in order. Mr. Rloberts (Park vale) moved the following motion :

That this conference of New Zealand dairy representatives, recognising the urgent necessity for improving the dairy herds of New Zealand to a. higher butter-fat standard, urges the dairy farmers to adopt herdtesting under proper methods and organisation, and requests the Government- to assist the dairy farmer by way of a .subsidy in carrying out the Avork ; and that the N.D.A. executive be requested to place the matter before the GoA'ernmen.t.

After a brief further diiscuiswion. wholly favourable, the motion a was carried unaninioiusly.