THE TOKAORA TEST.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 5 July 1928, Page 3

THE TOKAORA TEST.

FR J ESI A N BREE DIOR S’ AITR E--01 ATT ON.

EULOGY OF MR. P. 0. YEALE,

Iu his address to members of the Taranaki branch of the Friesian Breeders’ Association yesterday, the president (Mr. C. Mar,chant) expressed the appreciation felt by inembers at the result of the Tokaora. test and. Mr. Vcalc’s report thereon, which, he said, would give a big lift to the breed. However, they must lie generous to other breeds and acknowledge the public spirit shown when the other associations came forward and agreed to the test taking place. There was, he added, a. place in the world for all the breeds, but it would now be realised that the Friesians had suffered, an injustice in the past. Fair criticism, however, was good for all, and if anyone could not face it they should not ask for it. They had no reason to regret the findings of Mr. Yeale, and his telegram to the N.D.A. at the annual meeting in Palmerston North concerning standardisation of milk was excellent. Air. _ Yeale gave his ownconscientious opinions, and gave, of his very best for the industry. Mr. Yeale, he said, had acted on behalf of the Dairy Federation, which decided what it considered best in the interests of -dairying, and the Hawera Dairy Company had placed all buildings and plant necessary at its service for the test.

It had been said; that the results should not have been published, as the experiment dealt only with a. small amount of milk, but this was sheer nonsense, because it was carried on for eight months. In America, he added, the scientists often used one gallon for an experiment and noted the results. There was here- a genuine desire on the part of the producers to- improve the output, and Mr. Singleton and. Mr. Yeale had assisted in the work. Payment on the fat content was unsound economically, and it was moved- the low-testing milk was preferred for cheesemaking .because the public did not wish for a fatty cheese —it was not wanted or paid for. It was stated that the higher fat content could be incorporated in the cheese, but the result was- a decided loss, and towards the end of the year this fatty cheese was graded second class. Friesian milk, said Mr. March ant, returned 13 per cent more cheese per lb of fat, quite a big thing to them, and at the end of the season they got more fat without increasing the yield. Actually, he understood one per cent of fat gave aweaker hodv than two per cent of moisture. They must get the article giving the greatest return, and he maintained that by using low testing cows they could increase the income from dairying by at least five per cent. In reply to a- questioner, Mr. H. E. Johnson said it had been agreed before the test started not to consider in the results the return per acre, and the president added that members could draw their own conclusions.

It was resolved that the association should make no move at present, but should wait to see what proposals were made by the federation.

Referring to the laboratory. 'Mr. Mnrchant added that actually the first step towards its establishment was taken by the Friesian breeders in Stratford some four years ago. It had done and was doing under the capable direction of Air. Yeale excellent work. The dealing with non-acid milk had saved the industry thousands of oounds, and the use of press fat alone had been worth a great deal.