BY E. M. BARDSLEY.

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 7 November 1933, Page 16

BY E. M. BARDSLEY.

in the last 23 years, 'out it is the 40 lb. increase over the last few years that is standing to the Dominion today. Each lOlb. increase, at lid per lb., represents £750,000. The stead} increase over the last 7 years indicates that the industry is now reaping the accumulated benefits of herd testing, increased top-dressing, calf marking and better bred young stock coming into the herds. The greatest asset of consistent herd testing is its educative value. t)nce a farmer takes up testing he be conies more thorough, not only in milking but in the management of Inhere! and of liis pastures. Testing is a direct incentive to obtain better re suits and is in effect the basis of ah improvement.

The objective of the Dominion -roue Herd Testing Federation, which is comprised of 28 Herd Testing Associations operating over the length and breadth of the Dominion, is 3Uolbs. of , fat per cow This could be obtained in the course of a few years provided at least 40 per cent, of tlie cows were under test each season. The industry generally should adopt this slogan and give its wholehearted support to its realisation by tlie end of the 1937-38 season. Experience has shown that the product of a previously untested herd can be increased by 1001 b of butterfat per cow over a five year period of testing, culling and better management. With a Dominion average] of 3001bs. per cow this country would be producing at a lower cost than any of her competitors. The Dominion has many wonderful cattle both pedigree and grade. By concentrating on the best, improvement would be repaid. The Federation’s work now provides for the following essential points: 1. The thorough testing of the cows. 2. The “marking” of calves from the high producing cows. 3. The use of. the pedigree bull with butterfat ba’cking. 4. The visible marking (at present optional) of all cows which have been under group test. 5. The issue of production cards provided- the ■ cows are permanently identified.

6. The cull cow will disappear as the result of 4 and 5. All must admit that the time has arrived when the industry must be placed on a sound footing. The various factors to do this are available; efficient herd testing; better pastures through the more general use of the right type, of fertilisers, and through the work of the Plant Research Station at Palmerston North; more liberal finance through the’; various finance corporations and the Rural Intermediate Credits Associations; and. progressive Dairy Breed If all would but co-ordinate their efforts on a six-years’ objective the result would make this Dominion the leading dairying country of the world.

SOUTH TARANAKI ASSOCIATION

The South Taranaki Association, with boundary on the north along tlie Eltliam-Opunake road and in the south at Ball Road, commenced operations during 1927-28 season so that in is now m its seventh year. The number of cows under test at present