HERD-TESTING YEAR

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 271, 31 October 1932, Page 11

HERD-TESTING YEAR

PAST SEASON REVIEWED. LOWER AVERAGE PRODUCTION. Lower average production and a lower percentage of cows tested to the number in milk were the outstanding features of the 1931-32 season as reviewed by Mr. W. M. Singleton, Director of the Dairy Division, in the current issue of the Journal of Agriculture. The average butter-fat production of all cows tested in the 1931-32 season was 236.871 b., compared with 241.051 b. in the 1930-31 season. The percentage of cows tested to the number in milk during 1931-32 was 16.4, compared with 18.0 in 1980-31 and 20.4 in 1929-30. Four main factors, says Mr. Singleton, operated against an increase in average production last season. These were (1) adverse climatic conditions; (2) decreased use of artificial fertilisers during the previous season; (3) an increase in the number of firstcalvers as the result of more cows being brought into milk; and (4) failure to cull, or less culling, because of an attempt to obtain maximum total production. GROUP SYSTEM POPULAR. Group testing continued its rise in popularity during the season to such an extent that it accounted for over 90 per cent, of the 259,857 cows tested. Those tested under the association ownsample system numbered 25,111, while 219 cows were tested by dairy companies on behalf of suppliers. Although there was no marked falling off in the number of cows tested, it is neverthe-' less shown that the number in milk is increasing so rapidly that the relationship between total cows and tested cows is less favourable than eould be desired. Since the peak year, 1929-30, when 21.4 per cent, of the country’s cows were under test, there has been a drop of 4 per cent. “In spite of the general financial stringency there were some 11 new groups operating last season, and obviously these helped to make the position .appear more favourable, there having been a fairly substantial falling off in some of the older established districts,’’ Mr. Singleton continued. “The South Island again showed an increase, and it is pleasing to find the herdtesting movement so firmly established in Westland, which last year tested some 39 6 per cent, of its total cows in milk- easily the highest percentage for the Dominion. The establishment of now groups is no doubt due in no small measure to the financial assistance rendered by the Government subsidy to herd-tenting. The terms relating to the distribution of the subsidy have been such that newly-formed groups have received a grant up to £5O to cover the cost of outfit, and in the majority of cases this sum meets the full expenditure.” SMALLER GROUPS.

In a table indicating the position from the point of view of the average number of cows and herds per organisation, Mr. Singleton points out that the number of cows per group continues to decrease. This he regards as an undesirable trend since it has an unfavourable influence on the cost of production. In a further table giving a comprehensive production summary for the Dominion the remarkable extremes in the highest and lowest yields for herds and individuals are stressed. One favourable feature, however, is the pronounced increase in the average days in milk for all cows tested, the average lactation for the 1931-32 season being 253 days, compared with 247 days in the 1930-31'season. The figures in the latter table are based on 5985 herds, of which 4772 were tested under the group system and tho remainder, 1213, under the association own-sample method, compared with 6347 herds (4983 group and 1364 association) in 1930-31. ASSISTANCE FROM' GRANTS. All districts in the South Island showed an increase in butter-fat production, while average production for the South Island as a whole rose by 7.821 b. of butter-fat. The position is regarded as being attributable to the fact that Otago and Southland, and in a lesser degree Westland, experienced a more normal season climatically. “Herd-testing received considerable assistance for the past season by way of subsidies,” Mr. Singleton concludes. “The New Zealand Dairy Produce Board.’s grant of £6900 has already been distributed, and it is expected that the Government subsidy of approximately £7700 will be allocated at an early date. The final result will be that newly-formed groups will in most cases have been fully reimbursed for expenditure tin the purchase of plant, and that herd-owners will have received a total of around lid per cow if testing under the group system or half that sum if testing under the association own-sample test. In addition, many of the larger organisations made substantial reductions in fees last year, and have probably reached the minimum commensurate with effective operation.”