HERD RECORDING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 156, 17 June 1936, Page 4

HERD RECORDING

Federation President’s Annual Report VALUABLE WORK In the development of the dairying industry in New Zealand a valuable contribution has been made by the Dominion Group Herd Testing Federation since its inception 10 yearg ago. As the result of culling, herds have been raised to a much higher level of production. Low-producing cows are an economic loss to the dairyman, and by means of testing, their elimination from herds has been made possible. The work of this organisation brings out more prominently the part that stud breeders can do in supplying the industry only with herd sires, the pedigrees of which show production ability, as well as purebred ancestry. An interesting review of the work of the federation during the past year is given in the presidential report by Mr G. H. Bell at the annual meeting which was held in Napier yesterday. Mr Bell’s report was as follows:—

“The presentation of the tenth presidential annual report affords me much satisfaction, in that some of the vital objectives for which the federation has been striving since its inception in 1926, have at last been achieved. You will remember that at the last annual meeting, held in Palmerston North, Mr A. H. Cockayne, on behalf of tho Executive Commission of Agriculture, submitted a scheme for reorganisation in the control of group testing work. The scheme received the unanimous support of the meeting and ultimately it was agreed to by the Dairy Board, the Department of Agriculture, and by tho Government. An Order-in-Council was gazetted on February 27 last, from which date the New Zealand Dairy Board has had authority to regulate and control the conduct of group herdtesting and calf-marking. The Dairy Board has appointed a representative committee to advise it on these matters, the committee being known as tho New Zea d Dairy Board’s Herd-Be. cording Council. DAISY BOARD TAKES CONTROL. “For some years past the federa tion has been nominally in control ot the movement, and the Dairy Board therefore decided to take over the federation staff domiciled at Hamilton, and has transferred them to the board’s office in Wellington, Mr C. M. Hume now being the board’s herd-recording supervisor. It will be noticed that the word ‘recording’ has been adopted in preference to the word ‘testing.,’ This change is anticipated to do much towards dispelling the impression that herd-testing is for the purpose of increasing test only. “The Dairy Board has agreed that the Dominion Group Herd-Testing Federation should continue to function, as it provides the requisite machinery fot the calling of the annual confereno, for the collection of levies, and fot the appointment of representatives to the board’s Herd-Recording Council. It is not anticipated therefore that any chants will be necessary in the constitution of the federation, “The first official meeting of the Herd-Recording Council was held in Wellington on the 7th inst., when 1 was honoured by being elected chairman. The federation has been notified of those decisions which necessitate change in the work of district associations and an opportunity is provided on the agenda of the forthcoming annua) meeting for these to be discussed. “I am convinced that the control now vested in the Dairy Board will prove to be in the best interests of herd-record-ing and therefore to the benefit of the industry generally. LOW PRICES RESTRICT ACTIVITIES.

“The total number of cows charged for this season is 221,196, as against 233,570 for the previous season. Yon will remember that in many districts the late winter was most severe and it undoubtedly had an adverse effect on membership for the 1935-36 season. In addition, many farmers have been seriously affected by the low price for butterfat ruling for some years past. Nino of the associations show an increase o.t cows under test as compared with the previous season. I am of opinion that we have now touched bottom so far as this movement is concerned, and that in future we can confidently expect an increase in the numb'er of herds under test. The advent of the guaranteed price should prove a strong factor in encouraging many who have dropped testing during the past three years to again come into the movement. If members would but study and correctly interpret their testing figures, I am convinced they would but rarely drop their membership in the district association. 1 am, as you know, both u breeder of pedigree dairy stock and u dairy-farmer, in that my main source of income is butterfat. With years of experience on vZilch to form my judgment I uuhestatingly declare that as a breeder testing has paid me, and ns u dairy farmer testing has returned mo my testing fees many times The progress of the federation is set out hereunder:—

V A Li’-M ASKING SCHEME. '‘Statistics; I am pleased to report that statistics tor the 1931,3.3 season were received from all associations to which has been supplied a. summary em bracing the figures for the Dominion. The summary is most informative anil it is gratifying to read the proof in the figures that our calf-marking scheme is an really sound lines. The figures generally prove that much r<mains to be done to raise lite general •standard of oirr dairy cattle, which, according to the figures, is practically stationary. It is here that the breed er of pedigree stock can do much by supplying the industry only with herd sires the pedigree of whiph show productive ability as well as purebred ancestry. Those statistics provide a

standard from which the trend can be measured from year to year. For this reason I would urge associations to assist the movement by providing tho figures relating- to this season’s work. WORK AT MABHEY COLLEGE. “Our thanks are duo to the authorities at Massey College for their assistance in giving tuition to young men anxious to take up herd testing- work. At the herd-testers’ course held in April last 23 students gained their certificates. In nearly all eases the students were farmers’ sous and all students had worked on dairy farms. Tiiis is the type of herd-testing officer which will prove a decided acquisition in our work. “The central executive has held three meetings during the season, that held on November 27, 1935, proving tho final meeting of that body, owing to I be control of the movement now being vested in (ho hands of the Dairy Board. The central executive was appointed by (het Government in 1929, and its handling of the Government subsidy since that date lias been to the entire satisfaction ot all concerned. In addition Hie central executive, with a personnel representative of all sections of the dairy industry, has proved most helpful as a consultive body in assisting the development of the group herd-testing movement. In view of the work done one cannot but sincerely regret that the change in control necessitates its elimination. The principle behind Hie central executive is however perpetuated in Hie board’s Herd Recording Council, the personnel of which is practically the same as that, of its predecessor. ACKNUW 'LEDGMI-iN'TS. ■‘l take this opportunity on behalf of the federation, of acknowledging I he help given by the Government to Hie movement in Hie past, mid of extending our thanks to them for the reorganisation scheme recently approved

by them. The Department of Agriculture has, as usual, assisted us whereever possible, and our thanks are due to Dr. Beakee, Mr A. H. Cockayne and Mr Singleton. We shall niiss Dr. Beakes’ assistance in the future—you probably are aware that he retired from the Government service on April 30 last. On behalf of the federation I extend to him our best wishes for an enjoyable retirement, and our sincere thanks for all he has done for us.”

Season Association Group 1920/27 8 cows. 88,549 1927/2S 12 . 1.22,613 1928/29 21 193,762 1929/3(1 22 224,170 1930/31 2(i 227,308 1931/32 222,341 1932/33 28 241,508 1933/34 28 258,486 1934/35 28 233,831 193u/3(i 28 221,196