UNIVERSAL TESTING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 156, 17 June 1936, Page 5

UNIVERSAL TESTING

Small Levy on All Dairy Cows UNANIMOUS DECISION Universal dairy herd-testing, to be brought about by the imposition of a small levy on all dairy cows in the Dominion, which is estimated to act as an inducement to dairy fanners to have their cows tested, is to be urged by the Dominion Group Herd-Testing Fed eration. The federation is to ask the Herd-Recording Council to open up negotiations with the Government. A decision to this effect was reached at the federation’s annual general meeting in Napier yesterday on the motion of Air J. Parlane, of Canterbury. “Tho apathy of the dairy farmer Towards herd-testing at the present time is costing this country thousands of pounds.” he said. Herd-testing should be universal, but he was definitely opposed to any compulsion. He thouhgt that dairy farmers would be induced to have their cows tested, however, if a levy on every dairy cow were imposed. He therefore moved that it be a recommendation to the Herd Recording Council of the New Zealand Dairy Board that negotiations be made with the Government to have the levy imposed. His motion was seconded by Mr. W. H. Gimblett, of Afanawatu, who expressed the view that such a measure would be a forward step in the New Zealand dairy industry. The motion was carried unanimously.