COW-TESTING.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIII, Issue XVIII, 4 September 1912, Page 6

COW-TESTING.

LECTURE AND DISCUSSION AT KAUPOKONUI.

Some interesting remarks were made by Mr Fulton, oi the Dairy Commissioner's staff, at the annual meeting of the Kaupokomii Dairy Factory Company. Mr Fulton was present by special request of the directors. His remarks were keenly followed by the large mimber of farmers present. The discussion which followed showed that they appreciated what was said, and should be productive of much good. It will be a distinct step forward in the matter of cow-testing.

In introducing the speaker, Mr Powdiell (the chairman) said that the Government had offered to do the testing for Kaupokoriui. They were the first to ask for fulfilment of the offer, and they had never been sorry for taking that step. It paid everyone well. Some unfortunately were busy,, and unable to devote the necessary time, but they hoped to do so in the future. When .at Palmerston North, Mr Burgess stated that he had increased the yield per cow in his herd by 631b. of fat by testing. The question to be considered was the way in which the testing should lie dpne. He would suggest the employment of a tester, whose expenses and salary would be treated as. working expenses of the company, just as a Counfy Council treats its engineering expenses, so that each will pay a part. In this way there will be an inducement for all to "go in for the scheme. The number of cows was very large, and was increasing, so that the expense for each supplier would be small. They did not want poor milk. It was better for the __ company, better for the supplier. He "ivould, therefore, suggest that the directors! be instructed to put a tester on and let the expense be spread over the whole of the suppliers. In reply to a question, the chairman ■said that returns would be worked up by the Department to be sent to suppliers. Mr W. Hughes said he was quite in accord with the proposal. He would rather pay os per cow than not test. The Chairman said that they wanted to encourage testing. The proposal will bring in all. Only a very small amount was necessary per man. Each cow culled would nay several times over. Suppliers would get testing bottles at the minimum cost. He mieht mention that Mr Burgess had found his three best cows were giving more than his nine

worst. Mr H. B. Curtis expressed himself quite in accord with the testing scheme. He quoted an instance that came wide; his own notice where he proved that ■without testing one might easily send away good cows and keep the poor tnies. Mr Cunnabell said that he tested, and was satisfied that anyone who starts will never give up. It was best to get the Government tester.. He did not belie?© in the company employing a tester. Mr Vooght emphasised the point tnat it should be incumbent on farmers to sell culls as store cows. Mr T. McPhillips believed the Testing 'Association was a step in the right direction. A man milking without testing was working in the dark. He should find out his best cows and throw out the "robbers." Numbers are not everything. Only the best must be milked. He instanced what was being done in Switzerland. Testing had been carried on for ten years. In the first year their cows had an average of milk of 6890 Ib. find 238 lb. Imttev-fat. In this dominion the average of fat was 187 lb. Without much trouble it could be raised to 240 lb. If a drop in price to lOd occurred it would be* a most serious thing for the dominion. The ]iresent average means that farmers are working for nothing. After ten years in Switzerland the average was "raised to 10,396 lb. and 345 lb. respectively, an average increase of £o per cow. Tt Mould be a right step to authorise Government fco brand cows which only j gave- a small yield. In reply to Mr Mitchell as regards feeding, Mr McPhillips said that a good tow now was a. good cow always under the same conditions. You cannot make a racehorse out of a draught. Such an increase would mean a very large sum to Kaupokonui. It would be a great ensouragement if those not testing could be brought in. He appealed to all suppliers to help the directors, the company, and the dominion generally. Mr Fulton, who was well received, expressed his pleasure at listening to the remarks of Mr McPhillips. He was used to going round talking on this -subject, but when he heard Mr McPhillips' remarks, he felt he had not missed many points. Cow-testing had been / looked for for a long time. The Department was not asking for the credit in helping the movement along. Some years ago Mr J. W. Jones, who came as a delegate from Taranaki to the Farmers' .Union, had urged that every society, every agricultural association, shoiild do all in their power to foster the movement. We have, he said, only ■demonstrated what to do and how to do it. We copied other countries, and believed that no other thing \ i!l give better results than the testing. The Department are willing to help in every way. Many are unable to take up the work and make a success of it. As a rule the small farmer has not time. He may begin, but before the season is over he gets tired. An Association could get this done for him, and done niueh cheaper than at home. The Department would point out what to get and what to do. The farmer provides the output through the company. He is given the botles and other ' necessaries.. Every month he is given a form to till in daily, name of cow, and number, weight of milk for four consecutive milkings, date of calving. He pays the fee through the company, and receives a. second form, in which is set cut milk test and total butter-fat, for month. From month to mmit'i ore kept records of milk, butter-fat, number of days each cow is in mi'k. A cow heavy in the flush of milk will take the owner's fancy, but the records will -give him something definite and accurate to go on. This testing has sometimes caused trouble with factory tests. The farmer wants the former explained. He requires to know how much "butter-fat is yielded, not what is the test. The lecturer quoted instances from Mr SingletoVs experience, showing that sometimes a low-testing herd at the factory beat the high-testing herd. Farmers may rest assured they •will get a fair return for their work and exnenditure if they go in for testing. The testers are doing good work. Many men are looking for the failings of the other man. Rather let them look at their own home work. BRANDING.

Referring to the suggestion of branding culls, Mr Fulton assured them that -testing would work out their own salvation. Farmers would not go to ordin-a.-y stock sales to buy culls—the^e would not be rid of exfeept as stores or fats. Farmers^ would go to get heifers from good strains. BULLS.The speaker felt certain that the -country was not half well enough off for Trails. There were plenty of common pnimals to he seen between Hawera and Manain —bulls without linea.ee. What i, they wanted was a good sire to get I j'OOfl heifers. Some farmers had at expense gone to Jersey and the ■States to get bulls with authentic re-

cords. This is a dairying country. It is high time that something more vas done to supply this want of bulls with records of butter-fat to recommend them.

In the discussion that followed some reference was made to the impossibility of getting correct returns from sharemilkers. One speaker paid a tribute to the care exercised by the Oeo farm manager, Mr Linton, who did his work faithfully and well.

Mr Fulton confirmed this. He also said that the Department would supply all stationery free. He hoped to see Kaupokonui get out of the hands of the Department in a few months and form a^ strong association. On the motion of Mr Dakers, seconded by Mr Mills, it was resolved that the meeting adopt the chairman's proposal regarding cowtetting, leaving it to directors to decide on p., course of action. He hoped they would get the best man available. Several other speakers endorsed the sentiments expressed, and said they intended to come in with the scheme. The cost, it was believed, would be very small.

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