COW TESTING.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 29 August 1919, Page 6

COW TESTING.

The following report was submitted by Mr G. H. Kent, Avernment official tester, to the directors of the T. L. Joll Co. and read at their annual meeting on Wednesday: : The average cow in the Testing Association for 1918-19 season gave 265.101b of fat. Twelve hundred cows were tested for the season. The necessity for increased production is being realised by many suppliers, and for the ensuing season over 2000 cows have been promised for test. . The increased butter-fat obtained by those who have systematically tested and culled no doubt acts as an incentive to j many others to improve their herds. Some leading herds tested were as under (average 240 days): Highest indiNo. cows. Lbs fat. vidual yield. 35 329.54 439.98 32 307.54 400.80 12 307.37 379.08 72 295.65 401.56 58 293.72 399.00 36 291.68 407.73 53 288.55 424.25 Other herds tested gave varying yields to 2001b of fat. These low-pro-ducing herds, if only brought to the average of the association, would make a great increase in the amount produced. Periodical visits have been | made to factories and farms in order ;to prevent, if possible, the unsound ' milk being produced. With more help available there should be no difficulty in thoroughly cleaning all milking machines and utensils and delivering only first-class milk. The best-kept plants are frequently found on places where there is the most work and" not over many hands, making it seem doubtful if a labor shortage is the reason for neglected milking machines. Unfortunately in this matter, if a few machines are allowed to remain with impurities in pipes and tubes, it is at the expense of the many who are producing a good article. In some cases it has been necessary to stop the milk going to the factory until the machines wore put in order. This has been effectual in those.places where, through nep-iect, the machines have been found unfit.