DAIRYING PROGRESS

Northern Advocate, 19 June 1925, Page 4

DAIRYING PROGRESS

One of the most interesting features of the address delivered by Sir George Elliot at the annual meeting of the Bank of New Zealand is his survey of the condition of primary industry in the Dominion, and no part of it will appeal more to farmers in this district than his reference to the business of dairying. While fully appreciating the strides made by dairy farming during the past ten years, Sir George directs his remarks particularly to the purpose of urging further development, and it will be observed that he pins his faith to herd testing as the measure that will effect the greatest improvement in the Dominion's . greatest industry. His remarks are timely, for at the present moment, as we stated not long ago, a scheme is afoot to develop a complete system of testing for the whole Dominion, The scheme emanates fiom the Waikato district, .where there are now 45 group testing associations, each dealing with about 1200 cows. Last year 30,000 cows were tested in the Waikato, &nd their average production was 2071b of butter-fat. This is a good deal better than the Dominion average of 1701b, which Sir George Elliot mentions, but very considerably below the j average of Denmark and of some parts of America, notably Wisconsin. Progressive farmers in the Waikato have, however, been able to work their herds up from 2001b to 3001b. These of course, sell their unprofitable cows to their less progressive and these culls and scrub bulls are a. handicap to the I whole - industry.' "¥o eliminate them | will be a difficult process, as we have j pointed out for the, man yho has.'-a "prior hej ; lacks mejans to purchase anything better, ari'd'ihoney is 'noit nearly plentiful -enough tri finance iail the fawneisVwhb require assista'ace..But immediate difficulties - -should -not be permitted to prejudice the welfare of a most important industry, for every

pound spent in the improvement of herds will eventually 'bring a very fine return. An increase .of 101b in the average production of each cow throughout the ,Dominion would add one million sterling to the year's- return from dairying, so that there is ample reason wh,y farmers should endeavour to improve their herds. That there is need of increased production in order to meet the increasing competition in the world's inarkets has been said on occasions. The thorough testing of cows is the first step to be taken. The robber cows must be eliminated, and farming methods must be improved in order that the most may be made of the good stock. The dairy cow is the Dominion's greatest -asset today.