Herd Improvement For Northland Farms

Northern Advocate, 31 July 1939, Page 3

Herd Improvement For Northland Farms

Interesting figures relating to herdtesting in the Whangarei district were given by Mr E. S. Tremaine, chairman of directors of the Whangarei Co-op. Dairy Co., Ltd., at the annual meeting of the Whangarei Group Herd Testing Association on Thursday. Mr Tremaine was referring to the proposal to amalgamate with the newly constituted Northland Herd Improvement Association, which was later earned at the meeting.

The amount to be provided in the interests of herd testing was at the rate of 2/- per cow tested, half this amount to be found by the Government, and the remainder by the New Zealand Dairy Board. To meet its responsibility, the board was going to increase Its levy on all

produce exported and sold on the local market as from August 1, 1939, by onehundredth of a penny per pound on butter, and one-twohundredth per pound on cheese.

This amount would be doubling the present levy, and would provide an additional £IB,OOO per year. Mr Tremaine stated that last year, 26,000 cows had been tested in Northland. and at 2/- per cow, the district would receive assistance to the extent of £2600.

From 4575 herds tested in New Zealand last year, the following statistics were gained; 7.5 per cent, were turned out for low production; 10.4 per cent, through disease; 3 per cent, for sterility; and .2 per cent, for old age. Bull Survey. The bull survey results showed that in the case gf 38 per cent., the standard was being lowered; in the case of 34

per cent, it was being maintained; and in 23 per cent., increased. These disclosures, Mr Tremaine submitted, lent support to the herd improvement scheme.

It was necessary that the basis'of bull registration should be tightened up before the anticipated improvement could take place in dairy production. Mr Tremaine suggested a provisional registration for bulls at birth, with a final one later when the parents had proved their status.

The value of the new scheme rested, fram a statistical point, on whether it resulted in increased testing and whether testing would be more continuous per member.