HERD-TESTING CRITIC

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22620, 7 January 1937, Page 14

HERD-TESTING CRITIC

PRINCIPLE QUITE GOOD LATER BENEFITS DOUBTED [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] NEW PLYMOUTH, Wednesday "Although credit for raising the standard of dairy stock in Taranaki is due to a very large extent to herdtesting, there is a feeling among some farmers that the value of testing has its limitations," said a well-known Taranaki agriculturist to-day when commenting on the review by Mr. W. M. Singleton, director of the dairy division. The review stated that the herdtesting position in Taranaki showed that the province, generally regarded as progressive in dairying matters, was not maintaining that reputation as far ,as herd-testing was concerned. "Herd-testing has gone past it was expected to accomplish," was the comment offered to-day. "Numbers of Taranaki farmers, former herd-testers, are not testing because things outside their control now prevent them from obtaining any substantial advantages 'from it. These include the compulsory system of culling in such diseases as abortion, vaginitis and mammitis, and until something is evolved to overcome these troubles it is hardly likely that a farmer with a high-producing herd ,will carry on with testing." Another criticism of herd-testing concerned the marking of calves. Numbers of farmers, it was stated, point 'out that, until there is a more definite knowledge of breeding and reproduction of type, marking of calves cannot be valuable. "I believe that the more intelligent /farmer is drawing out of herd testinc," said the agriculturist. "Ho has had the early advantages of a scheme suitable for the man who desires cows capable of producing a yearly average of 3001b.. but when he has reached the standard he has got to maintain it,* and herd-testing is not going to assist him. Herd-testing in itself is not to bo condemned, but. on its present lines, it 'cannot go ahead as it is advocated or wished " , Farmers with an average production of 3001b. wc-re not inclined to cull cows afflicted with the ailments specified bv the herd-testing system, which compelled them, therefore, to hold cows they otherwise would have culled. Ailments should be controlled by the formation of a Government scientific investigation branch. "The principle of herd-testing is quite good." concluded the critic, "but how ' can its benefits be applied when there is no definite certainty? When there is a great element of certainty in breeding and the Government scientifically investigates this matter, as well , as the ailments demanding culling, then ■the farmer will recognise the logical advantages of herd-testing."