STRATFORD DAIRY CO.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7871, 5 August 1911, Page 2

STRATFORD DAIRY CO.

INSPECTION AND HERD-TESTING

At the annual meeting of tho Stratford Dairy Company, hold this week, tho question of dairy inspection and cow-tcsting was freely discussed. The local representative of the dairy division of tho Department of Agriculture Mr Pulton) was in attendance and made a few remarks to the meeting on the subject of dairy inspection Ho said that last summer he had gone round tho cow sheds in the district, and had found that in some places where only repairs were thought to be necessary farmers had decided to rebuild entirely. In other places, however, things which had been recommended had not been done. It was highly necessary to ? havo sheds in such a condition that clean milk could bo supplied. There were some sheds in Che district from which it could not be expected to get dean milk, considering the hurry in which milking was carried on. There were a good many people who were trying to make as much as possible out of tho land in tho shortest time; but those properly in the industry should take steps which would be good for all time. If ho found jinybody taking no notice of his recommendations he would have to speak more straight to him. There were a good number of farms in tho district which had not imnroved to the extent they should have. There were farm dwellings and buildings which were no credit to tho district. The land had greatly increased in value, and it waa high time the old stylo of buildings was superseded. Some farmers said they would not improve their buildings because they were about to sell out. Sometimes they sold out and sometimes they did not; but ho CMr Pulton) would take the man in possession as tho responsible party. ■*

Several dairymen who admitted that they were formerly opposed to dairy inspection; remarked that they had changed their views recently. One gentleman stated that some time ago ho had done as little as possible to improve his shed. Then ho had been forced to carry out improvements, and after ho had concreted his yards he wondered why ho had not done so a long time before. HAST SEASON'S LESSON.

During the post milking season, the herds supplying the central factory ’had been individually tested under the superintendence of Mr W. M. Singleton, of the Dairy Division, with a view of diffusing knowledge of the advantages of testing, so that farmers after seeing its advantages would try to ascertain the individual merits of their herds, either by homo or co-operative testing. Addressing the meeting Mr Singleton explained the system of herd testing that had been adopted by tho department and the rules that had been laid down for the formation of testing associations. Ho-said that last spring they received tho consent of tho directors for the use of testing apparatus for testing herds The results had been sent to the head office in Wellington, whore comparative figures had been prepared. These showed that the average yield of cows in the testing association made the following records.—Milk 55001 b, tost 4 per cent., fat 2201 b. Tho average cow in the best herd had a record of 3001 b of fat and the worst cow U9lb. The best cow in the association gave 4371 b fat. The worst cow which had been milked seven months or over gave 1151 b fat. This'was reckoned by the department at a shilling a pound, and between tho best and the worst records mentioned there was a difference of 3121 b fat, or XIS 12s in money. Cutting the association into two sections tho average of the best was 3231 b fat, and of the worst 1651 b. Pbr tho whole of the associations in tho country the fat average was 2231 b, and the mil'k average was 58001 b, so that it could he seen that there wore several herds in the district which could stand improvement. He favoured a long milking period. Bo quoted a large number of records of test! ing associations to show that farmers should select their cows on the facta disclosed by tests. It was unfortunately true that not everybody was a judge of cattle, but it was hoped that the average judgment of farmers would be Improved as a result of testing. It was objected that testing took a good deal of hard work, but then nothing was done without work. Testing had the advantage of directing the attention of farmers to tho butter fat yield of each individual cow as against his average cow. He quoted cases of the cows which association testing had resulted in having culled out, and told of one man who after many endeavours to sell a cow’ found by testing that it was one of his best. He also quoted figures from two cows, which showed that one cow which had given 35001 b milk less than another cow gave 621 b more bntter-fat than its rival. The department had asked local farmers to place in order of merit their eight best cows, and though some selections did credit to the farmers, there were also cases in which very poor cows had been included in the lists while better cows had been left out. If a man desired to have a good herd ho must rely «m Ilik own wort in, raimnfi heifers to

replace tho poor cows 'he would cull out. As to the cry that boys were leaving tho farms and flocking to tho towns, he thought tho boys would stay on tho farms if their fathers got them interested in the records of the herds and tho improvement thereof. During tho subsequent discussion it ■mas thought that the factory manager had insufficient time to look after the tests. It was decided to appoint a soparato tester providing satisfactory arrangements could bo mado with the neighbouring companies.