COW-TESTING ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18625, 5 August 1922, Page 18

COW-TESTING ASSOCIATION

OWAKA DAIRYMEN’S EFFORT. SOME INTERESTING RESULTS. The second annual meeting 1 of the Owaka Cow-testing Association was held at Owaka on August 2. The meeting was largely attended, Mr George Barr (president) being in the chair. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted in Mr J. Duley being elected president and Mr J. Taylor secretary. The outgoing president, in his address, outlined the work that had been done during the past three years and the progress that had been brought about by the increased production in the different herds under test. The following figures for the past two seasons were of interest: — 1920- —3l cows produced over 3001 b but-ter-fat. Of these five gave over 3501 b and one over 4001 b. 1921- 54 cows produced over 3001 b but-ter-fat. Of these 24 produced over 3501 b, nine over \4oolb, two over 4501 b, and one cow gave 5501 b. i Mr S. Bowman (Waitaki Dairy Company) congratulated the members of the association on the good work they were doing for the district in bringing about increased production in their dairy herds by cow-testing. He emphasised the necessity of dairy farmers taking more interest in the adequate feeding of their herds and realising the difference in the maintenance ration for _ a cow and the amount for production. This, he said, must bring about an economy in the production of butter-fat per acre. Mr A. C. Ross, Government Dairy Instructor, Otago, congratulated the members of the association on their progressive spirit in carrying on the besting of their individual herds. The establishing of a cowtesting association in Owaka was one of the most important undertakings the farmers had embarked on for the the dairy industry of this district, '-through that be considered they were the_ most progressive dairymen Otago had, and ho hoped for the welfare of the individual dairy farmers, as well ae for this district, they would kqep tlie association going. By so doing they were sotting an object lesson for dairy farmers in other districts. ! The following summary of the three years’ work showed what has been done by testing and culling out the low producers in their herds:— Three Season’s Figures. 1919-1920. 1920-1921. 1921-1922. Cows „. „ ... 208 298 401 Days, Pat. Days. Pat. Days. Pat. Association Avge. 187 178 200 190 202 210 Best Cow 239 394 217 410 225 650 Poorest » 140 79 123 56 * ’g3s 80 H. Herd 221 290 224 295 265 307 L. Herd ... .;. 105 108 131 91 234 168 Average lbs fat per day .9550 1.0418

These figures, said Mr Ross, showed what a total waste of energy annually has been going on, on some of our dairy farms, which represents a loss of money that can be charged up to “Ignorance.” . Following is a summary of 11 members m the Owaka Association who had their herds under test for three seasons: — Fat per Avge. Pat per Days cow. cow per day. 1919- ... 201 192.82 .95 1920- ... 233 227.23 0.97 1921- ... 200 232.46 1.11 Increase 1920-1921 over 1919-1920—1.65 per cent. Increase 1921-1922 over 1920-1021—14.05 per cent or a total increase of 15.70 per cent, over 1919-20. Following is a summary of one man’s testing in the Owaka district:— 1919-1020. 1020-1921. 1021-1922. Cows ... 18 18 17 Total lbs Pat ... 4010 4489 6331.5 Days ... • 246 230 265 Increase lbs Fat ... Increase Fat per cow 1920-1921—111 per cent.; 1921-1922, 231 per 'cent over 1920-1921 or 35 per cent over 1919-1920. Taking the average production of, say, the total cows in this district, said Mr Ross, 2000 at 19Clb fat each, the total pounds butter-fat made into commercial butter at ■ls 5d would mean a return tq_ the district of £32,500. If every dairyman" could bring about the some increased production of fat per cow, up to 3001 b fat, it would mean an extra £18,700 being distributed around Owaka. This, he asserted, could be done, as was shown by the figures he had given. Surely it was worth while striving for. The individual testing of herds was not alone a benefit to the individual dairy farmer, but benefited the whole district through the increased production of butter-fat, and thus an increased circulation of some thousands of pounds. For Otago alone an increase production per annum of 101 b butter-fat per cow meant at present rates of butter-fat an extra income to the province of £7775. The underlying idea in all testing work, continued the speaker, should be to obtain honest records of an animal’s' ability in order to know its value as a producer, and as an animal for breeding purposes. With the data members had at hand for the past three years, testing the ability of their individual herds ;i? producers, it was essential that oh should select a pure-bred bull to head their herds, especially a sire with milk and bulter-fat records behind him larger than the herd they were going to mate with. By so doing they wore laying a sure foundation for the permanent development of their herds. Where a sire is used with a milk and butter-fat record larger than the herd he is to bo mated with, fchdi farmer oan safely rely upon getting females with the ability of producing more than their dams. To help instil the spirit of the young generation to take; real interest in-the dairy industry Mr Rosa advocated members of the association to consider the storting of a “Calf Club” in their district. Whore these clubs have been started, they have been a success, quite apart from their educational value. A vote - of thanks was passed to the Dairy Division for the carrying on of the testing work, and to the Waitaki Dairy Company and the Clutha Dairy Company for their help in starting the association and for the sending of pure-bred bulls into the district for the farmers’ use.