HERD TESTING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3994, 30 September 1930, Page 17

HERD TESTING.

MEETING AT OWAKA

Some time ago Air H. T. Bryant, an Owaka farmer, wrote to the director of the Dairy Division (Air Singleton) to ascertain what could be done in the way of assistance should a herd testing group be formed in that district. This letter was passed on to the New Zealand Herd Testing Federation, and from there to the secretary of the Southland Herd Testing Group, and as the result of a canvass of the district sufficient support was obtained to warrant the calling of a meeting of farmers to see if a group could be formed in Owaka. This meeting took place on Friday, September 19, when about 25 farmers and others interested met to hear an address by the organiser of the Dominion Group Herd Testing Federation (Air Hume).

Mr Bryant explained why the meeting had been called, and the necessity for the revival of testing. Mr Hume was then called on to address the meeting. After outlining the organisation of the federation of group herd testing associations which had taken the place of the old association system of testing, he said that in the 1921-22 season there were 45,000 cows under association test. In 1929-30 there were 300,000 cows under tsst. Of these, 50,000 were under association test, the other 250,000 being under the group system of testing. Under the group system samples and weights were taken by the group testing officer instead of by the farmer himself. Quoting butter-fat averages. Air Hume said that in 1921-22 all cows in the Dominion averaged 1751 b of butter-fat. In 1929-30 the average was 2251 b. Of that increase, 271 b had been obtained in the last two years. The objective of the federation was 3001 b of butter-fat per cow per annum. Every 101 b increase in the average for New Zealand, at Is 3d per lb, meant an extra £1,000,000 increase in income. In 1921 an average production of 2001 b per cow was considered good. Yet last year the top herd averaged 4521 b tor 51 cows, and this herd included seven two-year-olds, so that it could be seen that more than pedigree was wanted. They must have performance with it. In one group of 13 or 14 herds averaging 81 cows per herd, the average per cow was 3191 b of fat. Four year ago the average for the group was 2501 b. One herd of 107 cows averaged 3981 b of fat last year. Air Hume said that the industry must face lower prices, and, to meet those, production costs must be lowered. To reduce expenses was out of the question. There was practically no hope of obtaining a better price for butter-fat, so that the nly way was to increase production That meant not milking more cows, but producing more. per cow and per acre. Mr Hume said it had been proved that by testing over a period of years with the use of a good bull and proper culling a farmer could increase production by 1001 b of fat per cow. In four years one man had increased his average by 1131 b. It was no use taking up testing for one year and expecting to get results; it bad to be continued over a number of years. The use of a good bull was essential. The bull must be a pedigree animal and have sound butter-fat backing before receiving the approval of the federation so far as calf marking was concerned. It was estimated that 50 per cent, of the herds in New Zealand were headed by pedigree bulls at the present time. In the Waikato they had increased production by lengthening the season and by better winter feeding,—feeding ensilage largely instead of hay, and as a result the average number of days of the milking season had been increased by 33. In the Southland Association the average was 2311 b of fat in 223 days, so that by lengthening the season by one month they would increase production by at least 251 b of fat per cow

Where would the Dominion be, asUed Air Hume, if other countries could produce cheaper than we could? New Zealand had the climate, the cows, and the men to use them to advantage, but until an average production of 3001 b could be obtained we could not hope to lead the world. The average in Denmark was 2401 b to 2501 b per cow, and in the opinion of experienced men that country had just about reached the limit of production. New Zealand was, with butter, ninth on the list of producing countries, yet produced only 3 per cent, of the world’s butter, and in cheese seventh on the list producing 4 per cent, of the world’s cheese, so that we were very small fry so far as production went.

With regard to the forming of a group, said Air Hume, that depended on the number of cows available. A total or 700 cows was the smallest number that could be carried on with at the 5s per cow rate, receiving a grant from the Government subsidy which would be available this year to help new groups and those small groups not able to carry on without assistance. So far 400 cows had £ uaran teed, and 300 more, or another 10 to 15 herds, would have to join U P. be lo/e the group could be started. . •‘“ r Hume said that not only was testL nf l immediate benefit to the farmer, but the benefits of calf marking and the B l°ok had to be remembered. VVith the calf marking scheme, which was demonstrated on the blackboard, every calr eligible was earmarked and a certificate issued setting out the pedigree and backing of the calf. To be eligible, the dam of the calf must have produced when „Y?,,y ea , rs °M 2001 b fat, when three years 2751 b, three years and a-half 3001 b in 305 days. From 1931 it was proposed that all bulls must be able to show sound butterfat backing as well as pedigree before being recognised. The use of a butterfat backed bull, testing, and culling to, say, 20 per cent., would result in a few years in a considerable increase in production.

In reply to an assertion by a farmer present that increased production could be obtained by the use of a good bull without any testing. Air Hume said that, while such would most certainly be the case where the foundation herd was very poor, in the case of a herd averaging round about 2001 b fat the farmer whp did not tesst ran a very big risk of failing;—in fact, would almost certainly lose. The secretary of the Southland herdtesting group (Air Oswin) explained the position of those farmers with small herds, say eight to 10 cows. These farmers could, by coming in under the alternative system, pay a minimum of £2 10s. By this system herds were paired the first month, one farmer having his samples and weights taken by the group testers while the other herd weights and samples were taken by the farmer. The following month the position was reversed, and so on through the season. It was further explained that this system was recognised for calf-marking, making it practically equal to the regular group testing. For those farmers not able to come under the group system, the old association system was available, whereby a farmer took his own weights ana samples, the testing being done by the group testers. The charge for this was 3s 6d per cow. but calves could not be marked.

Air Jensen, of the Stirling group, also addressed the meeting, pointing out the benefits his group had obtained from testing, and stating that the first testing at Stirling had been commenced as a result of some of their members having attended a meeting of the old Owaka Herdtesting Association. He wished the Owaka group every success and promised that every assistance possible Would be given Jo get the Owaka group going. After a number of questions had been asked and satisfactorily answered it was moved by Air W. Gorman that a group be formed in Owaka. This was seconded by Mr H. T. Bryant and carried. The following committee was appointed: Messrs W. C. Adam, H. T. Bryant, W. Gorman; R. Warnock, and W. E. Wright, with power to add to its number. A meeting of the committee will be held at a later date, and a chairman appointed, who will be the group representative on the Southland Association. The meeting closed with a very hearty vote of thanks to Air Hume and those who had come with him. Air Colbourne intimated that he would give another day to assist the local committee to secure additional herds to bring the total to the number required. At the conclusion oi the meeting in connection with group testing, an interesting discussion took place on pig feeding. Air Hume stated that as a recult of feeding experiments the weights of weaners had been increased from 201 b * to 401 b. Two years ago farmers had been turning weaners off the mothers at 17201 b in eight weeks. Last year, as the result of feeding, they had turned them off at 401 b in seven weeks. This had been done by having a part of the pen fenced off from the sows, and allowing the young pigs access to skim milk all the time.

Air Hume stated in answer to a question that whilst he did not have the figures with him, the time for turning off the pigs fat had been correspondingly shortened, and the farmer who worked on those lines must show a much greater profit. The man who was responsible for this discussion stated that he had taken £250 from pigs last year from 20 odd cows. This was considered as very good, but it was pointed out by Air Hume, that, by the method of feeding outlined by him. those returns could quite probably be obtained in a shorter time, and more pigs turned of fat in a year, with a resulting greater profit.