HERD TESTING

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12083, 29 June 1932, Page 5

HERD TESTING

THE BUSH ASSOCIATION A FINE ACHIEVEMENT. The first annual meeting of the Bush Co-operative Herd-Testing Association was held yesterday afternoon in the Borough. Chambers. The president, Mr Alan Campbell, of Eketahuna, presided over a fairly representative attendance. The annual report of the chairman read as follows: “1 think, that on reviewing the year’s operations, after taking into consideration the initial expenditure and outlay for equipment, etc., the result shows a very satisfactory position. “During the year the Association has been incorporated and also affiliated with the Dominion federation, thereby giving our members the opportunity of participating in certificates, through our records pp “Thirty-six herds, totalling 1,676 Srovvs, were tested under the group system. Fifty-five cows were tested under the ‘own sample’ or Association system. The group figures show an average return of 2491bs of fat for 2d4 days per cow per herd, which, considering the season, compares favourably with figures from other dstriets. “Subsidy: A subsidy of sixpence per cow, for all cows charged for under the group system and threepence per cow for Association system cows, has been received from the Department of Agriculture and another subsidy, of the same amount is expected from the Dairy Produce Board, making a total of one shilling per cow for the group and sixpence per cow for the Association cows. This amount will be refunded to members as soon as it is received. “Charges: A proposal will be put before you at this meeting to alter By-law No. 2, in order to reduce the charges for the coming season. Charges are • mainly dependent on the number of cows under test, therefore, being a co-operative Association. I would stress the importance of members using their influence to increase the number of herds under test, so that all may benefit. “To quote the words of Mr Dynes Pulton, president of the Dominion Group Herd-Testing Federation: ‘Many farmers now recognise that herd-testing, in fact thorough method, is even more necessary in bad times than in times of prosperity. To-day it is not a question of ‘Can one afford to test?’ but rather Can one afford not to test?’ For that reason, 1 venture to say that, as a result of these low prices, a decided impetus will be given to herd-testing work.” ON RIGHT BINES. The chairman thought the Association should be very satisfied with the results of the past season. They had tested at a cost of os per cow and there would probably be a reof Is per head. No doubt, m tHe past, herd-testing had been on a very unsatisfactory basis in this district but he believed that at last they were on the right lines. At present 10 per cent, only of the cows in this district were under test and it was hoped to increase this to 30 per cent. One Association on the West Coast actually had under test 50 per cent, of the cows in its district, while the average for New Zealand of the cows milked was somewhere about 16 per cent. There was no doubt that farmers were going through a very trying time, and no one could look ahead and say what the prices lor butter-fat would be next year. But the man who was testing, and was trying to raise the standard of bis herd, was going to be the man who would come out on top when prices righted themselves. In the speaker's opinion it was no use milking a < ow that gave under 2001 b of butterfat but there were hundreds like i*t in this district. He would like to see the local average raised to 3001 bs of butter-fat per cow, but he was afraid it would be some time before that aim could be achieved. The present average was 2491bs per cow here. Some people contended that they could not afford to test but the chairman maintained that they could not afford not to test Only by testing could farmers ascertain the merits of their herd and thereby save cows that would otherwise be potted. Air R. Wade seconded the adoption of the annual report and bal-ance-sheet. A SUCCESS. Mr T. F. Edge remarked that herd-testing last season had been quite a success in the Bush district. The marking of the cull cow had been advocated, but was not in force yet. If all calves were marked it would automatically cut the cull cow right out as the calves would only be from 3001 b cows or over. Although the number of cows under test in the Dominion last year decreased by 4,000 on the previous year the headquarters of testing, the New Zealand Co-operative Herd-Testing Association, had increased its total under test by 9,000. In the Bush there should be at least 12,000 to 15,000 under test. AN EYE-OPENER. Mr G. H. Brown said the balancesheet spoke lor itself. Twelve months ago a handful of enthusiasts got the Association going and the outcome was that 1760 cows were tc-su J during the season, the average test per cow being 2491bs for 254 days. The top herds in the Association proved to be those that had been under test previously. These particular farmers had taken advantage of testing, culled systematically, and bred up, and they had put up a very fine record last year with their herds. These were the men, too, who were able to hold their own even though prices were low. The ones who only started testing last year were the ones who were guilty of the lower testing average. Herd-testing here had absolutely justified itself. It had

been an eye-opener to many of them. For a new and comparatively small Association they had* tested cheaply at a cost of 5s per cow and there would be a rebate of Is, leaving the cost at 4s per cow, and in what line of business on the farm could the settler get as good a return for 4s as lie could from herdtesting? Testing was the cheapest item of expense on the farm, yet they got the biggest return from it. The Bush Association was in an extraordinarily good position. They started without a penny piece, had to find their own plant, paid their way, and actually showed a surplusof £6O 3s. He considered it a wonderful achievement. Their only interest item was 14s for the year. He considered that every man would like to be 1 able to say the same tiling for bis own business. It had often been said that the bankers in New Zealand to-day are hard on the farmers, are no good to the farmers, but he did not agree with this view. He instanced the assistance given the Association by the manager of the local branch of the Bank of New Zealand (Mr D. O. B. Howclen) when it desired to start operations last year. “The bankers in Pahiatua,” declared Air Brown, “stood last winter considerably to the farmers and are still standing to them.” Mr Howden had encouraged the Herd-Testing Association and if all farmers were as interested in testing as he was they would be into testing “up to their necks.” He foresaw that if testing came into general operation here it was going to benefit the farmer, benefit the business man ultimately, and if both these _ benefited then the bank would get its cut too. In conclusion, he. urged that if anyone at the meeting bad any criticism of the bal-ance-sheet to offer they should do so there and then. Often people went to meetings and said riot a T'ord, “but when they get outside in the street every man’s an orator, every man’s a financier,” he added, amidst applause. THE THANT. Air Edge pointed out that the actual cost of testing each cow last season had been 4s Id per cow. Ihe chairman said they were writing off 33 1-3 per cent, on the plant every year as there was a very heavy depreciation on it and tile pliant would probably have to he renewed every three years. file report, and balance-sheet were then unanimously adopted. F IGURES T REBBE D. Air Campbell reported on the annual conference of the HerdTesting Association held last week in Palmerston North when many remits were dealt with. Twenty-eight Associations were affiliated to the Federation, testing a» total of 222,221 under the group system. Six years ago only eight Associations were affiliated, testing 58,549 cows, so that these figures had been trebled now. EXECUTIVE COMAIITTEE. The executive committee was elected as follows: AYoodville: Alessrs R. C. Beach, J. AI. Hutchinson and T. C. RhodesJackson. Eketahuna: Alessrs Alan Campbell. A. G. Golder and T. F. Edge. Five nominations were received for the three vacancies to represent the Pahiatua district: Alessrs R. Wade, AV. Fulton, G. H. Brown, C. Connell and J. A. Ross. A ballot resulted in the return of Alessrs Wade, Connell and Brown. The press representatives acted as scrutineers. Alt- B. D. Bovelock was re-ap-pointed auditor at the same fee as last year. The chairman said that Air Hume, the Federation organiser, was prepared to give three or four lectures in this district on herdtesting and in fact on all branches of farm management. It was decided to hold the lectures at Pahiatua, Eketahuna, Hanlua and Woodville. CHARGES REDUCED. As a recommendation from the executive, Air Edge moved that the scale of charges be altered as under: That for 1932-33 the minimum charge be £5 for a herd of 20 cows or as per cow for the first 20 cows, fi om 20 to 50 cows the charge be 4s per cow, and over 50 cows 3s per cow.

This, said Air Edge, meant a substantial reduction on last year’s charges. It was meeting the man with the large herd and the man with the small herd too for the scale would he on a very low basis now. In fact be was afraid it was a shade on the low side. For the average farmer his testing charge would in future be down to 3s 9d or 3s lOd per cow, not counting the rebate. Of course quite a proportion of large herds would be necessary to make the Association pay on the new scale of charges, but tbs herds under test last year averaged 46 cows and if that figure was repeated it would be alright. Air J. Al. Hutchinson seconded the motion.

Air R. AVade favoured a lowering of the charges but be thought the precaution should be taken to ascertain the number of large herds available to ensure that the Association would pay its way. » The motion was then put and carried unanimously. Air Eel ge gave notice to move at the next annual meeting that the executive be elected on the ward system, three from Woodville, three from Pahiatua, and three from the Eketahuna district. This was to avoid any c-hance of the whole executive being “bumped out” at once which would not he in the test interests of the Association. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr D. O. B. Howden, manager of the local branch of the Bank of New Zealand, for the valuable assistance lie had given tbs Association dur ng its first year. A vote of thanks wa.s accorded the press for its liberal support in the past, and to the successful work of the secretary, Air R. C. Austin, the executive, the testing officer, and the AV.F.C.A. for the use of its room for the executive meetings.

At a subsequent meeting of the new executive Air Alan Campbell was re-elected chairman.