HERD TESTING PROBLEMS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19364, 30 June 1937, Page 15

HERD TESTING PROBLEMS

DOMINION FEDERATION SIRE SURVEY PROPOSED An increase of approximately 30,000 cows under test in comparison with last year’s figures is a most satisfactory feature of the year’s activities in the annual report of the council of the Dominion Group Herd Testing Federation. The president, Mr. G. R. Herron, stated at tho annual meeting that tho decline which took place in tho number of cows under tost in tho two previous seasons had now been arrested. “Unfortunately, there arc still problems in regard to labour and other costs both on the farms and within the herd-testing associations,’’. Mr. Herron explained. “The position, however, should be clarified before the commencement of next season.” Bringing tho control of herd testing under the Dairy Board permitted further investigation being done which would take tho lino of a Dominionwido survey of the sires now in use in tho industry, tabulating tho producing ability of the daughters of a sire and enabling his worth to bo measured by tho records of his daughters .as compared with the records of their dams. Thus would bo of immediate benefit to tho testing member as it would confirm or condemn his breeding practice, and would also serve to disclose the present trend of herd-building throughout tho Dominion. With a membership of 27 associations, the federation charged for 231,567 cows during tho season, against 222,517 for tlio previous season. Levies amounted to £524, compared with £403 last year.