HERD TESTING

Southland Times, Issue 18970, 18 June 1923, Page 6

HERD TESTING

SOUTHLAND’S NEGLECT. DISCUSSION AT FARMERS’ CONFERENCE. The desirability of a system of herd-test-ing being instituted in regard to local herds, was a matter which came under discussion at the Farmers’ Conference on Friday, on a remit suggested by the Gorge Road Branch that the Executive and all branches should do everything possible to foster and encourage herd-testing in the province. Mr O. E. Neiderer, in moving the remit, stated that there was not a place in the Dominion where there were so many dairy cows, or where so little testing was carried out. At present they had one such Association locally struggling for existence, whereas a little while ago they had three. Testing throughout the Dominion had on the other hand increased by leaps and bounds. For instance, last year 44 per cent, of the dairy herds had been tested and this year the percentage had been increased to 7. He would make bold to say that of that percentage only about 10 per cent, of the cows had been tested in the South Island, and he was of opinion that the matter should receive their most serious attention, and should be discussed at every meeting of dairy farmers throughout the province. It was one of the vital things connected with the industry, and consisted of three essentials, the breeding, feeding and testing of the herds. He was sure if they went in for testing and improved their present herds, the other two would follow in due course. “We prided ourselves,” he continued, “on having the second of largest average per cow in the Dominion and the associations in the north wore going ahead so fast that we will soon be at the bottom of the list.” Mr Miajor said that he was convinced that any dairyman who had had experience in herd testing knew that it was on right lines. The test was a good guide to enable a man to eliminate the weak animals and keep the good ones in each herd. He would strongly urge upon the branches of the Union to take it up, as it would be of immense benefit to the district as a whole. At present there was a tendency, he thought, for them to hang back and do nothing. Mr McLean said he approved of the proposals and where necessary it might be advisable for a group of branches, conveniently situated, to combine and have one central depot at which the samples could be tested. Thus the farmer would have some idea of what his herd was capable of producing. Mr Bacon thought that until the dairyman went in more strongly for improved methods of feeding the cows would not give a true result from testing alone. If a man was not feeding his cows up to their full consuming capacity his butter-producing cows were the first to suffer in the herd. He was of opinion that if they went in for testing they must carry it out in order to get reliable results. He believed that such a system was urgently required if carried out in a proper manner. Mr R. Arnott maintained that it was the cow that would give a good average test which they required in this district, especially as it was a cheese-producing district. He failed to see that any great benefit was going to accrue by establishing a herd-testing association as its advocates had suggested. Mr T. JR. Eades said the Union should encourage the testing of the herds. Mr Bacon, in reply to Mr Arnott, said a higher test of milk would make considerably more cheese than for example a 3.6 or a 3.7 test. His experience was that a 3.8 mflk should enable the best quality cheese to be obtained and ensure that the best results were obtained with the least average loss in the year.