HERDTESTING

Southland Times, Issue 19545, 8 May 1925, Page 2

HERDTESTING

MEETING AT MATAURA. (Frcm our Correspondent.) A meeting was held on Wednesday in the Board Room of the Mataura Dairy Factory Company’s office for the purpose of extending the herd testing business and forming new groups under the existing Southland Association. Mr H. Oswin, the official tester of the Association, and Mr G. Herron, President of the Association, were present at the meeting. Mr Herron stated that the purpose of the meeting was to enlarge the group formed last year. The group had been run very successfully, but there was a good deal of work attached to ft for the Secretary, a position that had been carried on by Mr G. Gordon, Pukerau. The cost of testing had worked out at 5/- per cow, but when they started off they charged 6/- per cow as there was a good deal of expense with regard to plant. They should be able to test at 5/- per cow. The reason for the meeting was to try and enlarge the Association so that they could afford to pay a secretary, as the work was becoming too much to be voluntary, more there were in the group the cheaper it would be to run. They did not propose going any further than Seaward Downs and there was ample room for three or four groups. It was a right move in the interests of dairying, as they could find out which cows were paying. The cost of wintering cows was fairly expensive, and it was then that it did not pay to keep animals that were not profitable. The success of the group, said Mr Herron, was largely due to Mr Oswin’s efforts and there had not been, any mistakes.

Mr Oswin did not want to take the credit for the success of the group, and he thanked the members for their assistance. Mr Herron thought it would be a good idea if the Mataura end would form a Committee and make a canvass. Mr Robertson thought it would be a good idea if Mr Oswin took a run round the farmers. Mr Oswin thought that August would be a suitable time to canvass. He thought the group would be a success at Mataura, and the idea of getting going early was good. Mr B. Scott asKed what was the lowest number of cows that would be required to make the group pay. Mr Herron replied that they would want about 1200. He remarked that the farmers this year were keener on the business than they were last year. In reply to a question by Mr Weimer regarding the matter of more than 28 herds, Mr Herron said they would have to form another group.

Mr Oswin considered that the Committee would have to charge 6/- per cow, but it may be run cheaper. Mr Herron stated that new members would have to pay more than last year’s members on account of the cost of the plant. Mr Oswin stated that the payments were divided into eight payments, and Mr Herron stated that a member must make the eight payments whether he made all the tests or not. The matter of testing small herds was mentioned, and Mr Herron stated that something may be done with regard to them. A Committee of the suppliers to the Mataura factory present was formed to canvass for the support of the group, as follow’s:—Messrs ,R. K. Dodds (Chairman), Bruce Scott (Secretary), R. Dickie, Robertson and Weirner. Before adjourning, Mr Oswin thanked Mr McDonald, the Manager of the Mataura factory, for the help he had given him during the season. Mr Herron, on behalf of the directors of the Herd Testing Association, also thanked Mr McDonald. A meeting was held in the Edendale Hal l at night, there being a good attendance. Messrs G. Herron and G. Gordon addressed the meeting. A Committee was also formed there to canvass for support of the proposal.