HERD TESTING

Southland Times, Issue 20225, 9 July 1927, Page 11

HERD TESTING

SOUTHLAND ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL MEETING. The third annual meeting of the Southland Herd Testing Association was held in the Y.M.C.A. rooms yesterday, Mr G. R. Herron (president) presiding over a fair attendance of members. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report stated inter alia:— ‘A disappointing factor was the disband' ing of the Brydone-Edendale group, owing to the resignations of a large number of members in that district. There were also several withdrawals in the Menzies Ferry group. However, those remaining with Mme new members, amalgamated and the Edendale-Menzies Ferry branch is now one of the strongest in the association. “The dairy farmers’ from Wallacetown to Ry al Bush and Lochiel were organised and more than sufficient decided to test, borne difficulty was experienced in forming a committee, but the matter was put on a satisfactory basis by the Waimatuku group agreeing to accept the new members, making a total altogether of 80. Your direc* tors resolved to subdivide the group and the new members from Wallacetown to Lochiel were known as the Waimatuku No. 2 group. The action of the Waimatuku Committee is to be commended, as without their assistance the intending members would not have been able to obtain the benefits of testing last season. The total number of cows tested, once or more, was 7,537 against 7,750 in 1925-26. “In making up the averages for the season only cows 100 days and oyer in milk are included from “A” class. The number thus averaged is 6,223 in 161 herds. Those excluded in “A” division were 98 tested once only, and 188 under the hundred days, though tested more than once. Under the system where owners have taken samples and weights of milk 564 cows in 46 herds were tested, enabling the small farmer to ascertain the value of his cows. The past season’s association average per cow for 6,223 was 216.661b5. for 215 days, a slight increase over 1925-26 and well ahead of the first year’s figures of 183.72 lbs. The returns for May, 1927, in a number of herds considerably reduced what would have been a far better average for the association. The highest herd comprising seven cows has a production of 329.691b5. for 235 days, closely followed by 35 with 326.911b5. for 244 days and in third position 40 cows showing 324.1 libs, for 245 days. The champion cow for the season wins the honours with no less than 795.091b5. for 276 days, which is another record for the association.

The lowest cow recorded 79.001b5. in 236 days. The analysis of the 6,223 cows, shows that 135 were under lOOlbs.; 810 between 101-150; 1,696 from 151-200; 1817 at 201-250; 1,112 returned 251-300 ; 458 produced 301-350; 138 from 351 to 4001bs; 38 up to 450; 13 from 451-500; 5 between 501-550 and 1 at 795.09. “On looking over the association records for three years it has been found that 75 members tested for one season only. In some cases the sale of herds accounted for withdrawals. The idea of testing is firstly to locate the unpayable cows and secondly by culling to improve the herd butter-fat recorded each year. It is obvious that a farmer resigning after just one season de* feats the objects and returns to the dark stages. The cost of testing is more than saved by getting rid of the unpayable animals. To run a herd on business lines necessitates continual testing until at least a 3001bs. per cow average is attained, otherwise instead of every cow showing a profit, a farmer spends good money feeding and milking cows on which a dead loss is accru* ing season after season. “An instance of a marked improvement in one of the herds may be quoted in 192526, 34 cows averaged 127.561b5. for 204 days and the same herd with 27 cows advanced to 179.61 in 210 days for 1920-27. The total butter-fat increased from 4337.24 Its. in 1925-26 to 4849.66 for 1926-27 with seven cows less. “The thanks of the association are due to the Press of Invercargill and Gore for publishing various averages, etc., which aYe of much benefit to members of the groups. The factories have again granted the free use of testing machines and your directors also thank the several managers for assisting the movement. The balance sheet disclosed a credit on the year’s workings of £l4 19/9.” REPORT ADOPTED. In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, the chairman said that during last season, owing to the dullness in prices and the poor prospects, herd testing had not gone on as well as they would have liked. The improvement in some of the herds was not up to expectations. North Island figures were much better. If they could get the Southland cows to produce an average of 3001bs of butter-fat, they would be in a good position. It was no use testing year after year and keeping the same cows. Testing should be accompanied by culling. He suggested that they should breed from the good cows and get rid of the bad ones. The coming season had much brighter prospects for the dairying industry than for some years past. Concluding, the speaker recommended a scheme of running the groups under one head. This would curtail certain work and make for a better working of the accounts generally. . Mr A. M. Weir seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS. The election of office-bearers for the ensuing season resulted as follows: Executive Committee: Messrs G. R. Herron (Pukerau-Mataura), A. M. Weir (Eden-dale-Menzies Ferry), J. G. Flett (Otautau), W. J. Campbell (Waimatuku), J. J. Blaikie (Ryal Bush-Lochiel), W. J. Caldwell (Kennington). Auditor: Mr W. D. Shelton. GENERAL. The question of publishing the names of owners of record-making cows was discussed. Some members considered it would have beneficial results, whilst others thought it would not be in the interests of the association to do so. The group system did not aim at the establishing of records, said one speaker, and if they decided to give full publicity to the figures it would not be in the best interests of the association. The matter was allowed to drop. Mr. Weir gave an interesting and instructive account of his visit as the association’s delegate to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Association. He touched on calf-marking, tatoo marking, proportionate sampling, and the proposed Government subsidy. The Government had promised that a sum be given as a subsidy to herd testing, but how the amounts were to be allotted was as yet not known. Mr Weir appealed to farmers for more enthusiasm and to produce more butter-fat. He also suggested that Mr G. E. Hume, manager of the New Zealand Association, should be invited to lecture on herdtesting in Southland. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Weir for his address. It was resolved to invite Mr Hume to lecture Southland farmers on herd testing. It was decided that in future the executive would manage the association, all finances to be paid into one bank. The question of reducing the charges for testing the larger herds was discussed and it was resolved to leave the charges as at present constituted. It was decided to collect the charges over a period of four months instead of five.