WAIMATUKU NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 21480, 24 August 1931, Page 2

WAIMATUKU NOTES

HERD-TESTING GROUP.

(From Our Correspondent). The annual meeting of the Waimatuku Group of the Southland Herd-Testing Association was held on Thursday last, Mr T. Muirhead presided and had with him Mr G. R. Herron, New Zealand president, Mr Weir, Southland-Otago president, Mr C. M. Hume, federation supervisor of herdtesting, and Mr Oswin, secretary to the Southland-Otago branch. The annual report was presented and the figures affecting No. 1 group are as follows: —958 cows tested in 29 herds, in ad-, dition to 8 herds tested on farmers' own samples. The average production was 242.221bs butterfat in 232 days. This represents a slight drop due to including B grade cows in the figures for the first time. Highest herd: Mr J. Stuart, Otaitai Bush. 344.551bs butterfat in 255 days from 40 cows. Highest cow: 4781 b fat in 246 days, Mr M. Fallow, Thornbury. Lowest Herd: 164.481 b in 175 days. Lowest cow: 551 b in 117 days. As a monetary return the highest testing herd averaged £l7 14/6 per cow and the lowest £8 4/6. The group funds showed a credit of £9 4/6.

Messrs Nuttall, Blaikie and Fallow were elected directors for the ensuing year. In a discussion following the adoption of the balance-sheet, Mr Hartley asked whether any reduction was being made in calf-marking fees. The secretary, in reply, stated that there would not be any alteration, and advised members that a new set of rules and charges was ready and would be delivered by the testers. With regard to the Government subsidy, he reported that there was enough in hand to allow a rebate of 4d to 5d per cow tested. The 1931-32 subsidy was £6OOO with a like amount from the Dairy Control Board, returning a total rebate of lOd a cow which would re. duce the testing costs somewhat. The season’s fees’ would be 5/- per cow to 50 cows, and 4/- per cow above that. Economies had been effected in that the directors’ fees had been abolished, only travelling expenses being allowed; wages of cm-

ployees had been cut 12$ per cent and no fee would be paid to factory secretaries. Mr Heyward asked whether B cows must be tested, and raised the point of winter cows being tested and included in the average. Mr Oswin replied that all cows had to be tested and included in the average, though B cows not producing 1601 b butterfat were not charged for. Speaking to this point Mr Herron said that.all over New Zealand it had been decided to include B grade cows, or else no fair Dominion averages could be arrived at, and no comparisons made with other provinces. North Islanders had regarded the Southland averages as picked instead of fair samples. In spite of including B cows the Southland average had only dropped 61b per cow. Winter milkers should be tested to get a correct herd average and they were tested free and often good milkers were brought to light. He said the aim of the association was not competition between man and man, but to raise the general standard of every herd. Mr Riddle asked whether in a herd of 30 purebreds and 10 crossbreds the purebreds alone could be tested, but Mr Herron said the rules did not permit that, and further that they had to test all cows in order to finance the group's affairs properly. An address was given by Mr Hume on the lines of his address at Invercargill and he was accorded a vote of thanks.