HERD TESTING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 118, 11 July 1911, Page 8

HERD TESTING.

ADDRESS BY Mil .SINGLETON. ft; tlio course of an address to a number of (Ireytnwn dairy fanners, with a view to ascertaining the feelings of local dairymen as to forming a Cowtesting Association, Air W. M v Singleton, dairy expert, said they were adopting tire Association method of testing, w ’rich originated in Denmark in 181)5, and was now in voguo rn Sweden, Canada, Scotland and ’dormany. The system did not only benefit each person, but the dairying community benefited as a whole. This had been extensively proved by the results obtained by the Association at Kanpokonui, Stratford, Waikato and Daleficld. There were many advant-

ages to bo obtained, and the culling of the herd was not only the piinnpal one. Its general educational value made dairy farmers more practical, for good dairy farmers have admitted that they cannot choose the best cows in their herd, and Cow Testing Associations had proved this to lie a fact. The Government had asked the members of the Associations, at the beginning of the season to pick out which were, in their opinion, their eight best cows, and in no case had their choices been correct when at the end of the season the records were gone into. Tills proved there were different ways of culling under different circumstances, and the cow that gave the most milk at the flush of the season was often not the best cow from an £ s.d. point of view. The records of these Associations have proved that not only is it necessary to have a good breed of cow, but—the most important point—that dairymen must breed from a good milking strain. It also demonstrated the necessity of winter feeding, so that a cow would bo in good condition from the beginning of the season, and milk heavily from the start. llesults at Daleficld also had proved that summer feeding was essential. One herd, from January onwards was given a little maize. Another herd, situated across the road, of equal quality previously, was not given extra feed, and its yield for the last live months was 30 per cent, less than the first herd. Mr Singleton then quoted many figures to prove that'dairymen, had gained a great deal for the small amount of extra labour and expense entailed. Records had proved that dairymen had discovered they wore milking cows not returning a profit of 10s per annum, and such records were, therefore, very valuable. In conclusion, Mr Singleton advised his hearers to think the matter over, and then join the Association.