COW-TESTING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 133, 28 July 1911, Page 2

COW-TESTING.

“THE QUESTION OF THE HOUR.’’ Mr J. W. Jones moved at the Farmers’ Union Conference, for Taranaki and briefly urged— That, seeing the great importance of the dairy industry in New Zealand, this conference urges dairy companies, A. and U. Associations, apd branches of the union,'to use every effort to foster and encourage cow-testing. Mr W. J. Birch (Wellington) seconded the motion, saying tne matter was one of the most vital importance to every one engaged in the industry. Mr j.‘ Malcgill (Auckland). said he had been doing some testing in his own herd for some years past and had, as a result, materially increased ids production of butter-fat. At tiie invitation of the president, the Dairy Commissioner addressed the conference upon the subject. Mr Caddie said the cow-testing associations which had been started had done very excellent work. It was found dining the past season that the good herds had averaged 7715 pounds of milk and 825 pounds of cow, while the poor herds had only averaged 1828 pounds of milk and IOS pounds of butter-fat, or a difference which was equivalent to about £7 12s per cow. To a farmer witii thirty cows it would mean a difference of about £226 for the season. ft was, to ids mind, really the question of the hour to the dairy farmer. ’The department was doing all it could in the matter and now had no less than sixty-five applicants from different centres for the services of men to start associations. Already arrangements had been made for beginning imw associations dining the coming season and he had no doubt that soon they non Id see a big ten ward move. 'I lie Department’s oilicers would be testing about 61)00 cows during the coming season. Replying to the president, Mr Caddie said he (lid not suppose that all the sixty-five applications would he mot at once. The dopartmnt, however, would do what it could to put such associations on their feet and in such a position that the dairymen could keep thorn going. The Chief \ eterinarian said, in reply to a question, that lie thought there was a possibility, if a particular strain was bred purely for milk production through a number of years, tba I idler.- was groat risk of its constitution suffering.

During the discussion which iollowcd, .Mr McQnoeu (Southland) urged the need of some legislation to enable the department to deal with cows rejected irom nerds on account of poor milk production. Mr Caddie , said that expci lence showed that farmers were usually otdv too glad to fatten rejects oh and sell them to the butcher. He thought there was an opening for a great move forward in the testing purebred herds so as to ensure good breeding animals. . The motion was carried. — ' ■ Times.”