COW TESTING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 136, 1 August 1911, Page 5

COW TESTING.

GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATIONS. INDEPENDENT TESTING. Testing received considerable attention at the meeting of the shareholders of the Stratford Dairy Company yesterday. The Government’s Efforts. Air. AV. AI. Singleton, director of the Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture, addressed tiioso present on the Government’s system of herdtesting associations. He said that last spring they received the consent of the directors for tho use of testing apparatus for testing herds. The reputes had been sent to the head office in Wellington, where comparative figures had boon prepared. Those 'showed that the average yield of cows in the testing association made tho following records Milk 55001 b, test 4 per cent., fat 22011). The average cow in the best herd had a record of 3001 b of fat and the worst cow 1191 b. The best cow in the association gave 4271 b fat. The -worst cow which bad been milked seven months or over gave 115 lb. fat. This was reckoned bv the Department at a shilling a pound, and between the best and tho worst records mentioned there was a • difference of 3121 b. fat, or £ls 12s in money. Cutting tho association into two sections, tho average of the best was 3231 b fat, and of the worst 1651 b. For tho whole , of tho associations in the country the fat average was 2231 b, and the milk average was 58001 b, so that it could be seen that there were several herds in tho district which could stand improvement. Ho favoured a long milking period. He quoted a large number of records of testing associations to show that farmers should select his cows on the facts disclosed by tests. It was unfortunately true that not everybody was a judge of cattle, but it was hoped that the average judgment of fanners would be improved as a result of testing. It was objected that testing Took a good deal of hard work, but then nothing was done without work. Testing bad the advantage of directing tho attention of funnel's to tho butter fat yield of each individual cow as against his average cow. He quoted cases of the cows which association testing had resulted in having culled out, and told of one man who, after many endeavours to sell a cow, found by testing that it, was one of bis best. He also mooted figures from two cows, which showed that one cow which had given

35001 b milk loss than another cow gave (J2lb more butter-fat than its rival. The Department laid asked local farmers to place in order of merit their eight best cows, and though some selections did credit to the farmers, there wore also cases in which very poor cows had boon included in the lists while better cows had boon left out. if a man desired to have a good herd be must rely on in’s own work in raising heifers to replace the poor cows he would cull out. As to the cry that boys were leaving the farms and flocking to the towns, he thought the boys would stay on the farms if tlieir fathers got tncin interested in the records of the herds and the improvement thereof. Air. Sangster said that cows at creameries should be tested just as much as at the main factory. Air. Singleton said that when the Department wont on with testing associations their only object was to use the associations as experimental stations, which would so diffuse knowledge of the advantages of testing that farmers would see the benefit of doing it themselves.

Air. Sangster suggested that two cream-rics should bo taken for the coming year, and that the main factory should bo allowed to slide. (Laughter.) A vote of thanks was passed to Air. Singleton. An Independent Tester. At a later stage of tho meeting tho Chairman said the factory manager was now working practically up to his limit. The company desired to got as near as passible to tho water margin, and this work would keep a tester employed for nearly half his time. This tester could also probably cany on herd-testing at the creameries. Air. AVobb moved that the directors bo asked to appoint an independent tester providing satisfactory arrangements could bo made with neighbouring companies. Air. Rawles said last year the turnover wm £fi3.nno, and the suppliers received £17,000, yet here it was intended to increase the expenses without any urospoct of tho income being increased. Tim Chairman said the manager bad altogether too much to do, and in the past the creameries had been very mn r, h neglected for this reason. Air. Sangster said bo thought the movement an excellent e-no, ami thought money should not be spared S'~* that, tho services of a good man mmbt be '’mocured. The motion was carried.