HERD TESTING AT TOKO

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 498, 21 July 1932, Page 8

HERD TESTING AT TOKO

GROUP MAKES GOOD HEADWAY STRONG SUPPORT MAINTAINED The annual meeting of the Toko group of the Taranaki Cooperative Herd Testing Association was held at Toko on Tuesday night, Mr. W. Rumball presiding over an attendance of about 20. The chairman in his annual report stated that the group had averaged 2i2lb. of fat per cow, which had represented a slight drop upon the figures for last year.' At the -.same time it Mcf'Ho be' remembered! that: there had also been a similar slight drop over the whole association, equivalent to about 91b. per cow. This drop, said the chairman, was understandable owing to the stress of low prices and the reduced use of supplementary cropping and fertilisers. In the Toko group also the top herd in 1931 had dropped out. This herd had averaged 3501 b. per cow, so members would note that the general production of tested cows had not fallen unduly in the district.

Toko, said Mr. Rumball. was one of the strongest groups in the association. A total of 13S1 cows was tested last year from 2294 acres, equalling one cow to just on two acres. The highest average for herds with less than 50 cows was gained by Mr. L. Marfell, who averaged 3271 b. fat per cow over 274 davs. Of the herds containing more than 50 cows Mr S. B. Bayley came out on top with 3021 b. in 35G days. For- the ensuing year the charges would, he understood, be the same as in the past, but while the Government subsidy most likely would he continued it was very unlikely that the sub sidy from the Dairy Control Board would be given. He did not think anyone would quarrel with the cost of 'testing. The fact that the association as a whole showed a credit balance of only £9G indicated that farmers were getting full value for the services. Election of Officers The following officers were elected: Chairman, Mr. W. Rumball; secretary, Mr. T. T. Murray; committee, Messrs. L. Marfell, H. Were and J. Jones, together with the chairman and secretary . Mr. H. Baily, New Plymouth, secretary of the association, gave an interesting address upon the certified bull scheme being. fostered by the New Zealand Federation. Dealing with the importance of callmarking, Mr Baily said the demand far exceeded the supply, and for this reason he strongly advised owners of marked calves desirous of selling to get in touch with his office. It was a bad policy to sell privately, for buyers were almost daily communicating with him seeking these calves. Last year 1600 calves were marked and already this year 1220 had been attended to. Despite the depression he was quite confident that the number this season would exceed 2000. In this connection he emphasised the necessity for members to have the calf identified at the first visit of the tester after birth. He also spoke of the mistake sometimes made by members in failing to have calves intended to be retained in their own herds properly marked.