GROUP HERD-TESTING

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1926, Page 2

GROUP HERD-TESTING

TATTOOING THE CALVES. THE ADVANTAGES EXPLAINED. The first calves in Taranaki to be brought under the scheme of' the New Zealand Federation of Group Herd-Test-ing Associations were tattooed on Monday on the farms of Messrs W. J. Larking at Okato and H. N. Chapman, at Warea. The operation was carried out by Mr. C. H. Hume, Dominion secretary, who was accompanied by Mr. G. 11. Bell, chairman, and Mr. Hugh Baily, secretary of the Taranaki Group Herd-Testing Association. Mr. Hume is visiting the district to stimulate interest in the scheme, the aim of which is to make it possible to determine with certainty whether a heifer calf has come from a high-produc-ing dam by a registered sire and if so to ascertain details of breeding and production. The group system is designed, it was stated, to eliminate chances of faking tests, as might happen - where a farmer took his own samples. Once a month an official visited the farm and took samples night and morning, placing the bottles in a locked case. The object was to benefit farmers as a whole by preventing the passing on of worthless animals. It would eliminate the scrub bull. Only six or seven per cent of the cows in Taranaki were now under any method of testing, Mr. Hume explained. On the other hand there were 20 per eent. in the Waikato, where the New Zealand Co-operative Herd-Testing Association had been formed four years ago. Now in its second year the Taranaki association was testing 3500 cows. Eight associations—Waikato, Southland, Canterbury, Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Wairarapa and Northern Wairoa —now belonged to the federation. For the full benefit to be obtained it was necessary for the whole country to be covered, so that all herd testing eould be done on uniform lines and so that the tattoo guarantee would apply to all eligible calves and can be taken as a guide to purchasers at any sale. The Taranaki Association had three groups this year, though it started with two last year. When addressing meetings of fanners at Okato and Oaontii; Mr. Hume said, in part: Herd-testing was first adopted by our foremost competitor, Denmark, in the year 1895, soon after the discovery of the method of ascertaining the butterfat contents of milk. Other northern European countries followed the lead of Denmark, and in 1903 the system was introduced into Scotland. It is now in vogue in practically every progressive country. Herein lies the proof that herdtesting is no experiment. It has saved the farmers of other countries just as it can save the farmers of this Dominion and make them prosperous.

GULL THE LOW PRODUCERS. The dairy farmer is in a happy position if he would but recognise the fact. He has an opportunity that the city business man would grasp with both hands and develop to the maximum. And that opportunity is the increasing of his income by from 30 to 100 per cent, without any appreciable increase in his expenses. This can be done by culling the low producers and replacing them by better animals, and by breeding Still better ones in the future. The great weakness of testing by the individual system is the fact that, except for the farmer’s honesty, there is no check whatever on the accuracy of the weights of milk, or on the sample taken for testing. For this reason it is useless as a foundation for a comprehensive herd improvement scheme so necessary to the Dominion at the present time. A herd improvement scheme, to give the maximum benefits, must provide for at least three essential principles. (1) That the weights and samples be taken by a disinterested party. (2) That provision be made for the identification of tested cows. Cows will then be sold on their - achievements, which will automatically rule (3) That encouragement be given out the poor producer. to the use of the registered pedigree sire. This can be done by marking the heifer calves from the high producing dams provided they are by a registered pedigree sire. Our group method of testing can satisfactorily fulfil these requirements. Group herd testing was introduced to New Zealand in 1922, but it has been in vogue in other countries for many years. It is the official system in Denmark and in Great Britain and Ireland where it differs from our system in one respect only—provision being made for surprise check tests. TEST FIGURES STUDIED. A study of herd-testing figures, relating to any herd, is brimful of most illuminating facts. Take for example the highest herd in the New Zealand Co-operative Herd Testing Association last season —that owned by Mr. E. M. Andrews, consisting of 33 cows, which in 311 days averaged 406.751 b of butterfat per cow. Subdivided the results are as follow: — lb. fat Days 9 2-yr. heifers averaged 333.33 315 3 3-yr.-olds averaged .. 344.24 290 21 mature cows averaged 447.15 312 Bearing in mind that all these cows received the same treatment, we are faced with the following astounding facts:— The highest heifer gave 384.791 b In 320 days; the lowest heifer gave 239.041 b in 288 days. The difference between these two amounts of 1451 b of butter-fat, calculated at say Is 6d per lb, £lO 17 s 6d. The highest 3-year-old gave 427.411 b in 306 days; the lowest 3-year-old gave 288.151 b in 252 days. The difference here is 1401 b butter-fat, at Is 6d, £lO 10s. Highest mature cow gave 628.211 b in 285 days; lowest mature cow gave 256.291 b in 343 days. The difference being 3721 b of fat or, at Is 6d, £27 18s. An examination of the lowest herd in the association, credited with 98.821 b of fat in 194 days, also gives very interesting facts. 22 cows produced in the period less than 1001 b fat 10 cows ” ” from 101 to 160 3 cows ” ” from 161 to 200 These figures, relating to the highest and lowest herds, prove that, under identical conditions, cows do not give the same returns, emphasising the absolute necessity for herd testing. A few years ago most farmers were quite satisfied if their herd average was 2001 b per. cow. How the . position has changed after four years of group herdtesting. No less than 984 herds out of

the '1335 herds tested last season were over the 2001 b standard, and of these 101 were over the 3001 b standard. We have the foundation stock, und, given the necessary organisation, our dairy industry can be made the envy of our competitors. And what really are we doing—very little. This is most disappointing when ft is considered that every 101 b increase in the New Zealand average means an extra £1,000,000 to Dominion dairy farmers. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? And what does it mean to the Dominion as a whole? By raising our average to even the 2501 b standard would represent an additional 801 b of fat per cow. Even at Is 3d per lb this would bring in an increased revenue of at least £7,000,000 per annum without increasing the number of cows in milk and without any appreciable increase in expenses—in fact it would be extra profit. And what would this £7,000,000 mean to the Dominion—increased prosperity on every hand, our dairy industry on a solid foundation, and the secondary industries in a sound and flourishing condition. There is practically no limit to what can be obtained from a good herd. When a number of herds reach the 4001 b standard, the leaders will be touching the 500 mark, and so it will go on. Feeding is a very important facto;- in increased production, but to secure profitable production feeding and testing must go hand in hand. The association in Smith Auckland has not been content to carry on herdtesting only. ' They have now inaugurated a calf-marking scheme whereby heifer calves from high producing dams are registered, and marked by way of tattoo in the ear, provided (a) They are by a registered sire. (b) The entry is supported by a statutory declaration from the owner, or the person in charge of the herd. The standards are high: 2-year-olds, 2591 b in not more than 305 days;3-year-olds, 2751 b in not more than 305 days; mature cows, 3001 b in not more than 305 days.