IMPROVING DAIRY HERDS

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1927, Page 11

IMPROVING DAIRY HERDS

IMPORTANCE OF TESTING SCHEME FOR MARKING CALVES GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY SOUGHT (By Wire—Special to News.) Hamilton, Last Night. The national importance of herd testing ar l the need for a Government subsidy 1 enable its effective operation were .natters emphasised in the first annual report of the Dominion Group Herd Testing Federation presented at the annual meeting at Rotorua. The chief objective of the Federation, stated the report, was to secure uniformity in testing methods throughout the Dominion without encroaching on local affairs. There was very reason to believe that as a result of the recent conference with the Minister of Agriculture, Government asisstance would soon be forthcoming. The report said that calf marketing was destined to become a great factor in improving the dairy herds of the Dominion, and all affiliated associations should adopt it. No satisfactory system for the identification of tested cows had been evolved in spite of extensive experiments in the Waikato. Mr. Dynes Fulton (Hamilton), presid- « ent of the federation, said: (‘The spade work which has been done this season will pave the way for the establishment of group herd testing throughout the Dominion on an efficient basis. The splendid results of herd-testing, especially in the Waikato, have been most pronounced. If we can raise the standard of all the herds in the country to that of the Manawatu group we will place the Dominion in the forefront of the world’s dairying countires, and ease New Zealand’s great burden of taxation. We are only on the border of what can be accomplished.” It was difficult, Mr. Fulton said, to test cheaper than 5s a cow, and a State subsidy would be appreciated. He advocated testing all pedigree as well as grade dairy herds. Mr. Hugh Baily (New Plymouth) suggested, and the meeting agreed, that each testing group) as well as the federation, should keep a register of its culled cows. Calf marking was supported by many speakers. Mr. G. H. Bell (Oakura) said that marking calves from good cows would benefit the industry more than anything else. “Calf marking ensures continued membership of herd testing associations,” said the secretary, “and legislation will be sought this year for the protection of our marks. It is the biggest factor , in the industry.” Mr. Fulton said testing was giving the younger generation a keener interest in dairying. When the State’s sub- j sidy was forthcoming he would summon a meeting of the federation for its allocation, to avoid any possible split. Following a discussion it was decided that calves from herds not tested under an association for more than a year be ineligible for marking at birth, and that calf marking be done at the end of -the year, wherever cows had qualified, provided the calves were satisfactorily identified at birth. It was resolved that the calf certificates bear the names of the grandsire and granddam and the butter-fat backing on the latter’s side where possible. The election of officers resulted as follow’S: President, Mr. Dynes Fulton; secretary, Mr. C., M. Hume; committee, Messrs. G. H. Bell (Taranaki), J. A. Stratford (Dannevirke), G. R. Herron (Gore), E. Law (Bay of Plenty), J. H. Stubbs (Northern Wairoa), J. Parlane (Christchurch). The closing date for testing in each year was fixed at May 31. On the motion of Mr. Stubbs it was decided to request the Minister of Agriculture to expedite the granting of a subsidy.