HERB-TESTING REPORT

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1929, Page 16

HERB-TESTING REPORT

WORK DONE IN TARANAKI GROWTH OF MOVEMENT NOTED. THIRTEEN GROUPS LAST SEASON. The annual report of the Taranaki Co-operative Herd Testing Association records the gradual growth of the group herd testing movement throughout the province, ' During the past season 13 groups were in operation, and the following results were obtained: Bell Block group, cows 1168,.. butter-fat 316,2731 b; average days 275, average butter-fat 270.781 b; Bitham group, 1228, 32.7,7881 b, 261, 266.931 b; Bl-tham-Mangatoki group, 1145, 274,3481 b, 243, 239.611 b; Kaimata group, 1192, 333,0471 b, 269, 274.401 b; Midhirst group, 1137, 285,7691 b, 259, 251.341 b; Moa group, 991, 267,1071 b, 271, 270.541 b; New Plymouth "roup, 986, 2-47,8'01b; 206, 251.331 b; Oaonui-Warea group, 1443, 343,2681 b, 238, 237.871 b; Opunake group, 1403, 379,6601 b, 258, 270.601 b; Pembroke-Car-diff group, 1060, 298,7661 b, 268, 279.311 b; PuniliO'Patua group, 1340, 341,7691 b, 260, 255.051 b; Toko group, 1492, 388,3981 b, 265, 260.321 b; Uruti group, 1209, 343,994 lb; 256, 286.181 b. Further groups were formed, making a total of 16 groups in operation for the 1929-30 season. The progress of the association is shown by the following figures: 1925-26, two groups, 2427 cows, average 240.241 b butter-fat in 253 days; 1926-27, three groups, 3715 cows, average 248.231 b butter-fat in 248 days; 1927-28, eight groups, 033'6 cows, average 248.58 lb butter-fat in 250 days; 1928-29, 13 groups, 15,803 cows, average 262.481 b butter-fat in 261 days. The report records appreciation of the action of the Government in again granting a subsidy towards the herd-testing work in the* Dominion during the past season. The management had hoped the subsidy would be paid to the oiganisation to be used by them in what was considered the best interests .of herd testing in the particular district. After much negotiating on the part of the Dominion Group Herd Testing Federation, however, the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, had definitely decided that the subsidy must be returned to the testing dairy farmers. The department had notified the directors that the association might hold the subsidy until 'October 20 next. That would enable them to finance during the early part of the season when no income was being received. As soon as funds permitted a refund would be made by cheque with an adjustment of last year s fees. . After last annual meeting the directors received from the Government their proportion of the subsidy for that season, and members were credited or paid proportionately to cows tested, which complied with the subsidy conditions. The Dominion federation had been endeavouring to put the movement on a sounder footing than obtained at the present time. Unformity of methods, both in testing and in the marking of calves and cows, was most desirable, and such could be brought about by the federation functioning as a really live body. The New Zealand Dairy Produce Board had been actively supporting the federation’s views, and recommended to the Government that the federation should be regarded as the controlling body for group herd 7 testing for New Zealand, and that any subsidies , should be granted to that'body. The Minister of Agriculture had set up a Herd Testing Advisory Council, which would act as a connecting link between the . federation and the Department of Agriculture. The council would in effect lay down the policy for group herd testing, but the management committee of the federation would be responsible for that policy being carried, out. The council would also decide on the allocation of any Government subsidies towards herd testing The° calf-marking scheme had been accepted as the most important, part of the herd improvement campaign, and was being supported by more members year by year. In view of the fact that the Government insisted on the subsidy being returned to the testing dairy farmers, the directors, working on the scale adopted by the New Zealand Co-operative Herd Testin" Association, had decided, the following charges for the ensuing season: A herd fee of £5 per herd, plus 3s per cow for those cows eligible for payment. In the event of a herd being on the alternate system, the herd fee would be reduced by half.