OPUNAKE NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1931, Page 14

OPUNAKE NEWS

FARMERS’ UNION.

ADDRESS ON HERD TESTING.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) The local branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held in St. Patrick’s Hall on Tuesday afternoon. Mr. R. Julian (president) presided. The committee appointed recently to consider the request from the Women’s Division to improve the present building used as a mart by the women’s branch brought down a report. The building is erected on the Farmers’ Coop. saleyards property. The committee recommended adding a room 14ft. by 14ft., and improving the fireplace, etc., at an estimated cost of £53, the branch to contribute £2O towards it. It was decided that Messrs. Pettigrew and Julian interview the Co-op. Society regarding tenancy and if satisfactory arrangements can be made the work to be proceeded with. It is the intention of both local branches of the union to make the suggested building their meet-ing-room. Mr. C. M. Hume, head of the testing branch of the department, addressed the meeting on the pig-raising and herd testing phases of dairying. By means of lantern slides he showed the various phases of the industry. Convincing tables, the result of careful and practical management, made ■ the lecture very interesting and decidedly instructive. In the course of his remarks Mr. Hume stated that it was in times like the present when our prices of commodities were low that farmers made greater progress in increasing production. When prices were good they were satisfied and when prices were poor the farmer was constrained to look to other avenues to improve his position. There ■were about 60,000 dairy farmers in the Dominion, and when better management and better methods were adopted it naturally means a big increase in production. It was approved that farmers who use scientificated grasses in the right seasons doubled their carrying rapacity. z He dealt with the pig industry, showing by tables that his department fed and weighed, the pig from the litter stage until it went to the works. He believed in the 401 b. weaners at eight weeks old. Figures were shown to demonstrate the amount of food given each pig and the progress in growth and weight. He stated that there was no difference in the basic food value of skim and milk and whey. The meat meal -gave the length, and. did not increase the fatness.

Dealing with herd testing the slides on the screen showed the definite increase of milk and butterfat since the inauguration of herd testing in 1910. The present average of tested cows was 2181 b. per cow. The Dominion had made more progress during the last four years than any other country, increasing production by about 401 b. per cow. This improvement in butterfat at Is was equal to £3,000,000. The pity of it was that when herd testing was first commenced they did not have half the milking cows under test. The progress and increase would mean to-day a very large income to the dairy industry.

As showing the importance placed on herd testing by the Danes, he said, they were only holding the premier position so long as the people of this Dominion allowed them. The added interest to farmers under herd testing conditions and care of the cows was equal to 51b.

of butterfat per cow. Rotational farming by practical farmers was described, showing how iijcreased. production resulted. . At the close of the lecture questions were asked. Mr. Conaglen asked, “Does herd testing increase butterfat to such an extent that it acts detrimentally in

respect to cheese manufacture?” Mr. Bayly, who took out figures from high testing herds, stated that figures would be published showing that the increase of butterfat was infinitesimal, but the increase of milk was important. Mr. Hume said they were not concerned about breeds, but it was important to the dairy industry to eliminate the ‘‘scrubber” cow.

At the conclusion, of the address a

hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Hume for his interesting and. instructive address. A similar compliment to the chairman'was moved by Mr. Hume.