VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1934, Page 9

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

VIEWS ON CURRENT TOPICS

METHODS OF HERD TESTING.

SOME WEAKNESSES APPARENT.

(To the Editor). Sir,—ln this morning’s News I read a letter written by “Seeker of Information” in reference to the returns of the Waimate Experimental Farm. He says there is a difference of 60001 b of fat between two tests—the Testing Association’s and the factory returns. I am not surprised at the differences that creep in (this 6000 lb of fat is a large amount, and the herd is also a large one of 102 cows), owing to the methods that practised in’ connection with testing by associations. I cannot see where practical correct returns can be obtained by any owner of cows under test by one sampling of the cows, from milk for one day in each, month, for nine or 10 months of the year.

The usual course as I see it is to take one day’s milk, samples once a month, the fat content of that day’s- test and weight of milk. Multiplied by on the average 30 as there are approximately 30 days to the month. This is taken to represent the returns of the cow or cows. Have the cow or cows actually produced the sum total as ascertained by the above method? Who can say . definitely that this i 4 correct? It may be under or it may be above the actual amount of the butter-fat produced by the cow or cows under test; at. best it is only a rough estimate.

The factories do not take one sample per month from milk supplied. They have a sample from every lot supplied, and that is the only way to obtain accurate results of what a cow is producing—by weighing and sampling every milking. I will admit this would mean a fair amount of extra work, but it is the only exact method. Other errors creep in also. Seasonal conditions, of course, are allowed for. Why “allowed for?”,. The butter-fat is not in the bucket. When you start to make “allowances” you are giving credit for something you have not got. You cannot go to the dairy company and say, “This month I had so many cows, and that on the official test we made allowances amounting to so much, so you must pay me an additional so much on top of what I have supplied to your company.” Would the company do it? Another small difference occurs through each sampling from the cow being taken from warm milk. The factory sampling in nearly all cases is cold milk sampling. Again, on the once in 30 days sampling, freshly calved cows may just start their testing period on the fresh cow border mark, and fresh cows will always test higher than when they have been in milk for six weeks. So or.; gets a false return again, whereas if one sampled every milking one would miss the error. The every-day sampling is just a question of the farmer applying exact practice in his weight-taking and sampletaking. Of course, with .milking machines it is out of the question to sug'gest every-day weighing and sampling, but it is the only method for obtaining exact results—l am, etc.; CONSTAN? READER. U Hawera, June 21., - ,

(To the Editor). , Sir,—l noticed in your paper of the 21st inst. a letter signed “Seeker of Information” regarding’ herd-testing. I wish also to mention that the difference is astounding. My suggestion L that the difference must be with the testing officers. ■ The herd-testing is done by diploma men from Massey CoJ-lege, while the testing in our dairy factories is done b; non-diploma men. Therefore is it any wonder that the difference is so great, and the Government had to engage check testers to go round the dairy factories?— I am, etc., SEEKER OF MORE INFORMATION.’ > Auroa, June 22.

ARBOR DAY SUGGESTION.

(To the Editor).

Sir,—For the purpose of instilling a love of trees, or “tree-mindedness” in juveniles I suggest, that on Arbor Day, which will occur in August, those citizens who .have plantations should give permission for organised groups of children to visit them. Addresses and lectures on trees, named and described, could be given. Perhaps the superintendent of Pukekura Park could give a lecture in the park, where there is a wealth of native and exotic trees. I am sure such a lecture would not .soon be forgotten. There are several men in and around New Plymouth well versed in tree lore who would assist. I include in my suggestion the primary and Secondary schools and other organised associations of youth. Perhaps gifts of suitable trees for schools and streets would also be given. I do not know what is being done in New Plymouth for Arbor Day, so suggest the above, as the need for “tree-mindedness” is urgent for reasons that would take up too much space to enumerate. Hoping this may at he least give a lead,—l am, H. N. KITCHINGMAN. New Plymouth, June 22.

CONTROL OF RUGBY GAMES.

(To the Editor).' Sir,—ln answer to “Safety First,” I wish to say that the correspondent has evidently been misled on a point or two regarding “class A” referees, •in stating that Taranaki has 37 such, as the writer has it from good authority that the senior appointment board has only 23 names before it, and if “Safety First”* reads carefully through the appointments he will glean that the senior appointment board has«seen fit for reasons best known to itself to appoint about half this number to control senior matches. In the matter of the five names submitted to the Rugby Union f referees who in the opinion of the appointment board are capable of controlling representative matches, “Safety First” wonders why their names are conspicuous by their absence each Saturday.. Perhaps again he has not read your valuable paper. If he again reads through the appointments he will learn that these same referees are taking perhaps more matches (both junior and senior) than other referees each week. Last but not least “Safety First” suggests handing over appointments to the Rugby Union. May I point out that up to this date all referees have been asked by the Rugby Union to keep the game clean, which the said referees are endeavouring to do. Hence the number of players who have been ordered from the field this season for rough tactics. Would “Safety First” please see how the union is upholding the referees regarding penalties on these players They are told in mild terms not to be bad boys, and are allowed to play on the following Saturday.—l am, etc., SAFETY FIRST ALSO. Stratford, June 20.