HERD TESTING

Wairarapa Age, 13 August 1928, Page 5

HERD TESTING

GLADSTONE GROUPS’ ANNUAL MEETING. 1 INAUGURATION OF MARKING SCHEME. INDICATIONS OF PROGRESS. At the annual meeting of the Gladstone groups of the Wairarapa Herd Testing Association, held in the Farmers’ Rooms, Perry Street, on Saturday, it was indicated that » there will be a considerable expansion of testing operations in the district this year. Keen practical interest was manifested in the calfmarking scheme which is to be brought into force in the Wairarapa during the coming season. Mr. C. van Praagh presided over an attendance of about twenty members. {Reviewing briefly the position disclosed 5n the annual report balance sheet, the chairman said that the actual cost of testing in their group was ss. lOd.

tcow. Depreciation at twenty per (this item was necessarily heavy he early stages) brought the figure to 6s. Id. per cow. There- were 906 s in the first group and 1203 in the ►nd. The high cost of testing was nly due to the small number of » in the first group. The big man , u>me extent paid for the small man. Heid testing helped the small man even Snore than the big man. The Government subsidy received for the year amounted to £lOO 55., and he could cafely say that the same subsidy would foe forthcoming during the coming year. Mr. van Praagh said that personally, he agreed heartily with Mr. Hume, who had visited them recently, .that is was absolutely necessary to test every cow. This need not occasion hardchip if cows that came in late and were only two or three months in milk were tested free. In order to secure the full benefits of testing they must pull together. Unless they induced everybody to test, the industry was going to lose a lot of men who would have to walk off their farms. Unless a business man knew what he was doing, he was headed for bankruptcy, and it was just the same with the dairy farmer. It was, be thought, generally recognised that the only thing that was going to help the dairy farmer to make money was to test all his cows. They had two groups going now. When they had four groups it would be better for everybody. For one thing, the costs of testing would thus be reduced- In a very few years everybody would be testing their cows.

The report and balance sheet were adopted.

Statements by different members showed that while a few herds would be dropping out of the testing groups, a considerably larger number would be coming in.

THE ORDER SYSTEM. Mr. A. C. Gawith said that although they had adopted an order system, sums amounting to upwards of £3O were due from members. Why had not the order

system been enforced? The chairman said that he did not think it would be wise to enforce the order system too rigorously. The secretary' (Mr. James Watson) observed: that if they had to ask every member to deposit a signed order before his herd was tested they might not get as many herds as they wanted in the groups. Mr. J. ‘Stempa: 4 4 And if we could not get enough herds we would hhve to pay more for*testing.’ ’ Another member remarked that it would be better to pay more than to let some owners get their testing done for nothing. The chairman again urged that they should not act hastily in this matter. Their position was growing stronger. For instance, now that the federation scheme had been endorsed, they had power to enforce payment, if necessary, by summonsing. If they laid down a hard and fast rule for every individual they would have difficulty in keeping the two groups together. Some people objected- to giving signed orders. In the course of further discussion, it was indicated that very little of the amount outstanding was at all likely to figure in the bad debt category. 4, ALL COWS SHOULD BE TESTED” In reply to Mr. Gawith, the chairman said the association had a rule that every cow in a herd must be tested, the minimum number in a herd to be 25. Last year this rule had. not been enforced. He thought all cows should be tested and there would be no hardship if cows coming in from February onward were tested free of cost. Mr. B. Roberts asked whether late •r broken down cows would be included in the averages. The secretary stated that all cows in milk for not less than 100 days would be included in the averages. Mr. L. R. Wilton maintained that cows marked for disposal because they were maimed or for some other reason were not worth testing. Personally, he did not mean to "have any cows tested except those that were in full milk at the beginning of the season. Mr. T. R. Eaton said the people they wanted to get at were those who tested only about half their herd. After further discussion, Mr. Gawith urged that all cows should be tested according to the association rule. It might be left to the committee to decide what cows should be tested free. Mr. Stempa: 4 * Better leave it to the tester. ’ ’ Mr. Gawith said the responsibility should be on the committee. This body must be guided by its testing officers, bat if the matter were left solely to the officers, the exemption percentages might vary in different groups. EventuaUy, on the motion of Mr. L. B. Wilton, it was decided to rescind a rule that 75 per cent, of the cows in all herds of over 35 must be tested, and on the motion of Mr. Gawith it was decided to enforce the association rule that all cows and heifers other than those calving from January 1 to April 30 must be tested. Answering a suggestion that it would be difficult to enforce stringent rules, Mr. E. L. Rayner said that with calfmarking coming into vogue, he did not think many farmers would give up herd testing. As a matter of common sense farmers' who had cows producing 3001 b of butterfat and over would stay in the association to get their calves marked. CALF MARKING.

At the chairman’s request, the secretary outlined in some detail the New Zealand Herd Testing Federation’s scheme of calf-marking. Mr. Watson mentioned that in addition to the official marking of the progeny of qualified dams, provision was made for the identification marking of the calves of

two-year-old heifers and other cows which might reach the required standard in the season in which their calf was born.

After detailed' discussion, it was agreed that the charge for either official calf-marking or identification marking should be two shillings a head, but that no additional charge should be made for the second marking of calves already bearing an identification mark. Owners who have withdrawn from testing for not more than one year may have their calves marked, but these “non-participating” members are to pay double fees. It was decided that bull calves, as well as heifer calves, should be marked in accordance with the federation rules.

THE NEW POINT OF VIEW. In inviting nominations for the executive committee,Mr. van Praagh said that he was himself withdrawing as he was “giving up cows,” though not wholly severing his connection with the industry. He spoke of the great strides that herd testing had made since Mr. T. R. Eaton and himself went round five years ago inducing people to take it up. At that time farmers regarded the proposal much as if someone had intended to pick their pockets, but they had got over that. The first association had been formed by Mr. Eaton and himself, with Mr. David Hebenton as secretary. He was sorry to sever his connection with the movement and would very gladly do anything he could to help it along. On the motion of Mr. L. R. Wilton, Mr. A. Campbell seconding, it was deeided that an expression of appreciation of the valuable services rendered by Mr. van Praagh be recorded in the minutes.

executive committee. The following executive committee was elected:—Messrs. A. C. Gawith R Taylforth, B. Roberts, E. L. Rayner T. R. Eaton, W. H. Bradley, L. R. Wilton, H. Myers, J. .Stempa and L. A. Keats. the government subsidy. Ont the motion of Mr. Rayner it was decided that if authority for that course could be obtained, the whole of the Government subsidy should be retained by the association instead of being distributed to individual members. Mr. van Praagh said this proposal had been approved at the federation conference at Palmerston North.

A hearty vote of thanks to the testing staff for their work during the past season was carried on the motion of Mr. L. R. Wilton. A proposal by Mr. Eaton that the groups should exchange testing officers was referred to the incoming committee.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. At a subsequent meeting of the executive committee, Mr. L. R. Wilton was elected chairman. It was decided that the testing officers should remain in their present districts. Final details of the organisation of the testing groups for the coming season are to be made at a meeting of the committee on August 22.