HERD TESTING.

Wairarapa Age, 3 July 1936, Page 5

HERD TESTING.

GLADSTONE ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL MEETING. GOOD AVERAGE RECORDED. t '‘The annual meeting of the Gladstone Herd Testing Association was held at Masterton on Wednesday, Mr. L. R. Wilton presiding ‘bWr a fair attendance ofmembers. i

It was decided to donate £1 Is to the Carterton group of the Wairarapa Calf Club and £1 Is to the Masterton group as cash prize money for calves to be judged for dairy type, to be open to children whose parents are members of the Gladstone Testing Association. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—Chairman, Mr. L. R. Wilton; committee, Messrs T. B. Eaton, H. Myers, A. C. Gawith, F. G. Wrigley, E. L. Rayner, Louis Jackson; auditor, Mr. James Watson; delegates to the Wairarapa Herd Testing Central Executive, Messrs L. R. Wilton, H. Myers, E. J,. Rayner and Louis Jackson.

Mr. H. Myers was congratulated upon having the highest herd average of the association, 45 cows averaging 3671b5. butterfat in 276 days. The thirteenth annual report stated: —“The past season has been a remarkably good dairying season with records at the highest level since the inception of the association. The association is to be congratulated upon having achieved the exceptionally good average of 317.431b5. butterfat per cow Our testing officer, Mr. C. Sandbek, tested 27 herds, Group, and 4 Own Samples’ Association herds. Last season, 1934-35, 1193 Group cows in 28 herds were under test and 115 Own Samples’ cows in 6 herds. This season, 1935-36, 1125 Group cows comprising 27 herds, and 72 Own Samples’ cows in 4 herds have been tested. The average number of cows per herd in the 1934-35 season was 43), and this season, 1935-36, 41 2-3, the average being a shade less than the previous season.

“Calf "marking: Last season, 193435, 47 calves were marked. This season 46 calves have been marked with 8 unijer tattoo mark of identification whose dams failed to reach the qualifying standard. The 1934-35 season Government subsidy has been audited by the Government auditor and all found in order.”