HERD TESTING.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1419, 23 October 1923, Page 4

HERD TESTING.

30,000 WAIKATO COWS UNDER TEST. The growth of the herd testing movement in the Waikato and surrounding districts is strikingly exemplified by the great success that is attending the efforts of the New Zealand Co-operative Herd Testing Association, which was formed a few months ago on the ashes of the Waikato Farmers' Union Association. The old association, however, had only 7000 cows under its control, while the new organisation has approximately 30,000 animals already on its books. Twenty-five groups have already been formed and are now in full working order, a testing officer having been appointed in control of each group. The farmers themselves appear keen on the work and are evincing the greatest interest in the working of the scheme. The organiser to the Association (Mr A. E. Missen) and his assistants state that wherever they have gone they have met with expressions of approval of the scheme, while they confidently expect that later on as figures become available showing that farmers, although they may be good judges of stock, cannot estimate correctly the butter fat yield of their cows without putting them under the test, the scheme will further advance in popularity. The season, of course, is not sufficiently advanced as yet to enable any figures to be quoted. It is anticipated that there will be over 50,000 cows being tested by the association next year, and as there is a total of 230j000 animals supplying the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Co. it is evident that in a few years' time, when the operations of the Association are further extended, the number of bovines having their profitableness or vice versa gauged will be considerably 0A r er the 50,000 mark.