DAIRY HERD-TESTING

Waipa Post, Volume 45, Issue 3210, 30 July 1932, Page 5

DAIRY HERD-TESTING

NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION.

MANY ECONOMIES MADE. THE SEASON REVIEWED. Marked improvement in dairy herds in many parts of the Auckland province has resulted from the operations during the past year of the New Zealand Co-operative Herd-testing Association, whose ninth annual meeting was held in Hamilton o n Thursday. There was a good attendance of conveners, over which Mr J. T. Bryant presided. An apology for absence was received from the chairman of directors, Mr Dynes Fulton. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the chairman remarked that the Association had worked more economically in the past year. Twelve months ago it was_ recognised that the position was critical, and it was felt that many members might cease testing. However, the Association had left no stone unturned to emphasise the value of consistent testing, and the Association's activities had been entirely successful. Mr S. J. Sheaf, the general manager, in analysing the balance-sheet, pointed out that the income by way of testing fees amounted to £16,542, compared with £22 488 last year. The decrease was due to the reduction of 33 1-3 per cent in testing fees. On the expenditure side the chief item was the testing and sampling officers' wages, amounting to £10855, compared with £11,024 last year. Head office expenses amounted to £3602, as against £3959 the previous year. Practically every item of expenditure was lower than the previous year, notwithstanding that there were 152 more herds under test. The total expenditure was £18,887, compared with £19,626 last year, a reduction of about £740. Taking subsidies and the transfer from the accumulated funds into account, the Association showed a net profit for the year of £5065. THE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY. " We have been notified by Mr Singleton, director of the Dairy Division, that our subsidy from the Government is likely to be less than 6d per cow, as he has received special claims from herd-testing associations," added Mr Sheaf. "Although we have been conservative, and based our operations on a subsidy of sd, we still hope to receive 6d." To a questioner, Mr Sheaf said the Association was about £2OOO in credit at present . The Government subsidy was expected in September, and would be added.to this. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. .MANAGER'S REPORT.

In & supplementary report the manager stated that the total number of herds tested last season was 1890, compared with 1738 for the previous season, an increase of 152 herds or 8.74 .per cent. A total of 106,290 cows was tested once or more during the past: season, compared with 99,832 for the' 1930-31 season, an increase of 10,458 cows, or 10.91 per cent. As a result of the board's decision that the individual system of testing should be carried out only in extreme cases, the number of cows tested under this method dropped from 501 in 1930-31 to 68 last season. Following are the approximate number of cows tested in the various districts: North Auckland, 10 300; South Auckland (Auckland to Hamilton), 24,800; Waikato, 41,000; Te Awamutu, 6000; King Country 6800; Rotorua and Putaruru, 4300; Hauraki Plains, 8000; and Coromandel, Waihi, and Matatoki, 4200. The average size of herds tested last season, with, the previous season's figures in parentheses, is as follows: Based on cows tested, 56.24 (55.14); based on cows " charged for," 52.36 (51:64). Two additional central testing depots were established ,at Te Awamutu and the Hauraki Plains. The number on the outside staff was as follows, last year's figures being in parentheses: Testing officers 41 (46); sampling officers, 29 (19); depot officers, 5- (3); total,:?s (68). SATISFACTORY RESULTS.

The proportionate sampling and composite check test system, which had been in operation over the entire territory for two seasons, had given emniently satisfactory results. The average difference per officer over the season was .37 lbs of fat per cow for the 30 days period, which was an excellent result.

Referring to the financial position, Mr Sheaf said as a result of the substantial reduction made in the scale of charges -last season testing fees receipts dropped by £57,68. At the commencement of the'season it was anticipated that both the .Government subsidy and the Dairy Produce Board subsidy would be available i; bef ore the close "of the financial year, but as neither of the subsidies had been received up to 31st May last the Association had to rely entirely .upon its own resources and carry the burden of the reduction in fees throughout the season. In view of this he considered it -gratifying that the Association had been able to place £4500 on fixed deposit. At the close of the season only £4 9s lid had" been written off as bad debts arising out of non-payment of testing fees. Mr Sheaf said every effort had been made to curtail office expenditure.: After allowing for extra income de-'; rived through interest on fixed de-i posits, additional non-testing membership fees and savings resulting from the 10 per cent cut, the total reduction in expenditure over the past two seasons amounted to about £6200. The actual cost of test-ng to the Association during the season averaged 3s 9.70 d per cow, as compared with 4s 4.3 d during the 1930-31 season, a reduction of 6.60 d per cow. These costs were based on the number of "cows charged for," the costs on the basis of " cows tested " being 3s 6.63 d last season and 4s 1.16 d for the 193031 season.

Messrs W. L. Ranstead (Matangi) and A. S. Wyllie (Te Kawa) two retiring directors, were re-elected unopposed, and Mr R. P. Hazard was re-elected auditor.

PEDIGREE BULLS ESSENTIAL. Mr Wyllie mentioned that they could no£ hope to make the progress

they hoped for without the increased use of pedigree bulls with sound but-ter-fat backing. There was considerable discussion on an intimation by Mr Sheaf that the Association, as a general policy, had decided not to carry out skimmedmilk tests in future. In the past the Association had provided this service, said the manager, but many of the dairy companies were providing practically the same service. It was considered advisable for the skimmed-milk samples to go to one factory. The matter was left in the hands of the directors. RECORDING MILK WEIGHTS. Mr E. E. Hale moved as follows: " That it be a recommendation to the management committee to consider a proposal that the final sheets for the season should include the average test and total quantity of milk produced by each cow, and also the average test and average quantity of milk for the herd." Mr Hale emphasised the value of obtaining records of high milk production, which he considered just as important as high butter-fat production. The object of the remit was to create low-testing and high milk-pro-ducing cows as opposed to high-test-ing and low milk-producing cows. Mr Sheaf said the cost would be about £SOO annually, and the work of the office staff would be largely increased if the system was introduced. Information sought in the remit would be provided members if they applied early in the season, and the cost would be about Id a cow. However, it appeared unfair to make a levy on all members when only a few might require the records. Mr Hale said they should not wait until they were forced into making improvements. He considered the cost would be negligible compared with the immense benefit involved. The Agricultural Department recognised that the general recording of milk weights must come eventually, and the Association should act as the leader in the matter.

Mr J. Bones queried the point raised by Mr Hale that a high milk-produc-ing and low-testing cow was better than a low milk-producing and hightesting cow. The remit was carried. SEPARATE AVERAGES.

A remit from Otorohanga was moved: " That it be a recommendation that all cows calving normally be classed ' A ' and given one average, and that slips and cows carried over from the previous season be classed ' B ' and averaged separately."

Mr Sheaf said the remit meant practically returning to the old system. The Association could not take action on the lines suggested without authority from the Dominion Federation. —The remit was lost without discussion. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr B. H. Budden, who represents the dairy companies on the board. Mr Hale moved a resolution that any member who had tested for ten years continuously be given a free testing esason. He pointed out that such action would be a great incentive to members. Mr Hale consented to withdraw the resolution until the financial position had improved. WINTER TESTING. Mr Sheaf, referring- to winter testing, remarked that the number of cows under test in June and July was increasing. Last year 200 cows were tested in June, compared with 274 this June. The directors suggested that a charge of 7s 6d per visit per herd be imposed. It was proposed that this charge would become operative next season. Mr Middleton emphasised the necessity for bringing pressure to bear on the Government to enforce the earmarking of cull cows. A resolution that the Government explore still further the possibility of insisting on a uniform mark for all tested cows was carried.