HERD TESTING.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15309, 9 August 1923, Page 2

HERD TESTING.

NORFOLK ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL MEETING The second annual meeting of the Norfolk Herd Testing Association was held at Morrinsvillo ycstcTday. Mr S. A. Ferguson presided over a fair attendance of members. Prior to commencing the business the chairman introduced to the members Mr Tosh, . the newly-appointed herd testing officer. Referring to the past activities of the Association the chairman said over 1900 cows had been tested during the season. Of this number 1280 had been tested at. Motumaoho and 632 at Tatuanui. The total cost of testing was 3s 6d per.cow.. Both boxes and bottles had been supplied to members at.cost price, and the results achieved compared very favourably with the factory returns. Balance Sheet. The secretary, Mr W. F. Stark, submitted the following balance-sheet which was adopted. The income for the total number of cows (1912) at 3s 6d per cow was £334 12s, whilst expenditure was made up as follows: —Salary £250 and materials £47 13s. Tne actual cost of testing had worked out at approximately 3s lid per cow, and the position at Tatanui where* 632 cows were tested was revealed as follows: Cash taken £l2 4s 6d, credit for acid jars (N.Z.D.A.) £1 2s 6d; expenditure on plant £5 4s Bd, and cash paid into the fund, £4 19s 3d, leaving a credit balance of £3 3s Id.. At Norfolk (1280 cows tested), cash received £24 14s 6d, or. for jars (N.Z.D.A.), £2 ss; additions to plant'£l2 14s iOd, leaving a credit balance of £l4 4 s Sd, the total credit balance of the two associations being £l7 7S 9'd.

The Report.

Mr W. J. Byrne, Hon. supervisor to the association, was called upon to gove a report on the "year's workings. He,, at the commencement- of his address, congratulated the association on the splendid work it had achieved in connection with 'herdtesting. Success at dairy farming, he -said, was largely due to testing, as testing results impressed upon the farmers the necessity of both -comfort' and good feed for their herds, arid was further the means of ascertaining which cows ■ were profitable to keep,and which were not. He eulogised the work of the secretary of the association whose splendid efforts were worthy of record. The cows tested during the season comprised-" 47 herds, and the average butter-fat production was 268 lb per cow. The highest herd (12 cows) averaged "'4BB.o4lb,::;the average number of days 'these were milked being 292. The .lowest-herd (64 ■cows) averaged 151.59 Tb. The average number of days these-cows wore ■milked was 230. The best cow gave 619:681b (in milk 307 days'), whereas .the: cow that gave the poorest return gave 69.'391b, and was ,236 days in milk. The. average■'. daily production of fat in the association. was 1.14611 b.

The records of the best cows were as f0110w5:—619.68, 584.47, 557.81, 504.94, 503.06, -198.02, 494.19, 483.11, 474.64" and 470.631b5, The total . quantity Of butterfat given by these 10 cows was 5210.551 b. At Is these oows would produce a, return of £260 10s, the average at the same figure being £26 Is. For comparison Mr' Byrne gave the records of the 10 lowest cows which produced 54.87, 56.88, 69.39, 88.13, 90.06, 106.03, 123.45, 137.89, 138.99, and 140.761 b. The total value of butterfat in this instance was 1008.451 b, the value at Is being £so'Bs:sd; an-average of £5 Is. "This," said Mr Byrne, "illustrated that the highest producing cows were very many times more valuable than the lowest producers." This, therefore, showed that testing was essential and the man that did not do so resembled a man who endeavoured to steer a ship without a rudder. - - In reply to a question Mr Byrne said he did not think the one day test was of any consequence. To arrive at a correct test he considered it was essential to continue with the four milkings. " One member said he thought it would be of more interest if the supervisor would be good enough to give the figures of machine-milked herds as large herds were more numerous than the smaller ones. Mr Byrne replied that such-was the case, and gave the following returns of the large herds. A herd of 90 cows averaged 295.88, 53 cows 301.45, 50 cows 311.16, 46 oows 315.61, 36 cows 327.41, 32 oows 320.28, 31 cows 408.05, 30 cows 368.56, and 20 cows .385.97. The highest handmilked herd of 12 cows, as aforesaid, averaged 488.041 b. In reply to a question,Mr Byrne said the last quoted herd (12 cows handmilked) were milked on an average 292 days, and that of the 90 (machine milked) were milked on. an average 232 days. One member present said the herd of 90 cows.was his own. In this, he said, there were 25 two-year-old heifers. At the conclusion of his address Mr Byrne was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. In reply Mr Byrne said it was a privilege to do anything for the association, and he would always be very-pleased to render assistance.

General,

The chairman said it was most essential for members to have their scales tested, and suggested that all the scales be brought into the factory for treatment. Mr W. P. Stark said the figures, as outlined by Mr Byrne, were only one item, and proved that herd testing was in the interests of the dairy farmer. It was only by testing that the 12 cows (averaging -188.041 b) were discovered to bo such profitable animals. These.cows were well cared for! No coWs should be allowed to shiver behind the paddock fences. The day of the practice, was long past. Referring to the working of tile association, Mr Stark said that it was essential for the working of the association that all lests come to the one quarter'. Tests were being received from Tirau, Wai.toa, Kiwitahi, and only by centralising can flic oflicer do justice to himself and members.

Mr Tosh, the newly-appointed testing officer, expressed I lie opinion that a man with a small herd could lake more interest in each individual cow. To interest oneself in a small herd and at Hie same lime pay attention to the land, and see that, it was well done, was, in his opinion, the surest method of increasing the yield. In conclusion he said he considered it was quite possible for him to cope witti 2000 cows.

Mr Ferguson pointed out that the association accepts as its members suppliers to any dairy company. Mr Hart (Tatuanui) said he would be testing this season, and further advised the meeting that he was doubtful if Tatuanui desired to continue with the Norfolk Assooialion. Tatuanui, he said, was awaiting n visit from an oflicer of the N.Z. Co-op. Testing Association. Mi- Crowe also-said be did not intend to test, this season, as milking 200 cows he did not think lie would have the time to do so.

fa the conclusion of the meeting Mr

Ferguson moved that Mr Graham (the late testing officer) be written to conveying the association's appreciation of his past work. This was seconded and carried. The sum of £lO was voted to the hon. secretary (Mr W. F. Stark) in recognition of his valuable services. The chairman intimated that the association might be taken over by the Norfolk Dairy Co.