PRINCIPLES OF HERDTESTING.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16712, 30 January 1926, Page 19 (Supplement)

PRINCIPLES OF HERDTESTING.

The astounding fact is patent to any ordinary observer that many dairy farmers are quite ignorant of the principles on which herd-testing is founded, says a writer in the Australasian. Such men thoroughly understand that the objective is to pick out the cows which are giving remunerative returns. The fact they miss is that if the cows are unprofitable they should be converted into beef as soon as possible, and not sold as dairy cows to depress the industry. A settler recently questioned by an inspector said that the herd was being tested, but that the testing association to which he belonged did not publish any returns, as that would prejudice the sale of culled-out cows to other dairymen. The industry as a whole should profit by testing, not individual farmers nor groups of farmers. It can only develop by the elimination from the herds of inferior cows. The plea is often made that dairy farmers arc only able to exist through the unpaid labou" of their own families. Herd-testing is designed to abolish this form of slavery. At the present time a man needs a herd of about 40 indifferent cows to make a living at all. He cannot milk these single-handed, but With very little help he could milk 20 really good cows, and make more profit out of them than from the 40. Gooi cows take longer to milk than the fair to moderate performers, but not twice as long. If butter-fat is the objective a high-testing cow with little more milk may yield twice as much butter-fat. A few years ago on sharefarming properties it was the custom to buy up in calf and newly calved cows in the markets to keep the share farms stocked up. At that time there was an even chance of getting good cows, but at the present time, 'With so many herd-testing societies at woijk, the market is likely to be flooded with the rejects. There should be a clause in the articles of agreement of every herd-testing association that every cow which does not reach a certain standard should be ear-marked plainly. There is no use in passing the cow o» to some one else. It may even come back in the .course of time to the original owner. After the first season the standard can easily be fixed, and may be raised from year to year.