GROUP HERD-TESTING

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19633, 20 July 1935, Page 8

GROUP HERD-TESTING

FUTURE REORGANISATION

DAIRY PRODUCE BOARD CONTROL. APPROVED BULL SCHEME. In the annual report of the directors of the New Zealand Go-operative Herd-Testing Association the chairman, Mr R. A. Gandy, comments upon the future re-organisation of the group herd-testing .movement. The Dairy Commission had stressed the great advantages of group herdtesting, stated Mr Candy, and it had also made certain recommendations regarding the reorganisation of the controlling body of the movement. It was essential that the herd-testing movement be governed by a body which had the necessary statutory power to prevent breakaway associations from, operating in an affiliated associatioi'’. area, and also to afford full and adequate protection to the heifer calf marking scheme. Although the matter had not been finalised, it was quite likely that the Dairy Produce Board, together with an advisory committee, would be responsible in future for the control of group herd testing. It was anticipated that a definite decision regarding this matter would be made before the annual meeting of the association.

During the past season the association had compiled certain statistics with a view to investigating the possibilities of formulating a proved bull scheme. It was fully realised that a number of difficulties were involved in an undertaking of this nature, hut it was felt that sufficient data had already been compiled to provide a useful working basis on which it should be possible to build a sound, practicable proved bull scheme. It was the desire of the association directors that the association should be able to supply as part of its service to members a survey of bulls, compiled in accordance with the pririclples of such system. It would be agreed that if the association could render this most Important service to its members, it not only would represent the most progressive step ever taken by the association but would also provide one of the greatest benefits to be derived from systematic group herd testing. Government Subsidy. It was indicated by Mr Candy that the association’s proportion of the Government subsidy for the 1933-34 season amounted to £2277, representing a payment of 2£d per cow, and including a grant of £BO for plant purchased for two new groups established during that season. An amount of £4OOO had been placed on the Government estimates, representing a subsidy to the herd testing movement in New Zealand for the past season, although this grant had yet to receive the approval of Cabinet. It would appear that this amount would permit of a payment to associations of Id or lid per cow.

Cost of Testing,

It had been considered absolutely necessary to fix the scale of charges for the coming season at a figure which would provide the association with sufficient income to cover the expenditure. This matter was fully explained at the various group meetings, when it was pointed out that in future the association could not rely on any financial assistance by way of Government subsidy lo enable the association to effect reductions in the testing charges. It" must he remembered'that, when testing fees were substantially reduced in the 1931-32 season, a subsidy of lid per cow was available, whereas for the past season the subsidy would not amount to more than lid per cow, and this was probably the last occasion on which any Government subsidy would be paid to associations on a “ per cow ” basis.

Assistance from Government.

Whilst, stated Air Candy in his report, he would like to take the opportunity of thanking the Government for the very valuable financial assistance rendered to the herd testing movement in the past, he felt that continued Government assistance would have been of great assistance during the present difficult period. The association had received subsidy assistance to the extent of £8304 over the past four seasons, during which period the association’s testing fees had been £32,200 lower than they would have been under the old scale. The following charges would operate for 1935-30:—Herds of 50 cows or over, herd feed, £3 17s Gd, plus 2s Gd a cow; herds of loss than 50 cows, £2, plus 3s 3d a cow; herds under the alternate system, herd fee, £2, plus 2s Gd a cow. The retiring directors of the association, Messrs W. H. Allen, Tirau, and R. A. Candy, Ngarua, have been reelected unopposed. The statement of accounts showed that the expenditure amounted to £19,923; and that £2832 had been transferred from the reduction in testing fees reserve account. The cost of testing had worked out at 3s 10.79 d a ccw. -