HERD-TESTING.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 5, Issue 2, 15 August 1912, Page 143

HERD-TESTING.

THE MOVEMENT EXPANDING.

The testing of the individual- cow in ord,er to accurately distinguish between the - profitable and the unprofitable ■ members of a herd, now being recognized as one of the essentials to the successful prosecution of dairy-farming, ■is making gratifying progress in this country. It was only -three years ago that the first cow-testing association was formed that of Dalefield with a total of eight hundred cows owned by thirty-one members, whereas last season the number of - cows under test was considerably over - thirteen thousand, these including those in the associations privately controlled as well as those in the organizations working under the auspices of the Department. - -

The association at Dalefield was established in 1909, those at Cambridge,. Kaupokonui, and Stratford a year later, and the associations at Whangarei and Stirling at the commencement of last season. All these have been • under . departmental;, control,- and have more than justified their existence. Besides being of great benefit to the owners of the herds tested, by providing a reliable guide as to the best as well as to the worst cows— enabling farmers to set about improving their stock 'on sound and systematic principles associations have given the movement an impetus, the influence of which is . extending to every dairying district in the Dominion.

The figures collected and published, from time to time, and the facts deduced from .each season’s records, have , clearly proved-that the yield-testing of the'dairy herd is a sound investment for the farmer. It is gratifying to see the expanding recognition of the great possibilities of herd-improvement; and inquiries are frequently being received by ’ the Dairy-produce Division regarding the modus operandi ■of the system. ■ . .

After continuing for two years to control an illustration association in any selected district, the Department relinquishes the running of : the work in that particular locality, ard proceeds to organize further associations in other districts, in order to disseminate the knowledge ■of the system as widely as possible. This arrangement allows farmers to assume the sole direction of the associations of which they are members, on the expiry •of the time for which departmental assistance is given. It is very satisfactory to. know that in some cases the testing is being continued by the dairymen at their own expense.

The most encouraging feature of the work is the formation of independent herd-testing associations by combinations of shareholders of some dairy companies in the North Island. It is needless, perhaps, to emphasize the fact that where neighbouring farmers co-operate in this manner they take a keener interest in the work, while its beneficent lessons are more likely to be generally applied in the practical grading-up of the herd of the district. Several- such associations were conducted in the most creditable manner last year, while others are now being formed. Present indications point to the probability . that the records of twenty thousand cows will be tabulated during the coming season. . ’ ’ .