TESTING DAIRY HERDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2201, 27 May 1908, Page 4

TESTING DAIRY HERDS.

Despite the fact (writes a Manawatu correspondent) that tlio importance of testing their holds has been urged upon dairy farmors from time to time, there are still many who do not real iso what it means to them to know exactly what each cow in tlio herd is bringing in. An inspection of tlio records- kept at tlio Levin State Farm gives one an excellent idea or the material advantages that would accrue to anyone who similarly kept records of the quantity of milk, and amount of butter fat yielded by each cow iii tlio herd. At tlio State riinii, a proper record is kept of each cow s butter-fat test, and tlio weight ot milk yeildcd from year to year, and one is - able to tell in a fraction wliat the cow is worth in hard cash. In this connection there is one point that should not bo lost sight of. A cow may give a splendid yield of milk, but such a low test that she is not. nearly so valuablo .as a cow giving a smaller yield, but a much higher butter-fat test. There can bo no doubt that somo cows give so low a test as to show practically no profit whatever, and the sooner tlio farmer realises this, the sooner will his herd bring him a satisfactory return for his labor. The principle of testing is a simple one and readily understood once it has been explained and demonstrated. The value of it is now being recognised by the various education boards, especially the Wanganui Education Board, which is now living instruction in tho method of testing to the children in the various, schools throughout the district. The action is one that has everything to recommend it, and the work is not laborious, and is at tho same time intensely interesting, it should suit the children admirably, while farmers will be ablo to have their testing done by their own children. A really ■mod herd can only ho picked by careful and systematic testing. In some instances factory managers have been testing individual herds lor faimeis, who aro not able or do not feel inclined to do their own testing, with very satisfactory results to the far me 1.3. This is another point that might be taken up by factory managers generally, as whatever benefits tlio farmer in that direction mush also benefit the theories’ owners.