The Fallon Standard

DAIRY HERD TESTING
SHOWS FLATTERING RESULTS

By L. E. CLINE

One of the surest indications of a real live progressive dairy community is the support given to dairy herd testing work. The necessity of having some definite knowledge of the profitableness of individual cows in the herd is very vital to the progress of the industry. No enterprising dairyman is content with mere guess work.

The dairymen of this valley have maintained during the past year ending October 1st one of the large herd testing associations in the west. An average of 62 herds with 865 cows have been tested each month during the year. The large number of herds which have been accommodated, has been one of the features of the local organization.

Under the usual plan of organization of herd testing associations nor more than 26 herds are accommodated and the owners of these herds must stand the entire expense of the association. Associations operating under this plan, therefore, must work with very large herds or at a very heavy expense per cow.

The plan of the local organization has made it possible for all sizes of herds to be accommodated at the same small expense of 12½ cents per cow per month, and with satisfaction to all members.

Continued Testing Seems Assured

The loyalty of the members of the association has been very gratifying to the officers and tester having the work in charge. A large per cent of the members have asked for a continuance of the work for another year. A canvas of all old members for a renewal of their membership as well as dairymen who have not yet taken advantage of this surest means of herd improvement will be made before November 1st. There is every indication that the association will be organized for a new year's work beginning November 1st. The present herd tester, Mr. E. Palludin, who has had charge of the testing work since February will continue with the association if sufficient membership is assured. To make sure of sufficient finances to carry on the next year's work, it will be necessary to make a charge of 15 cents per test instead of 12½ cents, as was made last year. Otherwise there will be no changes made in the operation of the association. A charge of 15 cents per test is very low, and would not be possible except for the cooperation extended by the United States Department of Agriculture. As an illustration the county agent at Susanville, Calif., is endeavoring to put over an association with a charge of 25 cents per cow per month. Three dollars per year per cow is not an unusual charge in other districts.

Annual Report to be Issued

The entire month of October will be taken to summarize the work for the past year. This will include a summary for each cow tested. This summary will be entered in the herd books of the members. This summary should show which, if any, cows have failed to return a satisfactory profit above cost of feed and labor. Without this final summary the real object of the association would be missed. In addition to this, it has been planned to compile a digest of the work of the association for the year, and have it printed in a pamphlet which will also contain local illustrations and items of information for project dairymen, and those outside of the project, who are interested in the dairy advantages of the Newlands project.

The western dairy division of the department of agriculture with headquarters at Salt Lake City, Utah, has supplied this association with herd books and tester's barn books throughout the year. This has saved us heavy expense. For this service they require monthly reports and a summary report of the year's work. All of this analysis of the year's work and reporting of same is very essential, and should be completed during the present month and everything be ready for the new year by November 1st. All dairymen wishing to participate in this work should make application at once.