532 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Sept., 1918. 



A. W. Jones, W. Greaves, J. D. Kead, Trevor Harvey, the Geelong 

 Harbor Trust, Wm. Parbury, O. J. Syme, and the Department of 

 Agriculture. Ensilage is the cheapest fodder of a succulent nature 

 that can be conserved. In those places where strict account has been 

 kept of all the expenses in connexion with growing and saving, it 

 works out at about 7s. 6d. per ton in the silo. 



To show the apathy that exists among farmers in some districts, 

 the following incident, which occurred at a clearing sale recently, is 

 worth recording. It was a sale of pure Jersey cattle, which are being 

 tested under the Standard Herd Test scheme. All the old rubbish 

 about the place, broken harness and old iron, were carefully collected 

 and put into heaps. These lots all sold readily ^at many times their 

 value. At last a four-bottle Babcock Tester, with acid and glassware 

 all complete, was offered, but not a bid came for this lot. The auc- 

 tioneer, trying hard, said, " Any one give a pound for it ? " but there 

 was no response. " Any one say 10s. — 5s. ? Any one give a bob for 

 it ?" and still no reply. " Any one have it as a gift ?" and, I under- 

 stand, no one would even take it. The owner had no use for it, as 

 the Government was testing his cows. 



In 1914 a Herd Testing Association was started in the Colac Dis- 

 trict. There are nearly 30,000 cows in the district supplying the Colac 

 Dairy Company, owned by about 1,200 dairynaen. Only forty-five of 

 these owners have patronized the Herd Test Association, and last year 

 only 1,600 cows were tested, and this is the only milk testing associa- 

 tion operating in Victoria. Until there are some means adopted to 

 awaken the interest of owners of dairy cattle in this most important 

 phase of the industry, there is not likely to be much development. The 

 cost per cow for testing in the Colac Society is 2s. 9d. The experience 

 of the Ayrshire breeders in Scotland may be of interest here. From 

 the last annual report of the Scottish Milk Eecords Association, it is 

 learned that the rate of improvement has been a little over 4 per cent. 

 Taking the last five years, the total cumulative increase in milk yield 

 of 26,000 cows tested annually amounts to over 8,000,000 gallons of 

 milk. From this 8,000,000 lbs. of cheese would be made. At 6d. per lb., 

 this would return £200,000, or £40,000 per annum. It was found that 

 the maintenance of an 800-gallon cow was very little more than that of 

 one giving 500 gallons. 



The following are the new herds entered during the year: — Messrs. 

 O. J. 8jme, " Bolobek," Macedon (Friesian) ; A. Schier, Caldermeade 

 (Ayrshire) ; Meier Bros., Balwyn (Jersey) ; W. K. Atkinson, Swan 

 Hill (Shorthorn) ; George Gauge, junior, Westmere (Ayrshire) ; Dr. S. 

 S. Cameron (Jersey) ; Mr. Parbury, " Brookfield," Warburton 

 (Jersey) J. McKenzie, Glenroy (Jersey). 



Since this report was written ten more herds have been entered, and 

 the total number now undergoing test is forty-seven. 



I have much pleasure in acknowledging the assistance given in the 

 preparation of this report by Messrs. J. M. Kerr, B. A. Barr, K. E. 

 Kerr, and other members of the staff. 



