The Waikato Dairy Lab Singers
The Waikato Dairy Lab Singers, made up of members of the Waikato Dairy Laboratory at the Ruakura Research Centre, released an album called Mastitis Melodies in 1976. This formed part of a major initiative by the Milk Management Section of the Dairy Laboratory to spread the basics of mastitis control to farmers. Songs on the album were written to draw attention to the problems associated with mastitis, based on five important control measures: machine check, teat spray, treat clinical cases, dry cow therapy, and controlled culling. This message was spread through a series of 40 nationwide meetings, accompanied by radio broadcasts, along with the release of the album.
Songs were sung to traditional and popular melodies. For example, Treat Your Teats was sung to the theme of Jingle Bells, Treat All Your Udders With A Dry Cow Tube was sung to the tune of Pack Up Your Troubles, and so on. The record reputedly quickly became a collectors item, and songs from it were even played on the BBC. The songs became regular features at Ruakura Field Days.
The leader of the group was Alan Twomby, the first superintendent of the Waikato Dairy Laboratory (which later became the National Dairy Laboratory), while the accordion player was John Milne, who was the initial leader of the Milk Management Section. Other members included Chris Freke, the leader of the Microbiology Section, David Stannard from the Chemistry Section, and technicians Margaret Arnold and Marilyn Embling.
Members
- Alan Twomey - leader
- Doug Westwood - piano
- John Milne - accordion
Singers
- David Stannard
- Graham Duirs
- Adrian Bell
- Elizabeth Foster
- Jenny Rassells
- Chris Freke
- Margaret Arnold
- Marilyn Embling
Releases
- Mastitis Melodies album, 1974
- Mastitis Melodies appears on the 1992 album Kiwiana Goes Pop
Further Reading
- Duirs, G. 1989. The National Dairy Laboratory, pp104-106, In Ruakura: 50 Years of Research and Recreation. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hamilton.
