TO IMPROVE HERDS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17701, 1 March 1923, Page 3

TO IMPROVE HERDS.

MR GEORGE GOULD'S SUGGESTIONS. Matters relative to the improvement of dairy herds, were dealt with at yesterday's meeting of the North Canterbury executive of the New Zealand Farmers' TJnion. Mr Geo.. Gould forwarded a copj of a letter from him which had appeared iu "The Press" with regard to the dairying industry. iiio writer dealt with the importance of using purebred bulls in herds. Mr Gould, in explaining his proposal to the meeting, said that he considered it_ to be as important as the Noxious Weeds Act. It would tend to make dairy farmers improve their stock and would cause them to deal effectively with their "oull calves. At the present time there were a good many mongrel bulls about the country, and there was no encouragement to* rear purebred dairy bulls. If these animals could be reared and sold at a reasonable figure as yearlings, it could only result in benefit to tne industry. ■ He hoped that the executive would consider the matter. In thanking Mr Gould, the chairman said that his scheme would undoubtedly, result in a better class of dairy animal. At present, if a man kept a. poor quality bull, 110 was only increasing, the mortgage on his farm. Mr,. Gould had mentioned the Noxious Weeds Act but the speaker doubted if it had resulted in any improvement in the standard of farming; therefore he wondered whether it would be possible to improve herds by legal means. ,Any improvement in the herds would undoubtedly result in a gam of hundreds of thousands of pounds to the»industry. Mr J. D. Hafl said that scrub bulls were a great nuisance, but the worst type_ was that which was really a community scrub bull. He would like the Dairy Committee to deal with the matter and present statistics with regard to the industry. He moved -to this effect. The motion was seconded by Mr G. Sheat, who said that the proposed Bill might, however, go too far. In some districts, he said, calves were _ only wanted in some instances to bring ft cow on in milk. The calves were killed and skinned soon after they were born. Mr W. A. Banks agreed with Mr Gould's scheme. To eliminate the scrub bull wbuld, he considered, 'make a different of £500,000 a year to the industry. Members: More than that, Mr 'Banks, proceeding, said that the proposal was So broad tnat it was well worth consideration. - , The motion was and Mr Gould was accorded a vote of thanks for his suggestions.