BETTER BULLS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19461, 7 November 1928, Page 3

BETTER BULLS.

COMPULSION IN IRELAND.

The necessity for some compulsion to get rid of the "scrub" bull has been discussed from time to time in the Dominion, but so far the opinion is not sufficiently developed to urge legislative intervention in this direction. However, other countries, which do not depend so mueh on dairying as the Dominion, have taken steps in tixe matter, and in South Australia the compulsory registration of bulls is m force. This is also the position to Ireland and in England at the moment the Department of Agriculture is considering the question of drafting a Bill to put before the House. The law as it stands in Ireland, simply stipulates that all bulls must be subjected to a half-yearly examination by officers of the Department tor Agriculture. Every buß must be licensed. To qualify for a license the Act merely sets it down, that the feu» must not be calculated to beget defective or inferior progeny, _or a K ect *<* by any infectious or contagious disease,

or affected by certain prescribed disr eases or defects. ..... . _ Under the Act the Minister is empowered to declare any particular breed or type of bull *o be for any particular district, but may only do this after consultation with on advisory committee. Provision is maae to protect pedigree breeders, fernuw to keep a bull lor which a license has been refused, in order to fatten bim off for slaughter aro available at.-a cost of not more than 2s 6d. otherwise the bull must bo castrated or slaughtered. Owners have to adnso the department of any sale. loan, or hire or the bull, and it is further enjoined that thev should feive notice of castration or death. . Each year an endeavour is made to raise the standard of the qualification for registration, and, in this manner, it is hoped to gradually build Op the productivity of the berde. . Much circumspection and tact naq to be .used in drafting the BUI, as »t was realised that unless toe majority of the farming community favoured its operation, it would fail. The standard is gradually being raised, however, and no hardship can accrue to the genuine breeder < Apart from remits to Farmers Onion conferences, little has been done in this country toward the draft? ing of legislation for a Bill with siml* lar aims. During the past decade there haa been a general movement among farmers themselves, however,

to improve Ili ?-?LS? r JSS by the introduction of better WW-. sires, and sellers of tfdigree JSRS have been assured of a steady 4?S£S for their offerings. Over the last twee months important clearing salesnav® attracted buyers from all part" ©TWJ country, record prices being pM« JP manv fnstanow. Such a trend w wonn more than any legislation ean,prqttuee. but there is always the proportion of dairymen who are only concerned about petting the cows in calf, and are indifferent about the quality of the offspring.