Grey society’s aims

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32565, 26 March 1971, Page 15

Grey society’s aims

The New Zealand Grey Beef Cattle Society, which was formed last November, embraces both the Australian Murray Grey and Tasmanian Grey strains of cattle and also provides ? for the breeding of a New Zealand Grey strain of cattle combining the best of both the strains from across the Tasman. Mr L. G. Anderson, of Outram in'Otago, who is a member of the council of the society, told a meeting held under the auspices of the haw society in Christchurch this week .'that although some breeders might wish to. retain the separate identity of the two strains of cattle, it was intended that in 10 years time there should be only New Zealand Greys. Mr Anderson said that the people in their society did not feel that they should be' affiliated to the Australian, society and should be free to evolve the best strain of both breeds with the cattle available

from both Australia and Tasmania. It was felt that there were people in New Zealand with the ability to dp this. Under the rules of the new society Mr Anderson said that people would be able to breed cattle Using either Murray Grey or Tasmanian Grey sires over a base Angus commercial or stud female and this could be done by natural mating or by artificial insemination. Inspections would be made when the cow had her calf at foot at the weaning stage, which was considered the best stage to evaluate a female. Answering a ' question the president, Mr I. H. Atkinson, >. of Hanmer Springs, said that on the first inspections inspectors would probably be accompanied by the council. Acceptance of cattle would require a compromise between a cow’s conformation and the calf reared, he said when questioned about the

effects of hard natural conditions on cattle. The secretary of the society, Mr" R. E. H. Lawrence, outlined a four stage breeding programme to reach a purebred female with a 31/32nd content of Grey blood. The society proposes to have herd books both for the Murray Grey and Tasmanian Grey strains and also for the New Zealand Grey, in which the two strains can be crossed. Messrs Lawrence and Anderson said that all progeny would have to be weight gain recorded. Mr Lawrence said that the Lands and Survey Department and the Maori Affairs Department were now only buying bulls that had been weight gain recorded. The meeting was addressed by Mr M. J. H. Davison, an agricultural and farm management consultant of Culverden, who - spoke about beef cattle breeding systems.