TROTTING Great overseas interest in freeze branding

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33093, 7 December 1972, Page 9

TROTTING Great overseas interest in freeze branding

World-wide interest is being shown in freeze branding as a means of identifying horses. The use of freeze branding for this medium was pioneered by the New Zealand Trotting Conference, and according to the president (Mr R. J. Rolfe, of Thames), “it is already proving its value in this country and seems to be the answer to providing a foolproof means of identification far superior to anything produced so far.”

The secretary of the conference (Mr J. Rowley) has been invited to K resent a paper on freeze randing at a seminar on horse identification, sponsored by the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, on December 8 and 9 at Washington State University. The seminar will cover common programmes of horse identification as well as techniques under development. The conference was unable to arrange for direct representation at the seminar, but it has prepared a paper on freeze branding as it has been developed and used by the conference.

“It is regrettable that the conference had rather short notice of the seminar and cannot have direct representation, as leading authorities from all over the world will be attending,” said Mr Rolfe. “But Mr Rowley and I will be attending a meeting of the International Trotting Association in Toronto in

July and the subject will again be on the agenda. In addition, we will receive copies of all the papers to be presented at this week’s seminar, which will be of great value to us.’’ The seminar will be the first of its kind, according to information received by the conference from Dr R. K. Farrell, chief veterinary medical officer of the United States Department of Agriculture. Dr Farrell visited New Zealand two years ago and studied the progress made in freeze branding by the conference. Dr Farrell expects many benefits to result from the seminar, including greater accuracy in record keeping, horse registries, ownership transfers and horse movements from location to location. Also it will help eliminate variations in state and national identification, and enable officials to make positive identification of horses. As well as the presentation of papers on all aspects of horse identification, there will be practical demonstrations of tattooing techniques, microwave identification and freeze branding. “Various states in Attgtralia are showing great

interest in our freeze branding,” said Mr Rolfe. “The latest request for information came from Victoria, where the Trotting Control Board wanted all possible details of the scheme and an outline' of the results achieved. It seems as though it might sponsor a remit for die introduction of a similar scheme at a meeting of the Inter-Dominion Trotting Conference in February in Sydney. “Australian trainers have told me and other conference officials that they think the introduction of freeze branding as the greatest achievement in trotting for years,” said Mr Rolfe. "This applies particularly to those who buy yearlings at sales in New Zealand. P. J. Hall, who has usually bought a dozen or more yearlings each year in Christchurch, said recently that the last lot shipped to him carried freeze brands which could be read without any difficulty and, as a result, there was no chance of any mistakes occuring. Hall said that often purchasers had doubts about the identification of the horses shipped to them, but there was no chance of error now.” Freeze branding is now entering its third season in New Zealand. “There were some failures in our first season, but these were due mainly to human error,” said Mr Rolfe. “Now there is a full awareness of the variables which can affect results, and the percentage of failures last season was very low indeed.” Where brands have not come out, the conference is arranging for rebranding. Late returns Mr Rolfe went on to say that the executive was determined that. freeze branding would stay and the small minority of owners and breeders who failed to cooperate completely would be penalised. “We just must have full co-operation from owners and freeze branding operators to ensure that the scheme works,” he said. “Already we have had one positive result from the

introduction of the scheme. Had it not been for freeze branding there is no doubt that New Zealand horses would not. have been accepted for the American Stud Book. With so many horses being sold to America it would have been a tragedy if this had not been achieved.” Under the Rules of Trotting all foaling returns for mares covered in the 1971 season must be lodged no later than February 28, 1973. The executive has decided that penalties will be imposed on persons making late returns. Any breeder who fails to make a foaling return including those of a mare which has not produced a live foal, shall be liable for the following penalties: Where a foaling return is received between March 1 and March 31, $4 for a live foal and $2 where a mare has missed, slipped and so on; between April 1 and May 31 the penalties are increased to $l2 and $10; between June 1 and August 31, $22 and $2O; after August 31, $52 and $5O. The branding of foals must be carried out before they are weaned and it is the responsibility of the owner of the foal to contact the branding agent in the district and to make the necessary arrangements. Should an owner fail to carry out the necessary requirements by March 31, a penalty of $2O will be incurred. Should any weaned foal be presented for branding a fee of $5O will have to be paid and under the rules acceptance of the foal’s registration will only be allowed with the approval of the executive. “The executive has been forced to provide for these penalties to be enforced because of a lack of co-opera-tion by a minority of breeders,” said Mr Rolfe. “The costs involved in obtaining late returns are great and administrative problems have been created. If this small minority of owners and breeders continues to show indifference towards the system, the executive will have little option but to increase fees and, as a result, all will suffer,” he said.