Cattle breeding working well

Press, 22 September 1976, Page 10

Cattle breeding working well

PA Wellington Encouraging results are continuing to be achieved by the breeding projects -of the Department of Lands and Survey, according to the department’s annual report for the year ended March 31, tabled in. Parliament.

Through its involvement in this field, the department had entered into agreements in New Zealand and overseas for the sale of semen from proven Angus cattle, the report said.

This was proving to be financially rewarding, and the continuing identification of Superior animals resulting from the department’s activities was of value to the industry as a whole. The department had also acquired from Europe 16 German Simmental heifers which were being farmed at Whareroa Farm settlement, near Wellington. They were all in calf to top Simmental bulls and their progress would be

evaluated in comparison with Ney Zealand’s conventional breeds. In addition to conventional breeding activities, the department had continued to evaluate the potential for Angora goat farming and the production -of mohair.

This project began in 1968 when the department collected the remnants of Northland’s Angora herd. Since then, the herd, which was being grazed in the Kapiro Farm settlement, had increased from the original 20 to 160 and had been greatly improved by selective breeding, including the use of high quality bucks imported from Australia.

“The improvement is reflected in fleece style and weight and in over-all appearance and body weight of progeny, the report said. “There is a growing demand from spinners and weavers for good quality mohair and larger quantities are disposed of through normal wool marketing channels.”