PEDIGREE STOCK

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 December 1946, Page 4

PEDIGREE STOCK

COMMENT ON QUALITY OF IMPORTATIONS DOMINION’S JERSEY BREED Pointed comment on the importation of pedigree livestock was made by Dr. C. P. McMeekin, superintendent of animal research at the Ruakura State Farm, when he addressed the members of 13 Young Farmers’ Clubs at Matamata. Dr. McMeekin said that the two main branches of farming in New Zealand were dairying and fat lamb production. The Dominion had concentrated on the Jersey breed of cattle and now, without question, had the best Jerseys in the world so far as a national herd was concerned. It was no use importing unless they could get better stock, whether it was from another country, another district or another farm. He was not convinced, after having gone around Britain, that the best stock came to this country. For every good beast in Jersey Island New Zealand could match it 100 times. For other breeds he thought there war a case for importing. Ayrshires, for instance, were better in Scotland than in New Zealand. The same applied to Shorthorn. There was a greater proportion of poor dairy cattle in Britain than in New Zealand. England, from a dairy point of view, could not compare with New Zealand. Dr. McMeekin said that the New Zealand Romney and Southdown sheep were totally different froth those of Britain. They had been adapted to conditions. Pigs were better in Britain. When the standard of stock was better overseas the Dominion should import, but where the standard of stock was equal in New Zealand to that overseas there was no case for importing.