BREED ZONES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 40, 1 February 1932, Page 11

BREED ZONES

WEST AUSTRALIAN SYSTEM. In Western Australia there exists an official zone system which, it is stated, is not to be found elsewhere in Australia, whereby the dairy country has been subdivided into breed zones. In this .State, Government capital has been heavily expended in the dairying districts, and a great number of our dairy farmers are i ndebted to the State. -With the necessity for economical control over these group settlement holdings, the zone system was inaugurated some years ago since when it has worked with undoubted success.

As stated, there are three, zones, for which three breeds have been selected. In the two more southerly zones, where dairy farmers sell the product as butterfat, the Jersey and Guernsey breeds are recognised. In the third zone, running up the coast to the metropolitan area, and where milk may be sold either whole or in butter-fat form, tho Shorthorn is the official breed. So far as the zones are concerned it must be realised that no Government compulsion is exercised on private farmers, who may run herds of whatever breed they choose. It is on Government financial holdings that settlers must conform to the breed requirements of their respective zones when purchasing bulls. The zone system also operates so far as the Government bull subsidy is concerned, and the farmer can only obtain Government subsidy assistance by purchasing the right breed of bull according to his zone, and that bull must bo from an officially tested dam.