EARMARKING CALVES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 156, 17 June 1936, Page 5

EARMARKING CALVES

Federation to Recommend Change WAIROA REQUEST A change in the present system of earmarking calves is being sought by the Dominion Group Herd Testing Federation. The federation decided at its annual general meeting in Napier yesterday to send a recommendation to the New Zealand Dairy Board that the registration mark and year-mark on calves be tattooed on the same ear of calves, instead of one on each ear. The question was raisea by Mr A. T Carroll, on behalf of the Wairoa branch of the federation, which submitted a remit asking that an alteration to the system of earmarking be made immediately. When it was pointed out that the whole question of marking was to be considered by the Dairy Board ii> about 12 mouths’ time, however, Mr Carroll withdrew the remit in favoui of a recommendation, favouring a change in the system, being forwarded to the board for consideration. WAIROA’B REMIT. The remit forwarded by the Wairoa branch read as follows: — “That calves be marked in the loft ear for registration, with number and letter indicating the year of birtn, ano in the right ear with (T) and a lettei indicating the county of registration. That where calves are not eligible for marking at birth they be marked for identification with the dam’s testing number and a letter indicating the year of birth in the right ear, and,.when eligible, that the letter indicating the year of birth with registration number be placed in the left ear and (T) and a letter indicating the county in the right. This would mean the repetition of the year letter, but all the information required by the farmer would bi obtainable from one ear, as the registration and birth-letter would be in the sanm ear. The difficulty of handling calves or cows and examining both ears is 100 obvious to require emphasis.’’ “It seems unnecessary to have blook at both ears of an animal to ascertain its age and registration,’’ said Mr Carroll. “We thirl, 'hat the tattoo markj for age and iv t ,:..l ration should be put on the one ear. The practical view I ask the meeting to take is that people should have to look at one oar only, thus simplifying the handling of ihe animal considerably.” A motion by Mr Carroll in terms of rhe remit was seconded pro forma by Mr G. 11. Herron (Southland). Mr Jardine (Wairoa) favoured the remit. “This measure will involve no oxir. expense to the federation, the

Dairy Board or the Herd Recording Gjuueil,” he said. Tho secretary, Mr C. M. Hume, pointed out that the whole question ot marking was to be given full consideration at the annual meeting of the Dairy Hoard in about 13 mouths’ time. In view of this, he suggested that the re mil be not put through in the mean lime. It might so happen that if the remit were carried it might be thrown out when it came before the Dairy Board. Mr Carroll then agreed to withdraw the remit in favour of the following amendment, which was adopted: — “That in view ot the fact that there is a probability of the question of tattooing in regard to calf-markiug being revised during the coming season it. be a recommendation from this meeting that endeavours be made to associate the season letter with the regis-,. tiatior number on the same ear.”