SCRUB BULL MENACE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 57, 4 February 1927, Page 4

SCRUB BULL MENACE

DISCUSSED BY DAIRY BREEDERS (Special to “Standard.”) • FEILDING, Feb. 3. At the meeting of the Now Zealand Dairy Breeders’ Federation a letter was received from the New Zealand Farmers’ Union pointing out the importance of eradicating tho “scrub” bull before an increased national butter-fat production could be obtained and enquiring whether tho federation would favour an endeavour to be made to have legislation brought about that would mako tho extinction of the “scrub” bull compulsory. Mr A. E. Missen (Hamilton), of Iho Now Zealand Jersey Cattle Breedors’ Association said that perhaps ovoryono realised the menace the “scrub” bull, was to tho dairy industry of New Zealand, but to attempt to forco legislation and compulsion in removing tho menace would cause unheard of difficulties. Instead of going to those extremes ho thought that more good could be done through tho dairy companies than through legislation and he advocated that some system of financial assistance might be inaugurated among the companies to help thoir suppliers to buy better bred bulls.

The secretary, Mr ,T. P. Kalaugher, said that ho was doubtful whether a sudden demand for pedigree bulls could bo met by the breeders. There were, he said, approximately 10,000 podigreo bulls in the Dominion and about 45,000 grade bulls and he gave statistical returns showing the enormous destruction of pedigreo hull calves that went on throughout the Dominion. the figures being approximately 7000 yearly, including aii breeds. Mr Hodges, of Rapanui, said he also was doubtful whether the breeders could supply the required number of bulls to thu farmers. Tho idea was quite good, but it had to be remembered that all pedigree bulls were not good bulls and to-day there wore many farmers who did not use their hulls for breeding purposes. Ho was of the opinion that the breeders of New Zealand were not far enough advanced to ask for legislation to remove the grade bulls. lie thought that any movement in that direction would be well advised to wait for the further development and expansion of the pedigree breeders.

Air GVllume, of the New Zealand Group Herd Tosting Association said that perhaps ho had studied tho situation more carefully than the breeders and the conclusion he had come to was that tho farmer wanted the pedigree bull with a butter-fat backing. Without such a hacking the farmer was only misled into buying something that really only had lino brooding'. which was not buller-fat. In tho Waikato, under the association’s calfmarking scheme, the bull had to bo a registered animal before tho calf was marked, consequently the farmer knew what ho was buying. As a result the first of their marked calf salos had resulted in an increase of prices from 30s to seven and nine guineas. Hail a lot of the soldiers who were put on land been sold butter-fat bulls instead of “scrub” bulls, the speaker said, the country would not have had to write off the thousands of pounds that it had. Mr Ilunio claimed that his association was doing more for tho dairying industry than the breeding associations by making them stand firm on the fact that a pedigree bull must have a butter-fat backing but without losing sight of the way in which it was bred. Another fact which his association favoured, said Mr Hume, was tho buying of suitable bulls as calves. Many farmers could not afford pedigree bulls when grown, hut they could all afford them when calves. He staled that tho dairy company scheme had helped the farmer to such an extent that it was a treat to go round tho Waikato now and Bee tho herds all having pedigreo bulls at their heads. Ho would like it to he remembered though that the worst bull of all was a “scrub” pedigreo which deluded tho farmer more than ever by leaving well made and good coloured stock behind it that was valueless from a butter-fat point of view. It was just as necessary to cull pedigrees as grades and lie thought that if pedigree breeders tested their herds yearly 30_ per cent, of the stock would bo culled. The speaker went on to give a comparison between tho C.O.R. method of testing- and tho group system which he claimed was much superior. Tho Dairy Division would not welcome the whole of tile herds in New Zealand being put under semi-official tests, because tho expense would ho too, great and in this respect tho group system was fulfilling every demand rnado upon it and would continue to do so as long as breeders helped the system. Air 0. G. C. Dermer (Cheltenham) considered that there was no need io bo gloomy about tho matter as improvement in tho butter-fat production was being mado every year. (Hear! Hear!) It was only financial reasons that prevented farmers from buying pedigree bulls and if the dairy companies could bo induced to give financial aid to them the position would soon be more satisfactory. Ail* Missen thought that the question of financial assistance could be gone further into and tho Government, asked to give the dairy companies aid on the same linos as some companies were already giving to their suppliers. Air W. M. Singleton, Director of tho Dairy Division, who was present at the meeting, said that the idea appeared to be a good one, but just how far the Government would go ho did not know. The department was anxious to promote better conditions in the Dominion and had spent a lot of time during tho last fifteen or eighteen years in developing herd testing in various ways. Different proposals had been placed before the department in regard to the subsidising of herd tosting associations and although he advocated tho work the proposals contained certain features undesirable to the department. If it were possible to arrange an equitublo system of testing throughout all the districts of New Zealand, and a fair method of subsidising could be arranged, the Government would give the matter sincere consideration. Air Singleton said ho was a\ erso to tho South Australian system whereby the Government was pledged to contribute as a gift up to six per cent, of tho purchase money of a hull. If tho Government could see its way clear to advance money to dairy companies or suppliers, he thought it would be wise to consider such a question, but how far tho advantage of such a system and how far it would go in the improving of the dairy cows of the Dominion was another matter. In any case, ho considered it a step in the right direction.

Air Hodges asked Mr Singleton if it would be possiblo to formulate some scheme whereby the testing of all cows under the group system at 2s per head could be made a compulsory measure. In reply, Mr Singleton said that in the first place the testing of cows at 2s per head would show a big deficit and as it could not bo done without compulsion ho did not think any Government would entertain the idea. Tho Government had already launched into a series of regulations in regard to cream grading, and they had expected difficulties, but the whole matter had gone along smoothly. The chairman, Air A. \V. Green (Hamilton) then moved tho following motion: "That tin's mgeting recommends tho various breeds associations to stress amongst their members the necessity of culling heavily and only placing on the market hulls of high butter-fat backing; also the federation would welcome tho assistance of dairy companies in placing good pedigree bulls amongst the dairymen of j\’cw Zealand by providing financial assistance to their suppliers to purchase same.’ 7 Air J,_ J. Wild (Feilding) said that the echo of compulsion was still in tho air and lie doubted if the resolution got the matter any further. He suggested that a sub-committee be set up to consider tho question more fully and to get further particulars as regards Government finance. Ihe chairman thought that more gain would lie made if the federation delegates went to their respective associations and urged lhaL all calves in tho herd hooks should havo to pass inspection before entered. Thus the variations in type and characteristics would be done away with. There were thousands of breeders in New Zealand and each was breeding to some typo of his own' whilst it was standardisation of typo that wits required, lie Bug-

gested that Air Wild move his suggestion as an amendment and he would then withdraw his motion. This was accordingly done and a committee consisting of Messrs D. J. Wild (Feiiding), F. Alills (Waverley), C. G. C. Dermer (Cheltenham), 11. R. Green (Palmerston North) and Air F. R. Callaghan of tho Scientific Research Department, was set up to bring down a report to bo submittod at the next meeting of tho federation.