DAIRY BREEDS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 168, 15 June 1927, Page 9

DAIRY BREEDS

NEW ZEALAND FEDERATION. ELIMINATING SCRUB BULL." A SCHEME PROPOSED. A meeting of the New Zealand Dairy Breeds’ Federation was held this morning, Mr A. W. Green, of Hamilton (New Zealand Milking Shorthorn Association) presiding. Those also present were Messrs R. \V. D. Robertson, New Plymouth, F. Mills, Hawera, and J. Aitchison, Linton (New Zealand Ayrshire Breeders’ Association); C. G. C. Dormer, Cheltenham, and A. C. Lovelock, Woodvilie, (New Zealand Jersey Bresders’ Association); J. H. P. Liggins, Tokomaru, and J. P. Kalaugher, Wellington, (Friesian Breeders' Association); and Mr W. M. Singleton of the Dairy Division.

SCRUB BULL. The committee set up by the federation to draft a scheme for dealing with scrub bulls, comprising Messrs L. J. Wild (convener), H. Green, F.' Mills, C. G. C. Dormer and F. R. Callaghan, reported as under;—“We arc of the opinion that headway in the matter of the use of good class bulls is being made, that education through demonstrations, lectures, and the public Press is having and will continue to have very great influence and that these forces should be used to the utmost; that dairy factories should be urged to offer financial assistance on easy terms to suppliers avlio desire to purchase a good bull; that the necessary alterations in the law should bo made to give factories better security over bulls purchased in this way; that herd testing should be encouraged by Government subsidy; and that combined advertising by the breed societies out of a common fund should be undertaken with the object of advocating the purebred dairy bull with butter-fat backing (apart from any particular breed) and of crucifying the scrub bull. While not recommending legislation until the administrative costs and details have been fully investigated, we recommend a conference to discuss the following scheme, based largely on the South Australian Dairy Cattle Improvement Act, 1921.” SCHEME OUTLINED.

The scheme proposed that, on March 31st of each year, every bull should be licensed. The licensing fee should be 10s and the penalty imposed for not doing so £2O. Ihese fees and penalties should be paid into a fund called the dairy cattle fund. From this fund a subsidy of 00 per cent, of the valuation price, determined as indicated below, with a maximum of £3O, may be paid to the purchaser of a bull that complies with the following conditions: The bull must be in good health and of good dairy type; must be not less than 10 months and not more than seven ’ years old; must in the case of a three-year-old or older bull have been fruitful in the preceedifig year; must be registered in a recognised herd book, and must be the progeny of a dam which; under official test, has reached a specified standard of production or of two grand-dams. A purchaser who, within two years, disposes of a. bail without the consent of the Director of Agriculture forfeits the subsidy, and only one subsidy may be paid in respect of any one bull. “It may be objected that the payment of a subsidy will simply mean that the price of a bull goes up by a corresponding amount,” stated tbe report. “The purchaser still pays the same; the vendor reaps the benefit of the subsidy. There may he something in this, •so it is suggested that a maximum price based on butter-fat backing be fixed. Tins would be calculated on the basis of, say, Is per pound for the production of the dam or Is per pound for the average production of the two grand-dams if the dam herself is un-

tested. “It will be observed that there is no attempt in the proposal to define a eji'ub bull—a difficult thing to do—and no attempt to inspect bulls with a view to condemning them. The man who wants Ill's scrub bull may still keep him, but be must pay a license fee which goes to help in the purchase of pedigree butter-fat backed bulls for those who want that kind.” Mr Dernier said that, if a scheme of tire sort proposed could be adopted, it would prove of decided benefit. The committee did not put it forward as a resolution, but merely for discussion with a view to something further being the matter in the near future. Undoubtedly, the most important matter to be considered was that of herd testing. This should be encouraged in every possible way, and Mr Dernier expressed the opinion that the various factories should be asked to assist those of their suppliers who desired to go in for tire purebred bull. Mr A. W. Green (chairman) thought that the sub-committee should be congratulated upon bringing forward such a comprehensive and sensiblo proposal for discussion.

“As far as I can learn, cjuit.e a number of the dairy companies are perfectly prepared to finance their suppliers in tire purchase of bulls,” said Mr Mills. “But, generally speaking, there is very little demand from the suppliers. What we should aim at is to try and get the dairy companies not already doing it to fall into line and inform suppliers that they are prepared to do so.” After further discussion, it was decided that the report brought down by the sub-committee be adopted, and that the matter be held in abeyance pending Mr Singleton obtaining legal opinion in regard to the position. OTHER MATTERS. The chairman raised the matter of certain statements made by tho manager of a State farm, allegedly detrimental to the Ayrshire, Friesian and Shorthorn breeds, to which exception had been taken at the meeting of the Ayrshire and Shorthorn Breeders’ Association held at Auckland during Royal Show week. - Since that time considerable correspondence had taken place between tho association and tho Minister of Agriculture, said the chairman, but to date no satisfactory reply had been received. Mr Dermer: We are associated here for matters of benefit to all breeds. I think we will be very unwise to proceed with this matter as it is simply venting the grievance of one particular breeders’ association. This is the way to break up our association. Although stating that he, too felt very strongly on the matter, Mr Mills agreed that it would be unwiso to proceed with the discussion.. Tile chairman : In that caso I will withdraw the matter. It was resolved to "hold the annual meeting at the Royal Show at Christchurch during November. The meeting concluded with the customary vote of thanks to the chair.