FULLY CONVINCED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 275, 20 October 1937, Page 2

FULLY CONVINCED

EMBARGO NOT WARRANTED. STUD BREEDER’S OPINION. “T am more than ever convinced that it is absolutely silly to take the stand we have in New Zealand in imposing the embargo on live stock importations from the United Kingdom, where the opinion of breeders is thlkt those in New Zealand are jealous. It is not tlie stud breeders in New Zealand who are responsible for the agitation for the retention of the embargo, but small farmers who have not examined the facts closely.” This comment was made to a “Standard” reporter by Mr C. G. C. Dormer, the well-known breeder, of Cheltenham, on his return from a six months’ tour abroad during which, as a practical farmer, he interested himself in many phases of primary industries. Not without difficulty, as few people were allowed to enter, said Mr Dernier, Ire had obtained permission to go in and inspect the quarantine station at the London docks, where be was absolutely satisfied with the precautions taken. Skilled veterinary officers were in charge of the station, Into which had never entered, or through which had never passed, a ease of foot and mouth disease. From the time they left the farm in fumigated floats until the time they were placed on board ship, the stock never placed a hoof on the ground. Investigations which he had made, added Mr Dermer, disclosed that under the embargo at present operated by New Zealand the cost of bringing a bull through Canada to this country was about £175, compared with £BO to £9O if importation were permitted direct. South Africa not only permitted the entry of stock from tlie United Kingdom without restriction, but, as an encouragement to breeders, made itself responsible, by contract with the shipping companies, for the payment of freight charges. Australia also assisted "its breeders materially in a similar direction, showing tho different attitudes adopted by those countries. “Though the general average is higher, I found that the English cattle are not a great deal better than our best,” said Mr Dermer, who added that in England Jersey cattle were bred almost exclusively for stud purposes, and were used but little for cross breeding. The value of beef made it more profitable for dairymen to use Milking Shorthorns, which had a carcase value of £2O to £22 when their milking days were ended. Jersey breeders did not keep animals which were not good enough for the stud. EQUAL TO THE BEST.

“New Zealand cattle, so far as the production of milk arid fat are concerned, are the equal of any in the world,” stated Mr Dermer, who added that, on account of tho whole-milk trade in England, dairymen there were developing heavy milking stock, with a tendency, to reduce the butterfat content. A remarkable feature was that although England was the finest jiad stock country in the world, many of the farmers had poor stock, and systematic breeding was not practised to the extent that it was in New Zealand. Two visits were paid by Mr Dermer to Jersey Island, where he found American importers to be dominant in tlie purchase of stock, which changed hands so rapidly that it was not possible to view tlie progenitors of cows or to secure complete records of butterfat production. Mr Dermer said that he travelled by ’plane to see the Jersey Island Show, where there were a fine lot of cattle on exhibition. He also attended the English Royal Show at Wolverhampton and found it to be a wonderful display of stock, the beef cattle and pigs being outstanding. Though he spent five days there, he did not see all the exhibits. Returning through Canada, said Mr Dermer, ho had stayed at Toronto, where he inspected a herd of about 1000 head controlled by a large importing firm which brought from 50 to 100. animals annually from Jersey Island and supplied breeders’ requirements throughout the United States. There were some remarkably fine cattle and high producers in that herd. Numerous Jersey herds were inspected by Mr Dermer while ho was in England.